In 2008, Maria Terese Engell graduated from the Szent Istvan University of Budapest, fulfilling her dream of becoming an equine veterinarian. She nourishes a deep and lifelong love for horses, their health and wellbeing and runs her own equine practice, Kalnæset Equine Clinic. Growing up with Håvard Engell as her father, and practicing both ballet and dressage, Maria early on gained an interest in and knowledge of human postural control which she implements in her practice as a veterinarian. Her mission is to create a wider understanding of the interaction between the horse and rider as this will benefit orthopedic health issues of both horse and rider. Improving postural (ie body) control in the rider is also a key for anyone wanting to finetunig their riding skills and improve horse-rider performance.

In 2018 Marias research within veterinary medicine and human postural control resulted in her groundbreaking doctoral thesis “Postural strategies in skilled riders”. With Marias background from ballet, veterinary medicine and research, she is a pioneer in her field. She is considered a leading expert worldwide with her focus on balance and rhythm of the horse and rider. She is highly regarded within the equine sport in Scandinavia, and is also a key person in the Norwegian Equestrian Federation elite programs, training both show jumping riders as well as dressage- and para-dressage riders