Texas A&M equestrian’s three-time defending national champion western team has earned the top seed for next month’s National Collegiate Equestrian Championships, the NCEA selection committee announced this week.

The Aggie western riders (10-2) get a first-round bye in the 12-team bracket, and will face either No. 8-seed Fresno State or No. 9-seed New Mexico State in the quarterfinals on Thursday, April 12 at the Extraco Events Center in Waco.

Meanwhile, A&M’s hunter seat team (7-5) has been seeded seventh and will meet No. 10-seed Fresno State in the first round, also on April 12. A victory would pit the Aggies against No. 2-seed and future SEC rival South Carolina in the quarterfinals.

Semifinals in both disciplines are scheduled for April 13 and the championship April 14. The championships are run in a bracket-style format by seed, much like that seen in college basketball. Each discipline crowns a team national champion with an overall national champion determined via point system.

Texas A&M will return to action next weekend when the Aggies look to defend their title at the Big 12 Championship, set for March 30 and 31 at Timbercreek Stables in Manhattan, Kan.

2012 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE EQUESTRIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS FIELD
April 12-14 * Extraco Events Center * Waco, Texas

WESTERN
1. Texas A&M
2. Oklahoma State
3. Georgia
4. Auburn
5. South Carolina
6. Kansas State
7. Baylor
8. Fresno State
9. New Mexico State
10. Texas Christian
11. South Dakota State
12. Tennessee-Martin

HUNTER SEAT
1. Auburn
2. South Carolina
3. Georgia
4. Baylor
5. Southern Methodist
6. New Mexico State
7. Texas A&M
8. Texas Christian
9. Kansas State
10. Fresno State
11. Oklahoma State
12. Tennessee-Martin