ATHENS, GA. – Professional horseman Matt Lantz has joined the Georgia equestrian staff as an assistant, head coach Meghan Boenig announced Wednesday.
“What a joy to welcome Coach Matt Lantz to our team,” Boenig said. “He adds an extraordinary depth of knowledge, experience, and recognition to our program. As a longtime supporter of NCAA Equestrian, he knows what produces success in both the NCAA and NRHA at the highest levels. Having great skill in both training and judging, Coach Lantz will hone our ability in the fine details that capture high scores. What an opportunity to grow from his educated eye. His care, his horsemanship and his desire to give back to the program is greatly appreciated. There is no match for his genuine desire to support Georgia.”
Lantz, who has been training, selling and breeding quality reining horses for 40 years, will assist the western events, primarily focusing on Reining.
“It is an honor to be able to work alongside this coaching staff and the student athletes here at Georgia,” Lantz said. “The NCEA has been a major part of our families lives the last 14 years, and I am grateful to continue to be a part of it. I am looking forward to getting this season started and working with a very talented set of riders.”
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During his time in the industry, Lantz has not only seen success as a showman having shown several NRHA Futurity and Derby finalists and Congress Champions but has also coached NRHA World Champions, NRHA Futurity and Derby Finalists, and All American Quarter Horse Congress Champions. His most recent stint in the NCEA helped produce NCEA Riders of the Year including two NCEA Championship MOP riders.
“I am so honored to have Matt joining our coaching staff,” Associate Head Coach McKenzie Lantz said. “He is incredibly respected among his peers, and he brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience to our team. I am fortunate to have had him as a coach growing up and know that his patience, his attention to detail and his incredible way of teaching will prove to be such an asset to this program.”
Before joining the Georgia staff, he has served as a volunteer coach at California State University, Fresno and Southern Methodist University, including making it to the national championship final round in his first season at SMU. He currently serves on the NRHA Judges Committee and the NRHA Stewards Committee while also continuing to be an influential member of the Reining and Ranch Riding industry.
Photo/Georgia Sports Communications/X
Georgia Sports Communications contributed to this column