The No. 8 equestrian program will have a chance to get even with No. 3 Texas A&M under the limelight at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Friday at 6 p.m.

The Aggies handed the then No. 2 seeded Horned Frogs a 7-1 loss last year to win the Varsity Equestrian Western National Championship – and the Horned Frogs are ready for a rematch.

Head coach Gary Reynolds said Friday’s event will absolutely be a rivalry match, and that last year’s championship loss was extra motivation in practice this week.

In five matches over four years, the Aggies own a 4-1 overall record against TCU.

“It’s a huge grudge match for us, so many girls on our team are friends with the girls on their team,” Reynolds said. “It’s a huge rivalry that we really enjoy, and we are glad to have (Texas A&M) up here for this match.”

While the indoor event may feel like a nice break from the elements of outdoor competitions for the riders, Reynolds believed that competing inside Will Rogers Coliseum won’t help or hinder the team’s performance.

“It’s just going to be a great match in front of a big crowd in a big arena,” he said. “It’s a tremendous venue to be able to show our sport off.”

While the Aggies are the defending Varsity Equestrian Western National Champions, the Horned Frogs won’t be using Texas A&M as a measuring stick for their success, he said.

“It’s another game and another team,” he said. “We’ve faced lots of really good teams. (Texas) A&M is a different squad from last year after graduating some girls, and so are we. We just take it one game at a time.”

The Horned Frogs are coming off a 13-7 victory over Tennessee-Martin. TCU outscored the Skyhawks 1358-1352.5. Ashley Aikman and Carrie von Uhlit both collected MVP honors.

Texas A&M has won five consecutive overall events after a 15-5 victory over winless Delaware State Saturday. Texas A&M’s western team, which is the only squad competing against the Horned Frogs Friday, extended its home unbeaten streak to 12.

Friday night’s match will be the Aggies’ second match of a double-header. Texas A&M’s first match will be Friday at 10 a.m. against SMU at their facility in Wilmer. Only the Aggies’ hunter seat squad will compete against SMU.

Dual Format

Friday’s match will be a tournament-style dual format that consists of four western riders per event, Reynolds said . Only the Western events of Equitation on the Flat, Equitation Over Fences and Horsemanship and Reining will be judged, according to GoFrogs.com.

Each team must ride the same horse, which TCU will provide.

TCU vs. Texas A&M

When: 6 p.m. today

Where: Will Rogers Coliseum

Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or the Will Rogers Memorial Center Rodeo Ticket Office.

For information and tickets check www.fwssr.com.