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Mission
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“God is so loving. He steps into our darkness, takes us by the hand, and if we let Him, graciously remakes us from the inside out. Something only He can do.”
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I'm on a Mission
...some may even say a crusade to encourage and empower women to Live the Life God created them for so they can help others do the same.
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Whether I’m speaking to an audience of ladies, or sitting knee-to-knee with them, they share the greatest source of discouragement for them is feeling that they’re not living a purpose-filled life or making the difference they dreamed of.
God wired us so we would yearn to matter. He gave us passions to discover and pursue so we live filled with purpose, a deep desire to make a difference, and to be the courageous pebbles in the pond – creating ripples of holy change and lead others to do the same.
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This is how I’m led to live. And I’m inundated with ladies who reach out wanting to do the same – but not knowing how.
In 2002, Bill, their two young sons, and Toni’s sister Jan, founded Trinity Equestrian Center. The name Trinity represents their three-part-founding of Trinity Equestrian Center and the foundation of their faith. Trinity is their home, the heart of their ministry, and where Toni spent thousands of hours learning the value of a connection, relationship, and trust by one of God’s greatest teachers - the horse.
Toni knew horses were more than just a “good ride”, and set out to discover how to partner with them to help people. She traveled the country to be certified, with advanced training to serve veterans with PTSD, and launched Trinity’s Equine Assisted Therapy program in 2009. It was one of the region’s first. Since then, her team has provided thousands of free hours of therapy and support and has been recognized as the Midwest leader in Equine Assisted Therapy. Most recently, Toni took her team and horses behind prison walls to work with incarcerated veterans.
Toni's Bio
Toni Mattson is led by her faith, and inspired by events in her life. She speaks and writes to audiences that are captivated and encouraged by her stories and messages of hope and the transformation that happens when a human, a horse, and God bond.
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For nearly two decades, she traveled the US and Canada, speaking for God’s Great Outdoors International Ministry. She’s been a guest on radio and TV programs, spoken at colleges and seminaries, at international conferences, business development workshops, other events, and testified four times before the WI State Senate and Committee on Veteran Affairs on behalf of Veterans with PTSD.
Now semi-retired, Toni focuses on coaching her beloved Trinity team, speaking and connecting with her precious herd, and forever encouraging women who want more purpose and meaning out of life how to Live the Life God created them for. She’ll continue writing stories of how He has, and always will, move in miraculous ways.
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Her passion and hunger to trust God, is contagious and motivates all to claim His favor, and live the promises of Matthew 9:29; “According to your faith, it shall be done unto you.”
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“I framed this scripture and put it on my desk after one particularly tough day in 2003. You know the ones where all the wheels are wobbling, and you’re just praying for a break. It still sits there today.
Matthew 9:29 is my grounding rod. It reminds me that I have one single job…to have faith. When I do that, HE does the rest.”
Why Veterans
I’m frequently asked, why horses, and why veterans? I believe that decision was made when I was nine-years-old, but wasn’t revealed for more than three decades.
My life-long love affair with horses began with a fuzzy, cute pony named Heidi. But my devotion to veterans came from a frightening, late night encounter that triggered the raging PTSD of my WWII veteran father.
I had no idea when I whispered, “Hi Dad”, it would change my life, and forge my future.
Instantly he spun off his stool, grabbed my throat, threw me to the floor, and put me in a choke hold. “Don’t ever do that again!” He hollered. “I could have killed you.”
Looking back, that was my first experience with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It was that very moment when my heart broke for those struggling with it, and how it affected their family.
In 2002, my husband Bill, my sister Jan, and I founded Trinity Equestrian Center with a mission to connect people, horses, and God. Since then, I’ve been blessed with invitations from around the US, and Canada to share who we are, what we do, and how partnering with horses helps change lives.
God created horses to be remarkable creatures, devoted companions, transparent storytellers, and exquisite teammates.
But let’s be honest, even horses can’t cure PTSD. There is no “cure.” However, horses can help veterans manage and cope with their triggers, and teach them how to anticipate and respond to them. The horse-human connection often resembles the bond between military unit members. This connection gives a veteran hope. Hope that things can, and will get better. Hope they can really come back home. This is their deepest desire.
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“Toni’s approach is so different than others I’ve worked with. Her process is practical, compassionate and achievable. She uses her step-by-step method to get to the heart of the matter quickly and then helps us shape what living our purpose looks like for each of us. Her Masterclasses are spectacular. I’ll continue to enroll in every one she offers.”
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- R.A. DeMuth
I’m content being considered different. I don’t measure worth by numbers, clicks, or likes. For me, value is achieved when hope is found, passion is discovered, and purpose is lived. The questions I prefer to ask are, “Who can I serve?” “Where can I bring value?” and “How can I use what I’ve lived and learned to help others?”
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Whether you or someone you love struggles with PTSD, or if living a fulfilled life feels beyond your reach, I’m here to say - you’re in the right place. I am passionate about guiding you to discover and live your Four P’s—passion, power, peace, and purpose and to help you weave you’re calling into your everyday life.
That’s living on purpose. That’s living the life God created you for and I’m here to help you do just that.