Cowgirls Set to Kickoff New Season Against Top-Ranked TCU
The Basics
The No. 5 Oklahoma State Equestrian will host No. 1 TCU in the first matchup of the season. It will be each team’s first Big 12 meet of the year. OSU is coming off its third-straight Big 12 title and fourth consecutive semifinals appearance in the national tournament. TCU is 1-0 with after an upset win against No. 1 SMU in its season opener. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. CT and Pedigo-Hull Equestrian Center.
About the Cowgirls
The Cowgirls are led by 25th-year head coach Larry Sanchez, fifth-year assistant Laura Brainard, second-year assistant Carter Anderson, first-year assistant Alle Durkin and consultant Jody Brainard.
Fresh Faces on Staff
Alle Durkin and Jody Brainard enter their first year with the Cowgirls. Durkin, a former rider at Texas A&M joins Carter Anderson as OSU’s second assistant Jumping Seat coach. Prior to her time at Texas A&M, Durkin trained under the tutelage of several leaders in the equestrian world, such as Kevin Babington and Kenny and Linda Langmeier. While working with Babington as a student worker, she developed skills in training and caring for top-level horses, along with gaining experience in business and equine management activities. Brainard, uncle of OSU Western assistant coach Laura Brainard, joins OSU as a consultant in the Reining event. Brainard brings over 40 years of experience to OSU’s team, highlighted by his time spent as a professional horseman and his established credibility in training horses. He’s held titles such as official, researcher, monitor and mentor to go along with his status as a professional.
Conference Leaders
The Cowgirls went 6-2 against Big 12 opponents last season, including two wins on their way to the program’s second conference championship three-peat, something no team in the Big 12 has done.
An Oklahoma State Win Would...
- Make it 11-straight wins against TCU at home, dating back to 2014.
- Be the 17th home-opening victory in 18 years, dating to 2007.
- Improve its overall record to 28-13 against TCU.
- Would be the first time OSU took down the top-ranked team in the NCEA since 2022.
Who to Watch
“We are really looking forward to getting our season started this Thursday afternoon,” head coach Larry Sanchez said. “It is going to be a great meet as our girls are riding really well and we have a great opponent in TCU who ranked first in the polls.”
Cowgirl MOPs
- Junior Riley Hogan is coming off a breakthrough sophomore campaign, which culminated in her first All-American selection. She went 13-3 in Fences in 2022-23 and earned four MOPs, two of which coming against Lynchburg as she rode both Fences and Flat.
- Claire McDowall looks to emerge as one of the top Horsemanship riders in the country this season. The senior has compiled a career record of 19-4-1 in two seasons and is coming off her first All-American selection.
- Sydney North returned to OSU for her graduate year. North has been a four-year starter and looks to compile one of the highest win totals in a Cowgirl career in program history.
- Quincee Clark came away with many crucial points for the Cowgirls in the 2022-23 season. The junior already has two years of experience under her belt and almost 20 career wins to her name.
- Second-year captain Grace McReynolds enters her senior season as one of the most complete Jumping Seat riders on the OSU roster. Specializing primarily in Flat, McReynolds is a capable competitor in Fences as well.
