WACO, Texas – The National Collegiate Equestrian Association has announced the Educated Rider Standout Student-Athlete and NCEA Horse of the Month awards for the month of January, as voted on by the NCEA Awards Committee, released Thursday.
 
TCU's Sydney Feager is honored as the Educated Rider Standout Student-Athlete of the Month, while Texas A&M's Celsius is given the spotlight as the Horse of the Month.

Educated Rider Standout Student-Athlete of the Month
Every month the NCEA recognizes student-athletes for their accomplishments in the ring, however the NCEA would like to highlight athletes on their outstanding performances outside of the ring, including academics, philanthropy, outstanding attitude, and embodiment of an ideal teammate.
Name of Student-Athlete: Sydney Feager
School & Year: TCU, Sophomore
Hometown: Wright City, Mo.
Major: Undeclared
Highlighted Accomplishments: 
Sydney Feager has had the opportunity of working at Saving Hope since her beginning of last school year as an animal care attendant. Saving Hope will rescue almost any animal you can think of, and Feager is able to deal with new liters of baby dogs and grown adult dogs every day. She even had the opportunity to adopt one of the dogs she cared for, Walsh! Saving Hope is a no kill schedule, and Feager has been able to deal with several medical cases which has expanded her knowledge of the veterinary world.

In addition, Feager has overcame quite a lot to get to TCU. During high school, she was in a terrible car accident that put her in the hospital for weeks, and required a long recovery. However, she was able to persevere, recover and get to TCU where she plays an integral role in the team and has experienced a great deal of success so far this season, posting a record of 3-3-1 during her sophomore season with an MOP. Her whole story can be found in the Straight from the Rider’s Mouth feature here.


Horse of the Month
This highlight is focused on an outstanding horse, not just one that gets high score every meet or an “MOP horse” but one that shows heart and represents the values of its respective school.
Name of Horse (Barn & Show Name): Celsius
Discipline: Fences
School: Texas A&M
Leased By: Shufelt Family
Highlighted Accomplishments: 
Traditionally always the highest scoring horse & MOP winner. This past weekend he received MOP honors with his South Carolina rider. Named Flat Horse MOP at the 2025 NCEA National Championship.
Coach's Comments:
Loaned to Texas A&M Equestrian by the Shufelt Family, 17 year old Celsius is in his 5th season with the team, and is an absolute standout horse. Celsius competes for the Aggies over fences & on the flat, and travels with the team to post season competition. He is traditionally always the highest scoring horse & MOP winner. This past weekend he received MOP honors with his South Carolina rider. He is the draw that every rider gets most excited for. Celsius absolutely loves to compete. He was named Flat Horse MOP at the 2025 NCEA National Championship. You can see the focus in his eye as he goes in for his course or pattern. He turns it on when it is most needed. As well as being a competitor, he is an absolute cuddler in the barn and on the ground. He is spoiled rotten by his 20 athletes. Celsius is one of the most amazing horses that Texas A&M Equestrian has on property. He is the definition of a standout horse.

About Educated Rider
Educated Rider empowers young equestrians to take their collegiate recruiting journey by the reins. Founded by former Division I NCEA athlete Raegan Rast, Educated Rider provides courses, one-on-one coaching, and practical tools built from firsthand experience in the sport and the recruiting process. Since launching, Educated Rider has supported more than 30 riders in committing to top Division I equestrian programs across the country. With a focus on clarity, confidence, and long-term success, Educated Rider helps student-athletes and their families navigate recruiting with a trusted partner by their side.
 
About the NCEA
A non-profit corporation, the NCEA is a governing body to advance the sport of equestrian. The NCEA is responsible for the development and administration of equestrian rules and guidelines. Equestrian is subject to all NCAA policies and procedures in the same manner as other sports. In 1998, Equestrian was identified and adopted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Committee on Women's Athletics (CWA) as an emerging sport for women at the Division I and II levels. 
 
NCEA competitions are in a head-to-head format, and schools may choose to compete as a single or dual discipline team (Jumping Seat and Western). Each discipline has two events: in Jumping Seat, Fences and Flat, and in Western, Horsemanship and Reining. Teams can have five riders per event, with horses assigned by random draw at the start of the competition. Riders from opposing teams compete on the same horse, and whichever rider receives the higher score earns one point for her team. The level of difficulty is demonstrated by the accuracy of the pattern and how the competitor uses the horse to the best of her ability.
 
To stay up to date all year long on all things NCEA Equestrian, follow the organization on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @NCEA_Equestrian and @ncea_eq.