Valley man to compete on USA equestrain team at Special Olympics

AVONDALE, AZ - Matthew Dull is working his way to Greece to compete on the U.S.A. equestrian team at the Special Olympic World Games.

The Tolleson High School graduate, who has autism, is the only Arizona equestrian chosen to compete.

"When I was a little kid I loved horses, I would dress up as a cowboy," said Dull, who began training three years ago when coach Amy Roth approached his mother about riding.

"Matthew went to school with my daughters and I knew he loved horses so I put the two together," said Roth.

She mentioned the Special Olympic games years ago to Dull, but he couldn't conceive such an honor.

"I said, 'Amy you're crazy'," he recalls.

But Dull worked hard and was speechless when he read the letter saying he had been chosen to represent the U.S.A.

"There was a big blue paper that says you're chosen for the Special Olympics and I thought 'Oh my gosh!'" said Dull.

"Matthew is a natural athlete, so he picks things up quickly and he adjusts. He's a hard worker and a good listener," said Roth.

But Roth adds even a natural athlete has his challenges, saying, "There's a lot that goes into this...controlling a thousand pound animal and getting him to do what you want him to do and not being afraid of that."

One of Dull's biggest challenges when he gets to the games will be dressage, it's a form of English riding and right now he's had no training in it.

"I am not a dressage coach, so if anyone in Arizona would help us with dressage we would love it," Roth pleaded.

The equestrian coach has put out requests for a volunteer dressage coach, but so far no one has offered to help.

But Dull is confident he will reach his dreams and go all the way.

"I'm excited to represent our country because I love the U.S.A." he said with a big smile.

His family has even set up a fundraiser account to help offset the $5,000 in travel costs to send Matthew to Greece in June, plus a required National Training Camp in San Diego, Calif. next March. So far they have raised $100.

Donations can be made through the Special Olympics Website at www.specialolympicsarizona.org .

Or you can call SO Arizona at 1-800-289-4946.

Horses Help will also be fundraising for Special Olympic athletes with their Big Bad Barn Bash on Saturday, Nov. 6.