Oklahoma State University Athletics
Brainard Hired As Oklahoma State Equestrian Assistant Coach
June 17, 2019 | Cowgirl Equestrian
STILLWATER – Laura Brainard is Oklahoma State equestrian's new western assistant coach, head coach Larry Sanchez announced today.
Brainard spent last season at Baylor, where she assisted in coaching the Bears' Reining squad to a No. 1 ranking heading into national competition. Her guidance helped Sydney Scheckel to first-team All-America and Big 12 Reining Rider of the Year honors.
Before spending last season at Baylor, Brainard coached three years at Georgia as the western assistant coach. She helped lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back SEC Championships and back-to-back NCEA National Championship runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2018.
Two of Brainard's former riders at Georgia, Graysen Stroud and Jordan Carpenter, garnered All-America honors in Reining this past season. Stroud was also named Co-NCEA Reining Rider of the Year with SMU's Madison Steed.
Brainard will have the luxury of coaching a former NCEA Reining Rider of the Year for the Cowgirls with team captain Hannah Mitchell, who won the award in 2017 as a freshman.
In the 2017-18 season, Brainard helped coach two SEC Riders of the Year and totaled five All-America honors over the season. During her three years at Georgia, her Western student-athletes collected 13 All-America selections.
Brainard graduated with a B.S. in Agriculture Economics from Texas A&M in 2013 before completing her Master of Science degree in Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications in May of 2015. She is also a third generation NRHA judge.
Year by Year
2018-19: Baylor - Assistant western coach
2015-18: Georgia - Assistant western coach
2014-15: Texas A&M - Volunteer assistant western coach
Brainard spent last season at Baylor, where she assisted in coaching the Bears' Reining squad to a No. 1 ranking heading into national competition. Her guidance helped Sydney Scheckel to first-team All-America and Big 12 Reining Rider of the Year honors.
Before spending last season at Baylor, Brainard coached three years at Georgia as the western assistant coach. She helped lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back SEC Championships and back-to-back NCEA National Championship runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2018.
Two of Brainard's former riders at Georgia, Graysen Stroud and Jordan Carpenter, garnered All-America honors in Reining this past season. Stroud was also named Co-NCEA Reining Rider of the Year with SMU's Madison Steed.
Brainard will have the luxury of coaching a former NCEA Reining Rider of the Year for the Cowgirls with team captain Hannah Mitchell, who won the award in 2017 as a freshman.
In the 2017-18 season, Brainard helped coach two SEC Riders of the Year and totaled five All-America honors over the season. During her three years at Georgia, her Western student-athletes collected 13 All-America selections.
"Coach Brainard has proven herself to be one of the best coaches in our sport and I am very fortunate to have her join my staff," Sanchez said. "She is an excellent recruiter and will help us continue to bring championships to OSU."
Prior to her time at Georgia, Brainard was a volunteer assistant coach at her alma mater, Texas A&M, where she was a standout rider. In her four years with the Aggies, Texas A&M collected consecutive western national titles in 2011 and 2012, as well as the overall team title in 2012. She earned All-SEC status in Horsemanship her junior season.Brainard graduated with a B.S. in Agriculture Economics from Texas A&M in 2013 before completing her Master of Science degree in Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications in May of 2015. She is also a third generation NRHA judge.
Year by Year
2018-19: Baylor - Assistant western coach
2015-18: Georgia - Assistant western coach
2014-15: Texas A&M - Volunteer assistant western coach
Players Mentioned
/ Cowgirl Equestrian
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