Matthew Ditto served as a U.S. Infantry Marine for 9.0 years and was honorably discharged in 2015. He served one combat deployment during the Operation Iraqi Freedom campaign, and achieved the rank of sergeant prior to discharge.

Upon discharge Matthew was struggling with PTSD, and searched for equine therapy programs in the area, and could not find anything nearby. A kind stranger from Julietta offered to let Matthew work her horse… and the equine therapy changed his life for the better.

After spending several years as an apprentice horse trainer and continuing his equine education, Matthew is now a certified equine therapy specialist, certified horse trainer (Lyons Legacy), farrier, and beginning-rancher. 

Matthew seeks to create a horsemanship program designed specifically for veterans that enables healing through communication and equine therapy.