TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The College of Charleston equestrian team opens the 2011-12 season at Little Pond Farm on Saturday, Oct. 15 at a show hosted by Florida State. Over a dozen schools from around the region will be represented.

Head coach Bob Story is excited to get his riders back into the ring for another run at national prestige.

"We have another good group this year," said Story. "We've got some new kids that have looked strong so far but competition is always different than practice so I'm excited to see how they handle it.

"Our region is continuing to get stronger which is exciting. The caliber of riders is increasing which I like to see. The heightened competition presents a challenge in our riders to 'ride up' to the level of the opposition."

Last season, the Cougars sent three riders to 2011 IHSA National Championship Horse Show in Lexington, Ky., highlighted by MacKenzie Russell's  national championship in the Individual Walk Trot Canter class and the perpetual John Conyers Memorial Trophy.

Story, entering his 28th year at the helm, has led the program to a rich tradition of success. The group routinely places in the top-10 at nationals and has had 16 individual national champions over the last 25 years. The program has placed in the top-10 at nationals 21 of the last 23 years.