COLUMBIA, SC – South Carolina head coach Carol Gwin has announced the 2025-26 Equestrian schedule, kicking off the regular season at home against SMU.
“We’re looking forward to playing this challenging schedule after coming off a very successful year,” Gwin said. “Our girls have been battle tested and have shown the world we’re here to compete, and that will be no different as we head into this new season”.
The Gamecocks come off a championship 2024-25 season, finishing 9-6 overall with an SEC Tournament Title and an appearance in the NCEA semifinals. The Gamecocks took down seven top-10 ranked teams along the way, including No. 1 Auburn in the SEC semifinals to make it to the championship meet against No. 4 Texas A&M. South Carolina then continued its streak, defeating No. 3 TCU in a monster 13-6 win in the opening round of the NCEA Championship.
Five Gamecocks were named NCEA Ariat All-Americans, including Natalie Jayne (First Team, Flat), Amira Kettaneh (Second Team, Flat & Fences), Mary Hunter Millet (Second Team, Flat), Sophie Mitchell (Hon. Mention, Flat), and Haley Turner (Hon. Mention, Reining). Kettaneh (Flat) and Olivia Cardi (Reining) were named SEC Freshman Rider of the Year for their respective discipline, while Jayne, Kettaneh, and Turner each picked up All-SEC honors.
Four newcomers were named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, with Alyssa Bauer and Kettaneh receiving the nod for Fences, and Opal Fomish, along with Cardi, picking up honors for Reining. Mya Pinski was named to the SEC Community Service Team.
The 2025-26 schedule features seven non-conference opponents, and home/away series with all three fellow SEC schools (Auburn, Georgia, Texas A&M).
The Gamecocks will open up at home in Blythewood against powerhouse SMU on Friday, Sept. 26. South Carolina most recently faced the Mustangs in the semifinal round of the NCEA Championship (April 18), with five Gamecocks taking their point against SMU opponents. The crew will stay home to open up SEC play, taking on Texas A&M on Friday, Oct. 17. The Gamecocks last took on the Aggies in the SEC Championship (March 30), defeating them 11-8 to win the program’s third conference title.
South Carolina will then hit the road for the remainder of the fall, first heading to Athens to take on Georgia and UC Davis in a double header on Friday, Oct. 24. The Gamecocks then head to Tennessee, competing against UT Martin and SDSU Oct. 31-Nov.1. The fall will wrap up with one more SEC meet, with South Carolina facing Auburn on Saturday, Nov. 8.
In the spring, South Carolina Equestrian heads to Texas to open up 2026, competing against Baylor, Texas A&M, and SMU in a three-day stand, Jan. 29-31. The Gamecocks will finally return to their home turf to round out the regular season, welcoming Auburn (Feb. 7), Georgia (Feb. 14), Delaware State (March 6), and SDSU (March 7) to One Wood Farm.
South Carolina will face Auburn (Feb. 15) and Georgia (Feb. 22) on their home turf, then head to California to take on UC Davis (Feb. 28) and Fresno State (March 1). The Gamecocks will round out the regular season at home at One Wood Farm, facing UT Martin on Saturday, March 8.
The 2026 SEC Championship will be held March 27-28, followed by the NCEA Championship (date TBD) at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, FL.