The No. 8-ranked SMU equestrian team will open the season Friday versus No. 6 TCU at Dallas Equestrian Center. The competition is slated to begin at 10:00 a.m. All fans are encouraged to join, as admission is free of charge. The home of SMU equestrian, Dallas Equestrian Center, is located at 8787 Park Ln, Dallas, Texas 75231, across the parking lot from TopGolf Dallas.
 
COACH GWIN QUOTABLES: "The team has been really working since we started the season. We have a lot of new people in the lineup and I am excited about our talent. TCU always has a quality team and I think it will be a good matchup."
 
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE HORNED FROGS: TCU holds a 7-6 edge over the Mustangs all-time. SMU knotted the series record following a season-opening 9-8 win at TCU. During the NCEA National Championship, the Horned Frogs edged the Mustangs, 8-7 in Waco, Texas.
 
ALL-AMERICAN CORNER: SMU returns two of its NCEA All-American's from the 2016-17 season in Vivian Yowan and Keagan Snively.
 
Yowan, an NCEA All-American Over Fences Second Team selection, posted a team-best 19-7-2 record, with an 11-3 mark over fences and 8-4-2 on the flat. The Darien, Conn., native was named the United Equestrian Conference (UEC) Equitation on the Flat Rider of the Year after posting a 7-3-1 record in the regular-season. Yowan also earned the Equitation Over Fences Freshman of the Year honor, following an 8-3 regular-season record which included four MOPs.
 
Following a 10-3 record and five MOPs, Snively was named to the NCEA Reining second team, and became the first western rider in program history to earn All-America status. The Winter Haven, Fla., posted an 8-3 mark, with four MOPs in the regular season, before back-to-back wins at the UEC Championship earned her the UEC Championship Reining MOP.

SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS: The Mustangs have 13 new faces on the squad, all bringing impressive accolades under their belts. SMU equestrian head coach Carol Gwin added Tova Barden, Kelsie Brittan, Brett Burlington, Elizabeth Ecclestone, Madison Johnson, Sophia Koolwick, Kirsten Ostling, Jill Pfisthner, Sharese Rivait, Ransome Rombauer, Haylee Schoonover, Charlotte Selby and Elle Young all join the squad. The Mustangs return 20 members from 2016, including two 2016-17 NCEA All-America honorees Vivian Yowan and Keagan Snively. SMU also brings back 2015-16 NCEA All-America Nora Gray.
 
PLAYING HOST: For the first time in program history, the SMU equestrian team will host the United Equestrian Conference tournament. The championship event will take place at SMU's home, the Dallas Equestrian Center, on March 30 and 31.
 
2016-17 RECAP: Last season, SMU posted a 7-7 overall record and finished atop the United Equestrian Conference for the second straight season with a 4-1 mark. After finishing tied for first in the regular season, the Ponies earning runner-up honors at the UEC Championship. After wins at then-No. 3 TCU and against then-No. 9 Oklahoma State to open the season, SMU earned its highest ranking in program history being ranked No. 4 in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) poll.
 
COACHING CORNER: Head coach Carol Gwin enters her fourth season as the head coach of the equestrian program. Gwin guided the Mustangs to a 7-7 overall record in 2016-17 and led the Mustangs to the top of the UEC for the second straight year with a 4-1 conference mark. The Mustangs finished the regular-season tied for first, before earning runner-up honors at the UEC Championship. After wins at then-No. 3 TCU and against then-No. 9 Oklahoma State to open the season, SMU earned its highest ranking in program history being ranked No. 4 in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) poll. In 2016-17, Gwin was named the United Equestrian Conference Co-Coach of the Year, and boasted four NCEA All-America honorees, including two second-team nods. The hunt seat program finished the season with a 9-3-2 combined record and outscored opponents 77-47. The western team finished with a 5-7-2 combined record, with a 7-6-1 record in horsemanship. SMU riders won 25 Most Outstanding Player awards.