TurnoutHQ+ Newsroom · Published March 6, 2026 · Updated September 8, 2026
Key Takeaway
The NCEA has named Baylor sophomore Isabelle Hildebrandt and South Dakota State’s "Rooster" as the student-athlete and horse of the month, highlighting the balance of academic excellence and equine reliability in collegiate sport.
What Happened
The National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) has announced its monthly honors for February, recognizing a standout student-athlete and a standout equine partner.
Isabelle Hildebrandt, a sophomore at Baylor University, has been named the Educated Rider Standout Student-Athlete of the Month. A native of Pearland, Texas, Hildebrandt is a Mechanical Engineering major who balances life in the saddle as a Reining competitor with high-level academic research.
The NCEA Horse of the Month title was awarded to "Rooster" (show name: A Shiney Scooter), a four-year-old Palomino gelding representing South Dakota State University (SDSU). Leased by Sissie Shank, the young gelding has quickly become a cornerstone of the Jackrabbits' Reining roster.
Why It Matters
These monthly awards highlight a unique aspect of collegiate equestrian sport: the requirement for extreme versatility and balance. Unlike traditional horse shows where riders compete on their own horses, NCEA competition is based on a "catch-ride" format.
For student-athletes like Hildebrandt, the "Standout" award underscores the rigor of the NCAA equestrian path. Maintaining a 4.0 GPA in a demanding STEM field while competing at the Division I level demonstrates the discipline required of modern collegiate riders. Hildebrandt’s work in a combustion research laboratory, focusing on near-zero emission energy systems, serves as a reminder that collegiate equestrianism is a gateway to diverse professional careers.
For the horses, the recognition of "Rooster" emphasizes the importance of temperament in the collegiate format. Because NCEA horses must perform for multiple different riders under pressure, a "Horse of the Month" is judged not just on athletic ability, but on reliability and heart. Despite being only four years old, Rooster’s coach described him as an "old soul" who handles the "shenanigans" of a college barn, including bareback and bridle-less riding, while remaining a top competitive draw.
Discipline Context
The NCEA oversees NCAA equestrian competition across Jumping Seat (Fences and Flat) and Western (Horsemanship and Reining) disciplines. Both of this month’s winners represent the Western discipline, specifically Reining.
In the NCEA format, Reining requires riders to execute a prescribed pattern of circles, spins, and sliding stops on a horse they have only met minutes prior. The success of a horse like Rooster, who earned Most Outstanding Performer (MOP) honors in three out of four meets this month, is vital to the league's integrity, as it provides a fair and high-quality platform for student-athletes to showcase their skills.
The awards also highlight the "Educated Rider" program, an initiative founded by former NCEA athlete Raegan Rast to help youth riders navigate the complex recruiting process for these prestigious programs.
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