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From GeorgiaDogs.com: Georgia claimed the third national Equestrian team title in school history when the Bulldogs took first place in the overall standings at the Varsity National Championships on Saturday in Waco, Texas.

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The Bulldog riders claimed their first national crown since 2004 without finishing first in either riding discipline, Hunt Seat or Western. Georgia’s Western squad narrowly missed a victory when it dropped a tie-breaker to Texas Christian on Saturday. The two teams had ridden to a 4-4 draw before the Horned Frogs outpointed Georgia in the sum of raw scores, 1027-1026.

Georgia had dropped a close decision to Texas A&M on Friday night in the Hunt Seat competition, settling for third place. Auburn defeated the Aggies in the Hunt Seat championship round on Saturday.

Still, Georgia’s strong finish in both disciplines allowed the Bulldogs to claim a team title with surprising ease. Their total of 49 points surpassed runner-up Texas A&M, which totaled 38, and third-place Auburn’s 36 points.

“It’s an incredible feeling to come out on top in such a tough, tough competition,” said Georgia head coach Meghan Boenig, who has guided the Georgia program since its beginning in 2002. “The whole weekend was a roller-coaster emotionally. That we lost such close competitions in both Hunt Seat and Western almost took away a little of the luster from the team championship. But we are just ecstatic to be bringing the title back to Georgia.”

In the first year of individual championships, Georgia sophomore Sarah Locker claimed the title in Western Reining. Teammates Haylie Jayne in Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat and Laura Upton in Western Horsemanship won Reserve status as runners-up in their competitions.

Locker, Upton, Lauren Love and Nichole Grant each posted winning rides in Georgia’s quest for the Western team championship on Saturday.

Final Overall Team Standings
1. Georgia 49
2. Texas A&M 38
3. Auburn 36
4. Oklahoma State 30

Final Hunt Seat Standings
1. Auburn
2. Texas A&M
3. Georgia
4. Oklahoma State
5. South Carolina

Final Western Standings
1. Texas Christian
2. Georgia
3. Kansas State
4. Oklahoma State
5. Texas A&M

Individual Champions
Hunt Seat
Equitation on the Flat – Kristin Terebesi, South Carolina
Equitation over Fences -- Kristin Terebesi, South Carolina
Western
Reining – Sarah Locker, Georgia
Horsemanship – Caroline Gunn, Texas A&M