Dyan has been an avid equestrian and equally avid reader since the age of five. Her original show pony, El Camino, loaded onto the back of her dad’s pickup to attend shows, carried her through many years of successful competition. As a junior, she moved up to compete with her horse, Peace Again, in the Junior South African Show Jumping Championship. As an adult, she competed successfully on Peace Again, Man the Decks, Yarrawonga, and Hunting Blue in Level 9 events in A-rated shows across South Africa. She represented South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province in Showjumping, Eventing, and Show Hunter competitions.

Dy obtained her English Riding Instructor Certification in 1993, and has managed her own competition barn, Tally-Ho Equestrian Center in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Williamsburg Riding Academy in Virginia, and Old Man Willow Farm & Equestrian Center in Monroe, Oregon.  Shortly after immigrating to the US, she qualified as an instructor with the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. NARHA promotes equine facilitated therapy and activity programs in the United States and Canada. She worked with individuals with disabilities at two riding centers.

An avid reader with a mind that lives in the world of heroes and villains, she has developed a keen eye for copywriting and editing. Dyan is also a disciplined vlogger about farm life and road tripping. Her travels have taken her throughout the U.S.A., Spain, Ireland, England and South Africa, and she leads horse camping outings and trail riding across Oregon.