My journey began in physiotherapy school, where I was constantly connecting the principles of human movement to riding. My own skills improved rapidly, even without a regular trainer. My friends even joked that I would constantly exclaim, “Oh, just like in riding!” with every new physiotherapy technique we learned. They said even back then, I talked about writing a book.
After becoming a physiotherapist, I went to the German Riding School for my trainer A level. I noticed we studied the horse's anatomy in great detail, but very little about the rider. I began using my unique knowledge to help my students, and when I looked for books on the rider's seat, I found none. The publisher at the German Federation told me if I wanted a book on the topic, I'd have to write it myself. I said yes, without fully grasping the commitment.
My first challenges were both technical and creative. I had to buy a computer and even have a DOS program custom-written just to format the book. It took a full year to collect and structure my ideas, and then another year to write it all down. I honestly don't know if I could have done it without the help of my friends and my cousin, Isabelle, who acted as my editor and encouraged me every step of the way. I wrote that book during a "golden era" of youthful overconfidence, where I believed my physiotherapy and equestrian exams meant I knew it all. However, that gave me the courage to start, unaware that it would become a lifelong passion and expose how much more I had to learn.
The book was a success, becoming a standard for equestrian instructors and earning a recommendation from the German Federation. It was translated into many languages, leading to opportunities to lecture and teach around the world. It was followed by a video, a DVD, and a second book, and I’m still learning more every day. Over the years, I realized just how central the book’s title was to my entire philosophy, which is why it became the name of my business and my logo.
— Michael Rash - former head of the German Riding School Warendorf
My ultimate goal is to help you create a more beautiful and harmonious partnership with your horse. Correct training does not need strength. Instead it requires balance and quick coordination paired with knowledge and understanding. For the horse, correct timing of the aids is more important than how strongly they are applied.
Trainer A Warendorf (Germany) 1989
Judge for Dressage and Show Jumping Warendorf (Germany) 1993
Hippotherapy Exam 1990 Trainer for Disabled Riders Warendorf 1991
1989-1999 Working as a “Bereiter” in Dressage and Show Jumping Stables up to Grand Prix Level
Working in the “Mannheimer Reitverein” in many different ascpects.
Training of horses, instructing and coaching of riders, working with a children and young riders project for the German Federation and establishing Therapeutic Riding.
Several Times Israel Champion in Dressage and internationally successful in the FEI Dressage Challenge Tour up to Advanced Level (2002-2010)
Competing for the Team Israel
Exam at the University of Göttingen (Germany)
1987 Working at the Rehabilitation Center Heidelberg 1988-1989
Working at a privat Physiotheapy Clinic in Mannheim Specializing in PNF (Propriocepive Neuromuscular Fascilitation) and Manual Therapy (Joints and Spinal injuries, “back-pain”) 1989 -1999
2000 Private Physiotherapy Clinic in Givat Haim Ichud – Israel
Certified Trainer Level 1 for the Gyrotonic Expansion System Haifa 2016 Certified Trainer for the Gyrokinesis Method Los Angeles 2017
Conducting the First Combined Workshop: Balance in Movement & Gyrotonic Method 2020 Israel and 2022 in Japan
Since 2001 holding regular Seminars and Clinics in Scandinavia for Physiotherapists with experience in Hippotherapy (mainly in Sweden – Gothenburg)
Regular Seminars and Clinics for the German Academy of Riding (Warendorf)
Working at every Equitana (Germany) for the German Federation (since 1991) in practical Demonstrations, Forum Discussions and Book signing.
Key Speaker at the Australian Annual Coaches Meeting (Riding for Disabled) in Melbourne 2001
Lecturing at the USDF Convention in San Diego 2011 Giving a presentation at the Global Dressage Forum North America in February 2014 Keynote speaker at the PACTH Conference in Philadelphia 2015
Keynote speaker at the Annual Centered Riding Symposium in the Netherlands 2015 Keynote speaker at the 10 year anniversary of Therapeutic Riding in Greece 2017 Presentation at the Symposium at the University of Zurich 2019
Keynote speaker at the Horse and Rider in Motion Conference Helsinki Finland 2019 and 2020
Keynote speaker at the 5 year anniversary of Team Tate Academy South Carolina 2025
Balance in der Bewegung – Der Sitz des Reiters (FN Verlag 2003)
Balance in Movement (Trafalgar Square)
Balance in Movement 1 DVD The seat of the rider (FN Verlag 2003)
Balance in Movement 2 DVD Riding with light aids (FN Verlag 2011, Trafalgar Square 2011)
Articles in German Horse Magazines
Ariticles in Dressage Today Writing "The Clinic" a photo-critique monthly for Dressage Today
Continuing „The Clinic“ in the magazine Practical Horseman
Online: Demo Riding Lessons Dressage.online.com
Online Lecture Series: The Journey through the body Monthly topics alternating lecture and movement classes
Online: Consultations Virtual live Riding lessons
Equi-Chair: Monthly online movement classes
Ruecksicht auf den Reiterruecken – Schonen Schuetzen Staerken (FN Verlag 2009)
Rider and Horse – Back to Back – (Trafalgar Square 2011)
Rider and Horse – Back to Back DVD (FN Verlag, Trafalgar Square 2011)
Correct training does not need strength. Instead it requires balance and quick coordination paired with knowledge and understanding. For the horse, correct timing of the aids is more important than how strongly they are applied.