Bulldogs host annual Red and Blue Scrimmage on Saturday

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State equestrian team opens up its 2017-18 season with its annual Red and Blue scrimmage on Saturday at the Student Horse Center. The first ride will begin at 10 a.m., as fans will have a chance to watch the Bulldogs compete in an intersquad competition free of charge.

"We are excited about getting the season underway on Saturday," said Bulldog head coach Eric Hubbard. "The intersquad scrimmage gives us a great opportunity to get some real live practice with the horses and will help prepare us for competition in two weeks."

With a group of experienced returning riders, including several All-American recipients, and a talented freshman class, the 'Dogs look to build off of a 9-8 record earned during their 2016-17 campaign.

Hunt Seat

Newly hired assistant coach Caitlin Marshall will lead the Hunt Seat program. Marshall, a former Bulldog student-athlete, returns to the program after graduating from Fresno State back in 2011. The Hunt Seat program welcomes back ten returning riders including four seniors, five juniors and one sophomore, Natalie Wendt. The experienced group of riders will be joined by sophomore transfer Erica Rosinski and freshman duo Frannie Twohig and Hailey Livingston.

Hunt Seat rider Sierra Swaffar rides into her senior season after going 8-9 with two MOPs in Equitation on the Flat as a junior. The season prior, Swaffar earned a 2015-16 NCEA First-Team All-America accolade for Equitation on the Flat. Swaffar was also named the UEC Equitation on the Flat Rider of the Year and was the October NCEA and UEC Equitation on the Flat Rider of the Month in the same season.

Kylina Chalack went 8-8-1 in both Equitation on the Flat and Equitation over Fences as a junior last season. Chalack picked up two MOPs during the season along with being named NCEA and UEC Equitation on the Flat Rider of the Month for September.

Western

Twelve 'Dogs return on the Western team including four seniors, four juniors and four sophomores heading into the upcoming 2017-18 season. The Bulldog riders welcome sophomore transfer Allison Nordvall along with freshmen Alexis Miller and AnneMarie Morias.

Senior Western rider Rachel Williams looks toward competing in her final campaign after earning NCEA All-American honors last year. Williams was selected to the second team in Horsemanship after going 10-3-1 in her junior season. As a freshman, Williams was named 2014-15 UEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year as well as being named to the honorable mention All-American team by the NCEA that same year.

Fellow senior Western rider Taylor Dixon enters this season after going 9-6-2 with one MOP in Horsemanship and 5-8-2 in Reining in her junior season. A season earlier, Dixon picked up 2015-16 NCEA Second-Team All-American honors in Horsemanship and UEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year as a sophomore.

Sophomore Western rider Shea Gilson went 8-7 in reining and was named UEC Freshman Reining Rider of the Year at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season.

Looking Ahead
The 'Dogs are set to open the season facing a pair of opponents at home, back-to-back, facing Texas A&M (Sept. 22) and South Dakota State (Sept. 23). The action for both days is set to begin at 10 a.m. at the Student Horse Center.

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Fresno State Athletics

Bulldogs host annual Red and Blue Scrimmage on Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Kylina Chalack

Taylor Dixon

Shea Gilson

Hailey Livingston

Alexis Miller

Allison Nordvall

Erica Rosinski

Sierra Swaffar

Frannie Twohig

Natalie Wendt

Rachel Williams

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