Matthew & Christen Bonn
Matthew was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL. Growing up the only thing Matthew knew about a horse was it had four legs and it ate hay. Matthew attended Florida Southern College and received degrees in Psychology and Religion. While pursing his education he met Christen and she quickly threw him on the back of a horse. After college the two married and moved to TN where he became even more immersed in the world of horses. Matthew’s first true riding experience was with hunter/jumpers and then western disciplines. Matthew is a CHA certified Riding instructor in both English, Western, and Trail riding. He is a T.I.P trainer for the BLM and has competed in multiple Extreme Mustang Makeovers. In June of 2010, Matthew completed the apprenticeship program by natural horsemanship trainer and TV personality, Ken McNabb, in Wyoming. Matthew believes a solid foundation is the basis for any horse no matter the discipline and enjoys finding new and innovative ways to introduce new and challenging obstacles to his horses.
Christen was born and raised in Knoxville, TN. Her passion for horses started at a young age and was further nurtured when, over time, her family welcomed four American quarter horses to their home. After attending college in Florida and getting degrees in Psychology, Criminology, and Theatre, she returned with her husband, Matthew, and re-immersed herself in the world of horses. Christen is also a CHA certified riding instructor in both the English and Western disciplines. In 2009, she participated in the Extreme Mustang Makeover Eastern Stampede and immediately fell in love with the Mustang breed. Since then she has been a T.I.P. Mustang trainer for the BLM, and has worked with 15 wild mustangs, preparing them for new homes. In 2010 she competed with a Mustang, Penny, in Ft. Worth's Supreme Mustang Makeover. Christen also enjoys starting young horses of any breed or discipline and developing them for showing and family horses. She believes that a good trainer is one that is well rounded and puts emphasis on creating the partnership between horse and rider.
Christen was born and raised in Knoxville, TN. Her passion for horses started at a young age and was further nurtured when, over time, her family welcomed four American quarter horses to their home. After attending college in Florida and getting degrees in Psychology, Criminology, and Theatre, she returned with her husband, Matthew, and re-immersed herself in the world of horses. Christen is also a CHA certified riding instructor in both the English and Western disciplines. In 2009, she participated in the Extreme Mustang Makeover Eastern Stampede and immediately fell in love with the Mustang breed. Since then she has been a T.I.P. Mustang trainer for the BLM, and has worked with 15 wild mustangs, preparing them for new homes. In 2010 she competed with a Mustang, Penny, in Ft. Worth's Supreme Mustang Makeover. Christen also enjoys starting young horses of any breed or discipline and developing them for showing and family horses. She believes that a good trainer is one that is well rounded and puts emphasis on creating the partnership between horse and rider.
