Susanne von Dietze grew up with horses firmly ingrained in family life—she says she was raised more in the stable than in the house. Her father was an ex-cavalry officer (who, at the age of 90, still rides nearly every day), and her mother a riding instructor with a background in sidesaddle. Together Susanne’s parents worked to build the German Riding for the Disabled Federation.

Susanne trained and worked as a “Bereiter” in Germany for both dressage and show jumping while simultaneously working as a physiotherapist in a private clinic. Her focus was back pain and spinal injury. This combination of interests and abilities eventually led to her unique perspective and ways of teaching riding—to everyone from children up through Grand Prix dressage riders.

Today, while competing at the top levels of international dressage competition (Susanne is several times national champion and a regular national equestrian team competitor), Susanne regularly gives seminars and clinics in Germany, Scandinavia, the United States, Japan, Finland Hungary, and Australia, among others. She is the author of several books and DVDs, including Rider & Horse Back to Back and Balance in Movement. She lives in Israel with her husband and three children