What People Say
Yentl Brys
"Lessons with Mattia have been a real game-changer for me and my horse. Before starting with him, I struggled to find the right rhythm with Helsinki and to tackle oxers effectively. What makes his method stand out is how he thinks outside the box and pays attention to every little detail—not just the horse, but also the rider. I really appreciate that lessons aren’t strictly limited to one hour, but rather focused on solving the issue at hand. This has given me much more inspiration on how to work with Helsinki. I especially loved the pole exercises, which helped me improve my canter and positioning. Plus, his approach made me feel completely guided and listened to during every session. I highly recommend him to anyone who truly wants to improve!”
Nathan Van Loock
"Before working with Mattia, my horse struggled to gallop correctly, and we couldn't find the right connection. What really stood out in his teaching was his attention to small details: he started by correcting my position and balance before even focusing on the horse. That made a huge difference. Another thing I really appreciated was that lessons don’t end until the problem is solved—you keep working until you get the right result. Over time, Quivala has become much easier to ride and more responsive. Mattia is also great at creating those 'aha' moments: I’ll never forget when he told me, ‘Come on the pole another 10,000 times’… and that was exactly what helped me improve! Plus, the exercises he gave me to practice on my own between lessons were extremely useful. If you're looking for a trainer who truly cares about the details and tailors the training to your needs, Mattia is the right choice!"
Tomas Nys
"Before starting lessons with Mattia, I had lost a lot of confidence in myself. Thanks to his support, I’ve regained my self-belief and now feel much more comfortable in the saddle. What makes his teaching method truly unique is that he always thinks together with the rider and helps create a real partnership with the horse. This approach made me feel guided and involved in every step of the process. His lessons are structured in a very effective way: he works on a problem until it’s solved, even if it takes extra time. Since we started working on my horse, he has been improving a lot and has become a great jumper. I have always felt heard and supported in every session. Mattia’s lessons are not like those of other instructors—they are definitely better. I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my riding. Now I feel much more confident, and I’m finally riding like the rider I’ve always wanted to be. One of the breakthrough moments for me was working on pole exercises and canter work. That’s when I truly understood some key aspects of my riding. The exercises Mattia assigns after lessons have also been extremely useful. Now I see my distances better, I feel my horse more naturally, and he is more relaxed—he’s even starting to jump like a real pro."
Mathilde Delarue
"When I started working with Mattia, my mare was very difficult to understand during training, and I had lost my connection with her. What I immediately appreciated is that Mattia really takes the time to understand both the horse and the rider, without ever using a standardized approach. Every lesson is personalized, and we work on a problem until it is completely solved, without rushing — and for me, that was essential. I felt guided and listened to, even though he sometimes jokes that I don't work hard enough! Lesson after lesson, I learned to be much more in tune with my mare, finally managing to build a real partnership. There wasn't a specific exercise that triggered everything, but rather the entirety of his method that allowed me to progress. Even the exercises he suggests for working between lessons have been very productive and have helped me continue to improve on my own. I truly recommend Mattia to anyone who wants to seriously improve while staying in tune with their horse."
Marie Decrem
"When I started training with Mattia, my confidence was almost at zero. I felt like I was ruining my horse and couldn’t give her what she needed. Jumping a course felt like just hoping things would go well — I had no idea what I was doing or what kind of strategy was behind it. I was honestly surprised, in a good way: it made me realize how much I had missed out on proper training over the years. I absolutely love the way Mattia explains every detail and how it affects my riding. Going back to the basics made me realize how much there was to work on, and the way he builds confidence step by step — instead of pushing through fear — was exactly what I needed. After just three lessons, I already feel a huge difference. I love that we focus on one thing at a time and keep working on it until both me and my horse really understand it. I’ve never felt more guided and listened to. When something goes wrong, I finally get an explanation. When I ask questions, he never makes me feel “dumb” — everything is explained clearly and it all makes sense.
Finding distances was always one of my biggest struggles and it really affected my riding. But now, for the first time in my life, I truly get it. Every detail has meaning now. I even tell my parents after every lesson how happy I am that I finally understand what I’m doing.
And yes — I do all the exercises at home too. And every time, I feel improvement. I’m really, really happy I found such a great trainer."
Caro Govaert
"After a bad accident with my horse, I had lost a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities. I felt blocked and struggled to find calm and security in the saddle again. With Mattia, I found an approach that’s truly different from other instructors: his lessons are much more personal and tailored to the real needs of the horse-and-rider pair. I really appreciate that the lessons aren’t “timed” but that he takes all the time needed to solve a problem without rushing, working on it until it’s really clear. I felt truly guided and listened to during every session, which allowed me to relax more and trust what I was doing. I’ve already seen concrete improvement in my riding: people around me notice that I’m calmer and more precise, and I myself feel much more comfortable with my horse. There were key moments in training when my horse tended to stop or back up, and Mattia clearly explained how to handle these situations, helping me deal with them more calmly. The extra exercises he gave me to do at home have also been really useful for continuing to improve between lessons. I’m very happy with the way we’re working together and I’d truly recommend Mattia to anyone looking to rebuild confidence and grow with their horse."
