Matt Ryan

Matt is the youngest of 4 brothers. The eldest brother Heath is also an elite equestrian; representing Australia in both 3 Day Eventing and pure Dressage at World Championship level. Matt first moved to the UK in 1984 to be a ’Working Pupil’ with British International 3 Day Event Rider Richard Meade. Matt Ryan has since won 3 Olympic medals for Australia.

After a successful Badminton Horse Trials in 1992 riding ’Kibah Tic Toc’ (8th), Matt and ’Tic Toc’ were selected to represent Australia at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics as a member of the 3 Day Event Team. They went on to win Individual and Team GOLD medals.

Matt was again selected for the Australian 3 day Event Team for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics with his two horses; ’Hinnegar’ and ’Alater Pedis’. Unfortunately both horses incurred minor injuries during Team Training in America just days prior to the start of the games, resulting in both horses having to be withdrawn from the competition.

Matt was once again selected for the Australian 3 Day Event Team for the 2000 Sydney Olympics with a horse called ’Kibah Sandstone’ (half brother to Kibah Tic Toc). They went on to clinch Team GOLD for Australia. This created history as it was the third consecutive year that the same nation had won Team Gold Medals in this sport.  In 2004, Matt and ’Bonza Puzzle’ were selected to represent Australia as a Travelling Reserve for the 3 Day Event Team. Unfortunately they did not get the opportunity to compete.

Matt is a tireless worker, and always happy to meet young riders and answer their questions.  He takes regular training clinics in the UK and is a popular instructor, and now also commentator!  He was a commentator for Radio Badminton in 2011, where his honest and open, and often humorous remarks were very well received!