Most horse riders and owners don’t struggle because they don’t care enough. They struggle because they feel stuck, uncertain, and exhausted by trying to do “the next right thing” with their horse — and yet something still feels off.
What if horsemanship wasn’t about forcing change, but about understanding what’s happening beneath behaviour?
What if you didn’t have to guess what the horse needs?
What if clarity and calm could come before discipline and pressure?
Welcome to The Holistic Horsemanship Academy — a space where connection grows from safety, not force.
The Holistic Horsemanship Academy is grounded in the Six Pillars of Soundness™ — a framework that helps you understand why things are happening, not just what to do.
Each pillar connects directly to your horse’s day-to-day experience.
→ Recognise physical discomfort and tension before they turn into training or behaviour problems.
Learn to see the early signs of pain, compensation and physical stress — so your horse doesn’t have to escalate to be heard.
→ Understand how your horse processes information, pressure and learning.
Move away from overload and confusion — and toward clarity, timing, and fairness in how your horse is asked to engage.
→ Recognise stress responses before your horse shuts down, explodes, or disconnects.
Learn to read emotional states accurately, so behaviour stops being a mystery and starts making sense.
→ Reconnect with meaning, trust, and purpose in your relationship with your horse.
For those moments when everything looks “fine” on the outside — but something essential feels missing.
→ Understand how relationships, herd dynamics, and human interaction affect your horse’s sense of safety.
Because no horse exists in isolation — and neither do we.
→ See how surroundings, management, and daily context influence regulation and wellbeing.
Small environmental shifts can make a profound difference to how a horse feels and functions.
True soundness is never just physical — and lasting change happens when all six pillars are considered together.
Everything in The Holistic Horsemanship Academy is designed to support both you and your horse — in everyday moments and training situations — so you can apply what you learn straight away, without overwhelm.
Foundations Course
Begin with a clear, grounding orientation to the Six Pillars of Soundness™ and the science of stress, safety and connection.
This course sets the tone for everything inside the Academy — helping you understand why things feel the way they do, before trying to change anything.
Video Library: Real-World Application
Groundwork, regulation in action, short practical videos and case studies — real horses in real situations.
This is where theory becomes tangible and you start recognising patterns in your own horse.
Monthly Live Calls (with Archive Access)
Come together with me and the community for live Zoom sessions exploring core themes, answering questions and reflecting together.
All calls are recorded and saved, so you can revisit insights in your own time.
Private Member Community
A calm, supportive space to connect with like-minded horse people, ask questions, share observations and feel understood — without judgement or pressure.
Monthly Additions
New videos, reflections and tools added regularly to support your learning and deepen your practice — always designed to integrate gently into real life.
Exclusive Deep-Dive Programmes
As a member, you gain access to full signature programmes such as:
Leaving Survival Mode — Finding Connection and From Paddock to Paradise.
These longer programmes invite deeper shifts — emotionally, relationally and practically — and are available only inside the Academy.
Thoughtful additions that support where you are right now and where you’re going.
Bonus: 1:1 Sessions at Member Rate
If you’re feeling stuck, want clarity, or need live guidance with your horse, members can book private 1:1 sessions for €65 (normally €111).
Each session is grounded in deep listening, connection and practical understanding.
You don’t need to do everything at once. The Academy is designed to meet you where you are.
The Holistic Horsemanship Academy is for you if you care deeply about your horse — and still find yourself feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or quietly frustrated despite doing your best.
If you’ve ever thought “something isn’t quite right, but I can’t put my finger on it”, this space was created for you.
Whether you’re a lifelong horse person or just beginning to see your horse through new eyes — you don’t have to have it all figured out to belong here.
The Holistic Horsemanship Academy is quietly transforming how horse people understand their horses — not through pressure or performance, but through clarity, compassion, and connection. Here’s what some of our members have shared. You’ll notice these reflections aren’t about quick fixes — but about understanding, relief, and a different quality of relationship:
It’s a return to relationship.
You don’t need to force more. Push more. Prove more.
You just need to understand.
And from that understanding, everything begins to shift.
Join us in The Holistic Horsemanship Academy and explore what becomes possible when safety — not obedience — is the foundation.
Choose the level of support that fits your journey — self-paced, deeply committed, or personally guided.
Monthly Plan
Annual Plan
No — not in the traditional sense. The Academy isn’t a rigid, step-by-step system. It offers a different lens — a way of understanding your horse (and yourself) through science, compassion, and the Six Pillars of Soundness™. As understanding grows, so does clarity in how you respond — calmly, consciously, and without force.
Absolutely not. This work applies whether you ride daily, are taking a break, or don’t ride at all. Connection, nervous system awareness, and soundness form the foundation of every horse–human relationship — regardless of discipline or activity.
Then you’re very welcome here. The Academy is designed to feel safe and accessible for both beginners and experienced horse people. You don’t need to know everything — only to be open to looking more closely and learning in a new way.
Yes. Many professionals join to deepen their understanding, refine their perspective, and integrate a science- and connection-informed approach into their work. The Academy supports both personal insight and professional development.
That’s a very common reason people join. Rather than labelling behaviour, the Academy helps you understand what’s happening beneath it — so you can respond with clarity, compassion, and appropriate support instead of pressure.
Yes. You can ask questions inside the private community and during the monthly live calls. If you’d like more individual support, you can book 1:1 sessions at a reduced member rate.
There is no set pace or pressure to “keep up”. You’re free to engage in a way that fits your life — whether that’s watching one video, joining a live call, or simply letting insights settle over time. The Academy is designed to support you, not add another obligation.
Once you join, you’ll find a booking link inside your member dashboard. Sessions are 60 minutes via Zoom and can be focused on you, your horse (via video), or a specific situation you’d like support with. Members receive a discounted rate of €65 per session.
Yes — you’re always in control. You can cancel your membership at any time with one click. You’ll retain access until the end of your billing cycle, and you’re welcome to return whenever it feels right.
Created by Steffi Spielhaupter — Equine Scientist & Founder of Science for Soundness®
Changing the equine industry — one horse and human at a time.
