Sisters Power Auburn Equestrian on Championship Ride

By: Jeff Shearer, Auburn Tigers

AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn’s equestrian program constructed a dynasty based on 40 members competing as one unit, a concept four riders lived out long before they arrived on the Plains.

Two sets of sisters – the Tordoffs and Buchanans – have helped Auburn reach the NCEA Championships this week in Ocala, Florida.

“I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself,” said senior Olivia Tordoff, a three-time NCEA First-Team All-American in horsemanship. “We fell in love with it from a young age and really wanted to do it.”

“I knew all the Auburn traditions through my sister,” freshman Alexia Tordoff said. “I knew in my heart that Auburn was the best fit for me.”

Alexia’s hunch turned out to be on target. Making an immediate impact, she earned SEC Freshman Rider of the Year honors in horsemanship and reining.

“I really wanted to set myself apart in two events,” said Alexia, who earned All-SEC honors in horsemanship and made the All-Freshman teams in horsemanship and reining. “I have a lot of great coaches who have helped me along the way.”

Alexia Tordoff went 9-3-1 in horsemanship and 7-5-1 in reining in her debut season, earning four Most Outstanding Performer awards in reining and one in horsemanship.

“She is probably one of the most talented people I’ve ever seen on a horse,” Olivia said. “She loves to go fast. She might yell at me for going too slow and I might yell at her for being a little too wild but we balance each other out well.”

“Olivia is known in the horse community for being such a polished equestrian,” said younger sister Alexia.

“Ultimately, my hope is that Alexia and I can work together to pull the team as much as we can,” said Olivia Tordoff, who earned All-SEC horsemanship recognition by going 8-5 and winning a team-best five MOP honors. “It’s a stressful week but we’re excited about it.”

Like the Tordoffs, the Buchanans complement each other’s riding styles.

“I like the horses that like to push your buttons,” Kate Buchanan said. “My sister is the opposite. She likes the ones that are a little closer to the ground.”

While the Tordoffs headed south from Ohio to the Plains, the Buchanans traveled east from Arizona, going farther in that direction than Texas for the first time in their lives.

“When I saw the first meet, I realized this is something I want to do,” said Kate Buchanan, a junior who went 7-4-1 in reining this season to earn her first All-SEC honors.

When freshman Caroline Buchanan visited Auburn, she experienced the same welcoming feeling that steered her older sister to the Plains.

“Once I found out I could go to college and ride horses at the same time, it made it an obvious decision,” said Caroline, who earned four reining wins in her rookie season to earn a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team. “I’m really thankful my sister was on the team before I was because it showed me what it was going to be like.”

Inseparable while growing up, the Buchanan sisters’ reunion this season restored in older sister Kate something and someone who had been missing.

“I got my best friend back,” Kate said. “I get to see her all the time.”

There may be two sets of siblings riding western for Auburn equestrian, but according to the Tordoffs and Buchanans, they aren’t the only Sister Acts riding for the Tigers.

“It’s nice having a sister on the team but I think 38 other girls are my sisters as well,” Alexia Tordoff said.

“We’ve had this incredible opportunity to be on a team together but it would never sacrifice our relationship with the 38 other girls on the team,” Olivia Tordoff said. “At the end of the day, it’s all Auburn for us. We care about serving this community, serving our teammates to the best of our ability, and we’re really hoping to bring a national championship home for everybody.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer