In this year-end episode, Steffi reflects on 2025 as a year of order — not control, but things finding where they truly belong.

This episode explores:

• The beliefs that stop working when life asks us to slow down

• What happens when the body forces us to listen

• How relationships reorganise when we stop shrinking

• Surrender as “living into the question” instead of forcing answers

• Trust, uncertainty, and allowing the road to appear while walking

Episode 32 also marks the closing of Series 3 of the Science for Soundness podcast and reflects on the symbolic transition from the year of the Snake into the year of the Horse — from inner reorganisation into movement.

This is a reflective, human episode about navigating uncertainty, honouring survival, and choosing how we move forward.

🎧 Listen now and join us again in January for Series 4, featuring powerful new interviews and conversations.

If you'd like to dive deeper into this work click here.

Many horse owners seek correction training when behaviour becomes worrying, unsafe, or overwhelming. But does correcting behaviour actually resolve why it exists?

In this episode of Science for Soundness®, equine scientist Steffi explores the difference between correction and rehabilitation — and why these two approaches come from very different places.

You’ll learn:

1. Why behaviour is often a coping strategy, not a problem

2. The difference between human-centric and equine-centric training approaches

3. Why correcting behaviour doesn’t address its underlying cause

4. How restoring balance can change behaviour without force

5. Why focusing on flaws quietly changes the horse-human relationship

6. How understanding context creates clarity, trust, and connection

This episode is for horse owners who feel overwhelmed, unsure, or uncomfortable with the idea of “fixing” their horse — and who are looking for a way forward that honours the individual horse.

Listen now and explore a different way of understanding behaviour.

For more info visit scienceforsoundness.com

In today’s deeply intimate episode, Steffi sits down with her dear friend Ellie O’Brien from Aotearoa/New Zealand for a conversation that weaves land, identity, culture, ancestry, resilience and horsemanship into one moving thread.

Ellie opens with her pepeha — the traditional Māori introduction naming one’s mountain, river, tribe, and ancestry — and invites us into a way of relating that is grounded in belonging, reverence, and connection to place. From there, we explore:

• What it means to indigenise your horsemanship
• Reconnecting to culture and why belonging matters
• How disconnection erodes resilience (in horses and humans)
• Growing up with horses and finding horsemanship through intuition
• Surviving traumatic injuries and rebuilding identity
• The pivotal horse who changed Ellie’s entire path
• The nervous system, trauma, and why context shapes resilience
• Colonisation, cultural suppression, and reclaiming indigenous healing
• The symbiotic, reciprocal relationship between horses, humans, and land
• Why our stories — personal and ancestral — matter in horsemanship

This is a conversation about horses, yes — but also about healing, lineage, and the remembering of who we are.

If you are longing for deeper connection…

if you feel the pull toward your own ancestry…

if you’re curious about the intersection of culture, nervous system, and horsemanship…

this episode will stay with you.

Please go and give Ellie a Follow: https://www.instagram.com/elliepukehika/

In this episode of Science for Soundness, Steffi explores a major blind spot in the equine world:

our culture focuses heavily on behaviour, while often overlooking the internal state that gives rise to it.

Behaviour is a window into the horse —

but only one of the windows.

And when we rely on it as the whole picture, we miss the deeper truths about safety, regulation, readiness and connection.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why so many owners feel caught between R+ and R-
• How a horse’s state shapes their ability to learn
• Why methods feel inconsistent or confusing in real life
• What behaviour can tell us — and what it cannot
• The essential conditions horses need before training
• Why connection isn’t created by technique, but by the environment we cultivate
• The shift that changes everything in the horse-human relationship

This is a gentle but transformative reframing of the foundations most of us were taught.

If something in your training has felt “off” but you couldn’t name it…

this episode might give you the language for what your intuition already knows.

✨ If this episode resonated, you can dive deeper into my work here:

Website (Science for Soundness®):

https://scienceforsoundness.com

Courses & Membership:

Explore the Holistic Horsemanship Academy (HHA), courses and more:

https://scienceforsoundness.thinkific.com

Newsletter:

Receive insights, stories and invitations straight to your inbox and get a little gift for free:

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Instagram:

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Thank you for being here.

