Stevie Brown Wins Inaugural NCEA YETI Workhorse Award
4/15/2026 5:45:00 PM | Equestrian
WACO, Texas – Stevie Brown, a senior at the University of Tennessee at Martin, has been named the first-ever recipient of the National Collegiate Equestrian Association YETI Workhorse Award.
This inaugural award honors the teammate who fully embodies the mission and heart of the team. She is the student-athlete who supports her teammates, cares deeply for the equine athletes and defines success not solely by wins and losses in the competition ring but by the dedication and effort she brings to the barn and locker room every single day. She radiates positivity, work ethic and unwavering commitment. She elevates those around her, instilling confidence and belief in their ability to achieve their goals. Often an unsung hero, her impact is felt in every aspect of the program – her teammates and coaches know she plays an essential role in the team's record, culture and lasting legacy.
A Shelby, NC native, Brown was announced as one of four finalists for this award on Monday. Other finalists included Baylor's Lauren Stebbins, Georgia's Kinsey Cooper and SMU's Ava Peck.
Brown made 13 starts in reining this season, tying for the team lead with seven victories. She ended the 2025-26 campaign as one of the hottest Skyhawks, winning six of her final seven decisions down the stretch. That run included head-to-head victories over three ranked teams (No. 1 Auburn on Jan. 31, No. 8 Fresno State on March 6 and No. 10 Baylor on March 6) as well as a career-best 79-point effort – tied for the highest score by any UT Martin reining rider all season – against Eastern College Athletic Conference rival Minnesota-Crookston on Feb. 21.
In the classroom, Brown was recognized with a NCEA All-Academic second team award earlier this month. That marked the second time in her Skyhawk career that she had brought home a national academic award as she is completing her undergraduate degree in veterinary science.
Outside of the arena, Brown has served as a barn manager for the UT Martin equestrian herd of more than 40 horses, taking ownership of critical operations that keep the program running and reduces operational costs. She organizes farrier days, oversees barn chores and laundry and manages the blanketing program – ensuring each horse is cared for appropriately as weather conditions change. She also serves as a teaching assistant in multiple Horse Science labs on campus. In that role, she helps organize and run lab sessions while also playing a hands-on role in educating fellow students. She leads efforts in collecting fecal samples, coordinating deworming schedules and assists with vaccinations – bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world application.
Brown also took the initiative to organize a team community service day at the Red Fern Animal Shelter – a primitive outdoor non-profit no-kill facility that had been overwhelmed following a difficult winner. After connecting with the owner, she gathered a detailed wish list of projects that was two years in the making and led the Skyhawk equestrian team in tackling every item in just three hours. She managed 71 hours of community service during the 2025-26 season alone.
"Stevie represents the very best of our program," UT Martin head coach Kim Leiter-Janes said. "Her impact is defined by her consistency, humility and willingness to do whatever is needed without being asked. She is often the first to step in and the last to leave, taking pride in the behind-the-scenes work that allows our team and horses to perform at a high level. As a coach, she is someone I trust completely. Whether given a task or simply an idea, she takes full ownership and sees it through to fruition. Her ability to balance the demands of being a student-athlete, team leader and caretaker of our equine herd speaks to her character and commitment."
Brown will return to the Skyhawk program in 2026-27 for a fifth year to compete as a student-athlete while pursuing a Master's degree. She also will serve as a graduate assistant for the UT Martin Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources.
This inaugural award honors the teammate who fully embodies the mission and heart of the team. She is the student-athlete who supports her teammates, cares deeply for the equine athletes and defines success not solely by wins and losses in the competition ring but by the dedication and effort she brings to the barn and locker room every single day. She radiates positivity, work ethic and unwavering commitment. She elevates those around her, instilling confidence and belief in their ability to achieve their goals. Often an unsung hero, her impact is felt in every aspect of the program – her teammates and coaches know she plays an essential role in the team's record, culture and lasting legacy.
A Shelby, NC native, Brown was announced as one of four finalists for this award on Monday. Other finalists included Baylor's Lauren Stebbins, Georgia's Kinsey Cooper and SMU's Ava Peck.
Brown made 13 starts in reining this season, tying for the team lead with seven victories. She ended the 2025-26 campaign as one of the hottest Skyhawks, winning six of her final seven decisions down the stretch. That run included head-to-head victories over three ranked teams (No. 1 Auburn on Jan. 31, No. 8 Fresno State on March 6 and No. 10 Baylor on March 6) as well as a career-best 79-point effort – tied for the highest score by any UT Martin reining rider all season – against Eastern College Athletic Conference rival Minnesota-Crookston on Feb. 21.
In the classroom, Brown was recognized with a NCEA All-Academic second team award earlier this month. That marked the second time in her Skyhawk career that she had brought home a national academic award as she is completing her undergraduate degree in veterinary science.
Outside of the arena, Brown has served as a barn manager for the UT Martin equestrian herd of more than 40 horses, taking ownership of critical operations that keep the program running and reduces operational costs. She organizes farrier days, oversees barn chores and laundry and manages the blanketing program – ensuring each horse is cared for appropriately as weather conditions change. She also serves as a teaching assistant in multiple Horse Science labs on campus. In that role, she helps organize and run lab sessions while also playing a hands-on role in educating fellow students. She leads efforts in collecting fecal samples, coordinating deworming schedules and assists with vaccinations – bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world application.
Brown also took the initiative to organize a team community service day at the Red Fern Animal Shelter – a primitive outdoor non-profit no-kill facility that had been overwhelmed following a difficult winner. After connecting with the owner, she gathered a detailed wish list of projects that was two years in the making and led the Skyhawk equestrian team in tackling every item in just three hours. She managed 71 hours of community service during the 2025-26 season alone.
"Stevie represents the very best of our program," UT Martin head coach Kim Leiter-Janes said. "Her impact is defined by her consistency, humility and willingness to do whatever is needed without being asked. She is often the first to step in and the last to leave, taking pride in the behind-the-scenes work that allows our team and horses to perform at a high level. As a coach, she is someone I trust completely. Whether given a task or simply an idea, she takes full ownership and sees it through to fruition. Her ability to balance the demands of being a student-athlete, team leader and caretaker of our equine herd speaks to her character and commitment."
Brown will return to the Skyhawk program in 2026-27 for a fifth year to compete as a student-athlete while pursuing a Master's degree. She also will serve as a graduate assistant for the UT Martin Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources.
Players Mentioned
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