by Leigh Ann Matthews
Photos courtesy of Jack Jones, sports information director, Cowgirl Equestrian Team
The Oklahoma State University Cowgirl Equestrian Team defeated Texas Christian University 11–8 to earn its fifth consecutive and eleventh overall Big 12 Championship title at KSM Bear Creek Farms in Burleson, Texas, on March 28–29, 2025. Hosted by Texas Christian University, the championship event included teams from Baylor University, Fresno State University, OSU, and TCU, competing in four events in two disciplines: western (horsemanship, reining) and jumping seat (flat, fences).
For the second consecutive year, five OSU Cowgirl riders earned All–Big 12 status and six overall accolades. Riley Hogan earned a spot on the fences and flat team. Claire McDowall, June Robertson, Abby Budd, and Emma Filiatreau highlighted the western discipline, with McDowall and Roberson earning spots on the horsemanship team and Filiatreau and Clark on the reining team.
The Cowgirl Equestrian Team also traveled to the national championship of the National Collegiate Equestrian Association in Florida but fell to Texas A & M in the quarterfinals. The number two-seeded Cowgirl team and six-seeded Aggies battled it out to a 10-10 tie, but the Cowgirl team lost the tiebreaker and was eliminated from the competition.
An Influential Coach
Leading the OSU Equestrian program, head coach Larry Sanchez entered the season in his 26th year at Oklahoma State and continues to bring national titles to Stillwater year after year. Sanchez commented, “I am proud of this team, not just for their accomplishments in the arena today, but all year long, we’ve gone through a lot. We had some big wins, and we had some losses this year that we learned a lot from. They grew closer as a unit, and I think that’s one of the things that I’m the most proud of.”
According to the OSU website, Sanchez and the OSU Cowgirl Equestrian Team have been represented at the national championships every year, winning the overall national title in 2022 and individual titles in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2013. Sanchez also led the team to Big 12 championships in 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Sanchez is one of the most respected and successful equestrian coaches in the country and has been essential in the move toward varsity recognition in equestrian sport. He is the spokesperson for the Varsity Equestrian Steering Committee,
which is responsible for the development, organization, and implementation of all aspects of assembling varsity equestrian as an emerging National Collegiate Athletic Association sport.
The Cowgirl Equestrian team is also supported by the rest of the coaching staff, Laura Brainard, western assistant coach; Carter Anderson, jumping seat assistant coach; Alia Durkin, jumping seat assistant coach; and Jody Brainard, reining assistant coach.
The travel team for the Big 12 Championship included Piper Anderson, Tristan Bagby, Sheridan Baringer, Peyton Baxter, Abby Budd, Ava Bush, Mackenzie Carreras, Quincee Clark, Lili Corbin, Hannah Dodd, Bella D’Onofrio, Ellie DuPuis, Emma Filiatreau, Gable Geering, Emma Hechtman, Riley Hogan, Bella Holway, Alie Hunter, Olivia Klug, Cadence Kueker, Ainsley Larcombe, Lourdes Low, Claire McDowall, Jalyn McElmurray, Caroline Mirts, Lauren Pursley, Katie Ramsey, June Roberson, Kate Roman, Avery Schauder, Alana Tietz, and Zoe Williams.
OSU Equestrian Facilities
The OSU Equestrian facilities in Stillwater include arenas for practice and exercising horses. The main practice arena is the Atherton Family Arena, a 135 x 270 covered arena with windscreens. Others include the Pedigo-Hull Equestrian Center, located on a 50-acre farm, and the climate-controlled indoor Totusek Arena. Team meetings and other activities are held in the Nielson-Vargo Team Building.
Approximately 60 horses are used for practice and NCEA collegiate competitions. They include western and jumping-seat horses acquired from donors across the country.
