WACO, Texas – The National Collegiate Equestrian Association announced the 2021 Riders of the Year.
Auburn’s Taylor St. Jacques earned the Fences Rider of the Year award, while Baylor’s Rachael Davis took home Flat accolades.
The SMU Mustangs swept the Western awards with Nya Kearns earning Horsemanship Rider of the Year and Dani Latimer named the Reining Rider of the Year.
USEF Riders of the Year
Fences Rider of the Year – Taylor St. Jacques, Auburn
· Finished the season with an undefeated 9-0 record
· Earned 3 MOP honors
· Was named the SEC Fences Rider of the Year and All-SEC
· Garnered Ariat All-America First Team honors
· Named the SEC Fences Rider of the Month for February
· Averaged an 86.6 in the regular season
Flat Rider of the Year – Rachael Davis, Baylor
· Had a perfect 11-0 record in the event
· Garnered 3 MOP accolades
· Named Big 2 Flat Rider of the Year and Championship MOP for Flat
· NCEA Flat Rider of the Month for March
· Three-time Ariat All-American
· Averaged an 81.86 in the regular season
Horsemanship Rider of the Year – Nya Kearns, SMU
· Finished the season with a 10-1 record
· Earned 4 MOP honors
· Averaged a 76.33 in the regular season
· Three-time ECAC Rider of the Week, ECAC February Rider of the Month and ECAC Horsemanship Rider of the Year
· Named the NCEA March Rider of the Month and earned All-Championship team accolades
· Garnered Ariat All-America First Team honors
Reining Rider of the Year – Dani Latimer, SMU
· Finished with a 7-2-2 record
· Garnered 3 MOP accolades
· Averaged a 71.42 in the regular season
· Went undefeated at nationals, earning a 223.5 in the championship final
· ECAC Rider of the Week and All-ECAC Reining
· Earned All-Championship team honors and Nationals Reining MOP