When Ryan Ward talks about Cowboys Mud Racing, he doesn’t describe it as a club, a hobby, or even a team. He describes it as a lifeline built from pain, perseverance, and a deep belief that no one should have to face their darkest moments alone.
The Manitoba-based organization, founded in 2025, grew out of Ward’s own battle with mental health after a devastating motorcycle accident left him with a brain injury and a prognosis no rider ever wants to hear.
“I was told I would never walk or talk or ride again,” he said. “When you’re told those things, you believe the doctors because they have your best interest at heart.”
For three years, Ward fought through post-concussion syndrome—an invisible illness that he describes as “fifty different emotions some days in one.” His wife became his full-time caregiver. Progress was slow, painful, and uncertain. But eventually, he was cleared to return to work on a local farm, where a simple request changed everything.
The farmer asked him to hop on a quad.
He froze.
“I had this really unhealthy fear of riding again,” he said. “But with positive encouragement and reinforcement, I started to build back up my self-esteem.”
That moment—terrifying and transformative—became the spark that would eventually ignite Cowboys Mud Racing.
The ride that changed everything
Ward’s return to the mud wasn’t graceful. It wasn’t fast. But it was powerful.
He remembers the first bog he hit after years away from riding. “We were more floating through it than going,” he laughed. But when he came out the other side, something shifted.
“I had this big sigh of release,” he said. “I felt like my old self again.”
That night, he barely slept. His mind kept circling one question: How do I give back?
By morning, he had his answer.
“This group needs to be about the rejects, the misfits, the circus freaks of society,” he told his dad—known affectionately as Pops. “We need to build a crew of people who aren’t considered ‘normal.’”
Pops didn’t hesitate. “This is crazy,” he told Ward, “but I love it.”
And just like that, Cowboys Mud Racing was born.
Riding for men’s mental health
From the beginning, Cowboys Mud Racing wasn’t just about machines—it was about men’s wellness. Men who were hurting. Men who were isolated. Men who were told to “shove it down” and “not talk.”
“We made sure to get it out there that you are not alone,” Ward said. “It’s okay not to be okay.”
The message resonated instantly.
Veterans. Law enforcement. Paramedics. Correctional officers. Everyday guys carrying invisible burdens. They all started reaching out.
What started as three riders quickly grew into fifteen. Then into media attention. Then into a movement.
“We went to bed one night, woke up the next morning—boom, it happened,” he said.
Cowboys Mud Racing has since been featured by CBC, CTV, Global, CGOB 680, and multiple local outlets. The mayor of Steinbach and MLA Bob Lagasse have both written letters of support. Chapters have formed in Manitoba and Alberta, with more on the horizon.
Throttle therapy works
Ward is the first to admit that he still struggles with PTSD, ADHD, and post-concussion syndrome. The lingering effects of trauma persist at times. But he also knows what riding gives him—and what it gives others.
“We believe that through the power of throttle therapy, lives can be transformed,” he said.
Cowboys rides are structured but supportive. No one is pushed beyond their comfort zone. No one rides alone.
“Our guys are quick to jump into muskeg beside people,” Ward explained. “We want people to realize—especially men—that if you get hung up with a fear, stop. We’re right here. Nothing’s going to happen to you.”
The impact is undeniable.
“When we get to see the smile on people’s faces… that’s the reason we get up and do it every day,” he said.
Growing the movement
Cowboys Mud Racing is entirely self-funded, supported by sponsors and community generosity. Donations go toward fuel, food, lodging, and travel so the team can meet riders where they are—sometimes across provinces.
Each year, the group donates ride proceeds to mental health organizations. This year, funds support Thrive Mental Health in Winnipeg. Last year, it was the Kaylor Rogo Memorial Fund.
Cowgirls, a sister chapter supporting women dealing with domestic abuse, sexual abuse, and mental health challenges, is now forming as well.
Ward’s long-term dream? A book. A speaking tour. A national network of Cowboys chapters.
“We want to be the epidemic that fixes the epidemic,” he said. “We want to be the cure.”
What began as one man reclaiming his life has become a movement helping others reclaim theirs.
“It’s okay not to be okay,” Ward said. “And we’re going to get through it together.”
How to get involved
Cowboys Mud Racing welcomes riders of all skill levels—whether you want to join a chapter, start your own, or simply go for a ride to clear your head.
You can reach them through:
“We try to get back to people within two weeks,” Ward said. “Sometimes we’re just that busy.”
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