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 February, as voted on by the NCEA Awards Committee, released Thursday.
 
Georgia's Tessa Brown was selected as the Educated Rider Standout Student-Athlete of the Month, while the entire herd of UC Davis is given the spotlight for a non-traditional Horse of the Month honor.

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: Tessa Brown
School & Year: Georgia, Senior
Hometown: Bloomfield, Conn.
Major: Public Relations
Highlighted Accomplishments: 
Pen Pal Program
• In the Fall of 2023, Tessa worked to find a way to become more involved in the youth groups of UGA’s surrounding community. 
With the help of some mentors in the Georgia Way, she came up with an idea to create a pen pal project. This project involves 10 fourth grade elementary school students at the Barrow Elementary school. Tessa has a group of 10 UGA athletes to be paired with these young students. The goal of the pen pal system is to create a relationship with a UGA athlete and a young Athens student. In addition to the letters, she will be going and teaching lessons to this group about health, the concept of balance, the concept of respect, the concept of happiness and what it means to take care of your mind and body. This program aims to unite communities, empower young minds and create relationships that work towards growing each day.

Peach of an Athlete - Tessa will be honored on March 17 with the Top Female Athlete of the 2026 class of Peach of an Athlete Role Model Honorees. She was nominated by our school for her outstanding achievements in and out of her sport, while exemplifying the qualities of a great role model. This honor is given to the top collegiate athletes in the state of Georgia by the he Atlanta Area Council, Scouting America.

Coach's Comments:
Tessa Brown has had a banner year thus far, and particularly notable for March with her Peach of an Athlete Award. This award is from student athletes at colleges throughout the state of Georgia. For Tess to even be nominated is an honor, and to be named the top female athlete is an outstanding accomplishment for her. Tess has also created a Pen Pal program that has been a huge part of community service within Georgia Athletics, and has created wonderful relationships with local school children. Not only is Tess a stellar student, and a top contributor in the community, but she also starts in both Fences and in Flat. Including just earning a co-flat rider of the month honor for SEC. Tess is a captain and a leader who is instrumental to the success of our team both in and out of the competition arena. -Associate Head Jumping Seat Coach Anna Becker

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): UC Davis' herd
School: UC Davis
Coach's Comments: 
Every one of our incredible equine athletes deserves to be celebrated for the role they have played in our team’s success and in the lives of the riders. Day after day, they show up for us with patience, generosity, and heart, sharing their talent and giving so much more than just their athletic ability.

Horses are the reason we all do this sport. They are what brought our team together and what made this program possible. Without them there would be no rides, no competitions, and no lessons learned both in and out of the arena. They are our teachers, our partners, and often our quiet support system when we need it most.

We are deeply grateful to the horse owners and donors who have so generously shared their horses with our program over the years. Because of you, countless riders were given the opportunity to learn, grow, and experience the partnership that makes our sport so special.

To the other teams, treasure it. Give them an extra hug, an extra carrot, and never take a single ride for granted. Whether it’s preparing for competition, studying for finals, or simply finding a moment of peace in the barn, these horses are always there for us.

The lessons, memories, and hoofprints these horses have left on our hearts will last a lifetime. For everything they have given to our riders, our team, and our Aggie community, we are proud to recognize and celebrate them all together.

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.