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SIDELINESMAGAZINE | November/December 2026
S I D E L I N E S • 2 0 2 6 H O R S E P E O P L E O F T H E Y E A R
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SIDELINESMAGAZINE | November/December 2026
MATT McHUGH
There are people in the horse industry who show up when it’s convenient, and then there are people like Matt. He shows up every time, for
everyone, no questions asked. Matt is the kind of horseman this community is built on, and there is no one more deserving of this recognition.
Matt has spent a lifetime in the saddle and around horses. He knows this industry from the ground up, has worn more hats than most could
count, and has earned the respect that only comes from years of real, hands-on experience. Whether you are new to horses or have been doing this
for decades, Matt meets you where you are and treats you like a peer.
Today, Matt channels that depth of knowledge into his work in trailer sales and he has redefined what that role can look like. He does not
simply sell trailers. He takes the time to educate every single customer on safe hauling practices, making sure that people leave not just with a
trailer but with the confidence and knowledge to get their animals home safely. That commitment to the well-being of horses and their owners
goes far beyond any sales transaction.
What truly sets Matt apart is what he does when no one is watching and nothing is on the line for him personally. He is the first call people
make in a crisis. He does not wait to be asked twice. He shows up, he helps, and he makes things right. That is who Matt is, not just as a
horseman, but as a human being.
This community is better because Matt is in it. He is exactly who this award was created to honor.
~Molly Paladino, Spirit Horse Collective, CA
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SIDELINESMAGAZINE | November/December 2026