Junior Haley Jacobi advanced to the second round in equitation over fences last Friday at the third annual Collegiate Equitation Challenge in Wellington, Fla.

However, Jacobi lost to University of South Carolina junior Kimmy McCormack during the second round action.

McCormack later won the equitation over fences championship that night and has won a major award every year she has ridden for the Gamecocks.

“Haley was incredible on Friday. She rode beautifully in her first round and was a terrific example of what TCU is all about,” Logan Fiorentino, hunt seat head coach, said.

In the preliminary round, Jacobi received 81 points and won by 21 points, which was the largest point spread from all of the first round competitors.

“She’s worked really hard at her sport and it’s really paid off for her,” Fiorentino said. “I think she has a lot of ability that doesn’t just happen, you have to work for it. She’s willing to work for it.”

There were 15 other riders in the competition, which was held in a tournament format.

Freshman Kaitlin Perry also performed as a demonstration rider for the equitation on the flat competition, which was a new event this year. Perry was selected by Fiorentino to be the demo rider because she felt Perry would represent TCU and the equestrian team well.

“Kaitlin did well for her first time in an environment like [the Winter Equestrian Festival]. She represented TCU well, and the experience really helped her as we look ahead to April,” Fiorentino said.

The equestrian team will compete next as a group at the Best of the West Tournament on Feb. 18-19. in Fresno, Calif.