Matt R.

A long time horse fan that grew up alongside farmland. Matt had longed to work with horses. However things just kept getting in the way until ironically 2020. Bedridden, between treatments and feeling without purpose, a horse video sparked his interest again. In desperate need of an engaging way to rebuild muscle he looked around for lessons. A small boarding stable in Hillsborough that’d opened that same year found him.

With the help of a retired cutting horse named Dollar he learned the basics of riding and went from needing help to get up the mounting block to walking with a renewed confidence in himself. Even as his connective tissue disorder kept throwing curveballs. One such curveball being a seizure on horseback that while no injuries occurred, still lead to him only spending time with horses from the ground. However his mobility took a major hit, as did his already struggling mental health. Everything he loved felt as if it was being taken from him with no explanation as his life and body spun out of control.

Then he found HorsePower and he tentatively looked toward hope. His heart felt like it was trying to escape his chest as he stepped up the mounting ramp. He had no idea how bad his horsemanship had atrophied and this was a new horse, new gear, new everything. However the moment he and Aztec connected all his busy thoughts and fears went away.

Matt felt so in his element and free that he didn’t even mind when Aztec ended up double booked and he found himself stepping out of his comfort zone again and onto the tallest horse he’d ever been on with a Dressage saddle for the first time. The connection with Canel felt almost instantaneous as their bodies fell into sync and Canel got a confident speed boost.

Matt didn’t even realize the impact at first. He was smiling more, feeling less pain. He can wear a backpack again, walk on trails with his service dog and go to events without fear of crawling out again. Aztec and Canel gave him his life back. HorsePower changed his life for the better.