UTA Unveils Dream Spirit Horse Statue

The University of Texas at Arlington revealed its newest spirit horse on the Janet and Mike Greene Research Quadrangle, kicking off homecoming week.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Large Animals

UTA unveiled Dream, a new spirit horse statue, on the Janet and Mike Greene Research Quadrangle. The unveiling kicked off a week of homecoming celebrations.

Why it matters

Dream joins a herd of 17 other spirit horses that represent the university's Maverick spirit and its students. The statue is a student-designed artistic representation of UTA, giving the Arlington campus a new landmark for its homecoming festivities.

Dream is the newest of 18 spirit horses on UTA's campus, joining a herd of 17 others in the Spirit Horse Program. The source does not specify the statue's cost or materials.

The players

University of Texas at Arlington

A public research university in Arlington, Texas, whose athletic teams are known as the Mavericks and whose Spirit Horse Program places student-designed horse statues across campus.

Ashley Ross

An art sophomore at UTA who designed and painted the Dream spirit horse statue.

The details

Artist Ashley Ross, an art sophomore, submitted a sketch in July and began painting Dream in October. The design, built from the prompt 'Share dreams, bold futures,' includes gears holding a light bulb, graduation cap, books, and people, with the words UTA and dream on either side of the horse.

July: Ross submitted her sketch application.
September: Ross was selected for the Dream project.
October: Ross began painting Dream.
November 10, 2026: Dream was unveiled, starting homecoming week.

Season Trajectory

Dream follows the September unveiling of Maximus, extending the Spirit Horse Program's run of student-designed statues on the UTA campus. Each new horse adds to a herd that now stands at 18, with the program continuing to tie campus traditions to student artistry.

Arlington residents and visitors can view Dream on the Janet and Mike Greene Research Quadrangle during homecoming week. The statue adds a new stop for those walking the campus during the celebrations.

The takeaway

Campus statues like Dream turn student artwork into lasting symbols of university identity. Visitors to the UTA campus can make the Spirit Horse herd a regular stop on their route.