Thank you for being part of a new paradigm in horsemanship. 🤍

In this episode of Science for Soundness®, Steffi — equine scientist, practitioner, and founder of the Six Pillars of Soundness™ framework — unpacks the FEI’s recent rule change that allows blood in competition under certain conditions.

This isn’t an outrage episode.

This is a grounded, honest, science-informed exploration of what this decision really reflects about the global horse world.

Inside the episode:

• What blood biologically means (tissue damage, not a cosmetic issue)
• Why the FEI rule change is a cultural signal, not a technical update
• How elite sport shapes everyday riding practices
• The patterns of normalised harm in modern equestrianism
• How performance culture has overshadowed equine welfare
• What this means for riders, trainers, and horse owners
• How the Six Pillars of Soundness™ offer a new, humane paradigm
• Why this is a wake-up call for every part of the industry
• What you can do — practically and compassionately — starting today

Whether you compete, ride recreationally, or don’t ride at all, this episode offers essential insight into the invisible norms shaping horse welfare.

If you’re new here:

Use code WELCOME20 for 20% off your first 1:1 session or programme (excluding the Holistic Horsemanship Academy).

You may also like:

• From Paddock to Paradise — a full guide to creating sound, connected environments for horses.
• 1:1 Sessions for in-depth support, behaviour questions, and training guidance.
• The Holistic Horsemanship Academy for deeper education and community.

For more, visit: scienceforsoundness.com

In this deeply personal episode of Science for Soundness®, I open up about one of the most vulnerable experiences of my life. When my dog Skye fell suddenly and severely ill, I found myself navigating uncertainty, fear, and long nights at the vet clinic — all while recovering from my own back injury and trying to keep the yard and business running.

For someone who has always relied on self-sufficiency, asking for help was terrifying. But what happened next changed everything I thought I knew about community, belonging, and letting myself be held.

In this episode, I share:

– What happened when Skye collapsed and the emotional rollercoaster that followed

• Why asking for help felt so vulnerable — and why I did it anyway
• How your messages, healing offerings, and donations helped carry us through uncertainty
• The moment everything shifted when I finally opened myself to receive
• What horses teach us about community and co-regulation
• How vulnerability is not weakness, but an invitation for others to step closer
• Why connection and community are not luxuries — they are biological needs for both horses and humans
• How this experience changed the way I see my work, my community, and myself

Whether you’re navigating challenges with your horses, your life, or your own sense of worthiness, I hope this story reminds you that you don’t have to walk alone. There are people who care — deeply. And sometimes the greatest act of strength is letting them in.

🔗 Join the Holistic Horsemanship Academy (HHA)

Use code PODCAST to save 10% on your first month or the annual plan.

Keywords (SEO):

community and horses, horse human connection, vulnerability with horses, letting yourself be supported, holistic horsemanship, Skye illness story, equine community, emotional connection with horses, herd behaviour and humans, Science for Soundness podcast, Steffi equine scientist

How do you safely introduce a new horse into an existing herd — and create a space where every horse feels secure, connected, and at peace?

In this episode of Science for Soundness®, equine scientist and therapist Steffi shares a grounded approach to herd integration, combining behavioural science, emotional awareness, and real-life experience from her own herd.

🎧 You’ll learn:

1. Why understanding herd dynamics matters before introducing a new horse

2. Signs your herd is (or isn’t) emotionally ready for change

3. What relaxed, harmonious herd behaviour actually looks like

4. How to reduce stress through timing, environment, and clear routines

5. What horses can teach us about patience, presence, and connection

   
   

If you’re passionate about equine wellbeing, natural herd dynamics, and connection-based horsemanship, this episode will give you both insight and calm confidence.

💫 Continue Your Journey

Take what you’ve learned even deeper inside my online programme From Paddock to Paradise, where you’ll discover how to design and manage a truly sound, peaceful and thriving herd environment.

👉 Explore From Paddock to Paradise: https://scienceforsoundness.thinkific.com/courses/paddockparadise

🎁 Use code WELCOME20 for 20% off your first 1:1 session/lesson, or any other programme (except The Holistic Horsemanship Academy).