Estelle Vanderstadt
"When I started working with Mattia, I had major difficulties controlling my horses and struggled to trust them. I felt like something was missing to build a real connection.What I truly appreciate is the motivation he brings: every time I come back from a training or a show, he comes up with new ideas and perspectives — it keeps everything fresh and interesting. Even if the lessons don’t always follow a typical structure, I always feel we work until we’ve reached our goal. During each session, I feel truly listened to, and we share the same vision of what really matters in training. I feel like I’m improving, even though I know I still have a lot of room to grow — and that’s exactly what keeps me going! I always do the extra exercises he gives me, and they’ve been incredibly useful to continue progressing between lessons. My horse also benefits from it thanks to the added variety in her work. I’m really happy to have a coach who shares my goals and keeps pushing me to improve!"
Chloë Mc Kenzie
"I started working with my 4-year-old mare who, at the time, knew very little. My main challenge was teaching her to approach jumping thoughtfully and in a controlled way, rather than rushing toward the fence. What I find unique in Mattia’s approach is the focus on calmness and control, which really builds confidence for both horse and rider. He taught me that a horse should think about how it moves, not just aim for the jump. I also really appreciate how he carefully considers tack, never defaulting to the strongest bit. Lessons aren’t based on time — they’re based on real learning. We work on an exercise until the horse truly understands it. One of the breakthrough exercises for us was stopping in front of the jump to teach my mare not to take initiative on her own, but to wait for my signal. She used to rush toward the jump, and now she’s learning to stay under control and let me decide when to go. I always feel guided and listened to. The training is adapted to both my horse and myself. I’m starting to get a really good feeling in the saddle: more control, better balance, and a more thoughtful horse. The homework exercises are incredibly helpful — they give me a clear plan for both polework and flatwork, and make me feel like I’m not just riding, but really training with purpose."
Tom Vrielynck
"With my horse Quinten, I’ve always struggled with his fear when facing poles. He most likely had a bad experience in the past, and it stuck with him. I’ve never been able to get him fully relaxed over jumps, which affects control mid-course. Mattia’s approach has been very different from previous trainer. Instead of focusing only on collecting and controlling the horse, he had me work on a more open canter with tempo and softness in the mouth, which allowed Quinten to use his back more effectively over the jump. I appreciate that we stop the lesson only when a clear result is reached. With a horse like mine, it’s essential to work until we find that relaxation and trust. We also exchange a lot during lessons, especially when Mattia rides him and shares his own feelings and insights with me — it really helps to understand how Quinten reacts and processes the exercises.I’ve noticed improvement: I can keep him more controlled before the jump and get him back quicker after. There’s still a lot to work on, but I’m curious to see the progress over time. A key moment for me was seeing how Mattia’s soft hands produced a better result. I know I tend to use too much hand pressure, and even though I can’t yet replicate it perfectly, I know that’s the area I need to develop. I’m also convinced that Quinten needs to be confronted with poles daily — the more it becomes part of his routine, the more relaxed he’ll become. The exercises I get after lessons are aimed at that, and they help me continue the work consistently."
Cassidy Carrié
"Before starting lessons with Mattia, I had several concerns. Igar was just recovering, and I was afraid we wouldn’t take the necessary time with him. He’s very expressive, mentally young, and traditional lessons don’t always suit him, but here everything is adapted specifically to him. I also lacked confidence in my riding and feared being judged. That fear quickly faded thanks to the positive and understanding approach. What makes Mattia’s teaching different is how careful he is to both me and the horse. He takes the time to explain everything and creates exercises that fit our needs. We try things out, and if it doesn’t work, we change and find what does. Lessons aren’t limited to a strict hour, which is exactly what we need. Igar can be hot and needs time to settle before we get any real work done. This structure allows us to work properly without rushing. Since starting, I’ve learned to ask more of Igar, and that’s been beneficial in every way. It’s getting easier, and I feel truly listened to. Even though we don’t speak the same language, Mattia makes the effort to understand me and explain everything clearly. I’ve had real “lightbulb” moments: I’ve learned to feel when Igar is really engaging his hind legs, and the pole exercises inside the double helped me realise he wasn’t refusing out of attitude, he just didn’t have enough space to jump properly. The exercises Mattia gives me to do at home are very helpful. For example, I regularly work with cavaletti to help Igar settle, find a good rhythm, and practice distances without overexerting him. It helps me keep progressing between sessions."