The Fresno State equestrian team is set to save a cowboy and ride some horses for the next three days, as it will be participating in the 2007 Varsity Equestrian National Championship show today through Friday.

The Bulldogs have a full contingent of riders who will be competing in the VEC, which will consist of multiple events in the English and Western riding styles.

The tournament, which will be held at the Heart O̢۪ Texas Fair Complex in Waco, Texas, will consist of only the nation̢۪s top 12-ranked teams from each discipline.

In the English portion of the competition, Fresno State will compete as the No. 8 seed and will take on No. 9 seed Tennessee-Martin. The winner will advance to face No. 1 seed South Carolina.

Tennessee-Martin competed at the Fresno State “Best of the West” show on March 4. The Bulldogs won the six-team event and defeated UT Martin 64 to 46. However, in the English competition both teams won three matches each but UT Martin won the tiebreaker.

The Bulldogs Eastern riders shouldn̢۪t have any nerves about a potential second-round contest with the Gamecocks. Fresno State tied South Carolina 10-10 in the first show of the season.

Fresno State is the No. 9 seed in the Western bracket and will face No. 8 Baylor in the opening round.

The Bulldogs would face No. 1 seeded Texas A&M in the second round. Fresno State lost at home to the Aggies 13-6 on Feb. 18.