👉 Book your session: https://calendly.com/scienceforsoundness/11session

🌿 Stay Connected

Website → www.scienceforsoundness.com

Instagram → @scienceforsoundness

Podcast → Science for Soundness® on all platforms

🔍 Keywords

herd integration, horse herd dynamics, equine connection, paddock paradise, equine science, horse body language, natural horsemanship, equine behaviour, herd management, equine wellbeing

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Steffi welcomes Amber Lydic — a seasoned horse trainer turned somatic facilitator — to explore what happens after horsemanship. Together, they discuss the unseen patterns we carry into the barn, how horses reflect our nervous system state, and what it truly takes to move from control to connection.

Amber shares her transformational journey from traditional training methods to trauma-informed, nervous-system-based horsemanship. You'll hear about the moment everything shifted, how her horses began saying “no,” and why nervous system regulation is the missing link in so much of our horse work.

Whether you're a rider, trainer, or simply seeking a more connected life with horses, this episode invites you into a deeper conversation — one where both human and horse are seen, heard, and honoured.

What We Cover:

1. Why traditional horsemanship wasn’t enough

2. How trauma, identity, and performance intertwine

3. The horse’s nervous system and what it’s really telling us

4. From band-aids to breakthroughs: healing the root, not the symptom

5. How Amber’s Obstacle Illusion clinic changes the game

6. What co-regulation really means — and why it starts with us

7. The fine line between safety, boundary, and control

Mentioned in the Episode:

1. Tony Robbins Firewalk

2. Peter Levine’s somatic work

3. Joe Dispenza and the science of the nervous system

4. Obstacle Illusion Clinics

🎧 Tune in now — and experience the shift.

Find Amber's work here:

www.amberlydic.com

https://www.instagram.com/_amber_lydic_

Are you longing for a deeper, more intuitive connection with your horse — without relying on rigid training methods or performance pressure?

In this episode of the Science for Soundness Podcast, we explore a relationship-based approach to horsemanship that prioritises curiosity, co-regulation, and playful connection over instruction and control. You’ll discover why play is essential for a healthy horse-human relationship, how it supports nervous system regulation, and what happens when we stop trying to “get it right” — and start simply being with our horses.

Whether you practise holistic horsemanship, are new to nervous system-informed horse training, or want to understand your horse on a deeper emotional and biological level, this episode offers insight and permission to soften into a new way of relating.

If you’ve ever felt like horsemanship got too serious… this one’s for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Why play is a relational tool, not a trick or performance cue

2. The connection between co-regulation and curiosity

3. How to create a safe space for your horse to explore and connect

4. Why horses are individuals, not protocols to follow

5. What it really means to be present — without expectation

Free Resources & Next Steps:

Download your free Check Your Horse-Human Connection guide:

https://scienceforsoundness.myflodesk.com/workbook

Explore The Holistic Horsemanship Academy: https://scienceforsoundness.thinkific.com/bundles/hha

✨ Use code PODCAST to save €10 at checkout

This is the episode for you if you’re curious about:

1. How to connect with your horse without training them

2. Why performance pressure blocks emotional connection

3. What a regulated nervous system looks like in horses and humans

4. The power of play in building trust with horses

In this episode of the Science for Soundness — The Podcast, we explore what boundaries truly mean in the horse-human relationship — and why they’re essential for nervous system safety and sustainable connection.

So many equestrians are swinging from dominance-based methods to totally force-free approaches — and finding themselves lost when it comes to offering structure without control.

Here’s the truth: Boundaries are not domination. They are clarity.

When you understand the nervous system, you see that boundaries aren't just helpful — they're vital.

We’ll cover:

• Why a lack of boundaries often creates more stress, not less
• What polyvagal theory teaches us about boundary safety
• Why horses actually crave consistency and clarity
• How your own history with boundaries impacts your horsemanship
• How to begin creating boundaries from a place of regulation and respect

This isn’t about force.

It’s about felt safety, relational leadership, and honouring your horse’s need for structure and trust.

🎧 Use code PODCAST at checkout to save €10 when you join The Holistic Horsemanship Academy — where we dive deeper into this work every day.