Dr Sabine Schickendantz worked as a paediatric cardiologist at the Department of Paediatric Cardiology in the University of Cologne, Germany, from 1980 to 2007. Since 1994 she has undertaken studies in Cologne, monitoring the developmental progress that children with congenital heart disease have made through participating in various sporting activities. Since 2006 she has run a horse riding project for children with congenital heart disease and is planning a multicentre study investigating the effects of riding, which will be undertaken in six heart centres in Germany.