Hey there, and welcome back to The Mirror in the Stall—a space where we get to explore the deep, sometimes messy, always beautiful connection between us and our horses.

This series is all about looking inward, because the relationship we have with our horses so often mirrors the one we have with ourselves.

In this conversation, I sit down with the incredible Steffi Spielhaupter, an equine scientist with a holistic approach to horse well-being.

She doesn’t just look at physical health—she considers the mental, emotional, and even spiritual aspects of what it means for a horse to truly thrive.

Steffi shares wisdom from her own herd, shedding light on how we can create natural, supportive environments that allow our horses (and us) to feel safe, connected, and whole. We also dive into the fascinating world of the nervous system through the lens of Polyvagal Theory.

If you’ve ever wondered why your horse—or even you—reacts a certain way in different situations, this conversation is going to be eye-opening. Steffi breaks down how understanding our own nervous system states can completely shift the way we show up for our horses.

And Amber Lydic joins in to offer her insights on how awareness and self-regulation are everything when it comes to horsemanship. But this isn’t just about horses. We also get real about personal growth, vulnerability, and the rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship in the digital space.

We talk about breathwork, breaking old emotional patterns, and the importance of having a supportive community.

Because at the end of the day, the work we do with our horses is really just another path to understanding ourselves.

So settle in, take a breath, and let’s dive into this conversation—because sometimes, the biggest shifts happen when we allow ourselves to truly see the reflection staring back at us

Find More about Steffi: www.scienceforsoundness.com

To sign up and join us live:https://www.amberlydic.com/MirrorintheStall

To see our previous episodes:

https://youtu.be/8EaRP3_SZkc?si=zvRxgzL5Cacmc02l