You already know…

You already know there’s more to horsemanship than technique.
You feel the difference when your horse softens in your presence.
You care deeply about doing things in a way that feels good—for both of you.

But navigating this path alone can feel… isolating.
The Inner Circle is where you’re met, guided, and supported—by science, experience, and community.

This isn’t about fixing your horse. It’s about regulating together.
It’s about remembering how to listen—without losing yourself.

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING: A NEW WAY TO WORK WITH HORSES

Not just another course—A full support system for equestrians ready to break free from survival mode and create true connection.

For too long, the equine industry has focused on obedience, control, and quick fixes.

  • We’ve been told:
    “Push through resistance.”
  • “Make your horse respect you.”
  • “If they’re not listening, apply more pressure.”


But what if everything you’ve been taught about training is missing the bigger picture?

The future of horsemanship isn’t about control—it’s about connection.

The Inner Circle is not another course, training, or step-by-step method.
It’s a full support system designed to help you and your horse break free from survival mode, build real trust, and finally experience the deep connection you’ve been searching for.

WHY THIS MATTERS

  • Still feeling stuck despite trying different methods?
  • Is your horse tense, reactive, or disconnected?
  • Do quick-fix solutions feel like they’re missing something deeper?

The Inner Circle isn’t just another training programme—it’s a revolution in how we understand and work with horses.

  • If you feel like:
    No matter what you try, your horse still holds tension and stress
  • You’ve invested in trainers, methods and courses, but something still isn’t clicking
  • You want a partnership based on trust and understanding, not control and obedience


Then this is for you.

We don’t just train horses. We create safety, connection and soundness at every level.


Introducing the 5 Pillars of Soundness™ — the foundation of everything we do inside the Inner Circle:

Physical Soundness – Understanding movement, tension and biomechanics through a nervous system lens, in a way that supports true well-being.
Mental Soundness – Helping your horse (and yourself) shift from stress and confusion into clarity and confidence, so that you can learn and grow.
Emotional Soundness – Recognising survival states & creating safety for true connection.
Spiritual Soundness – Building an intuitive, unshakeable partnership based on trust, not force, so that you and your horse can connect deeply with yourselves and the world around you.
Social Soundness – Cultivating co-regulation, mutual respect and a sense of belonging—for both horse and human—so that safety isn’t just felt individually, but shared relationally.

Because true soundness isn’t just physical—it’s the full picture.

THIS is what makes the Inner Circle different.

This isn’t just education—it’s a revolution.

We are redefining what it means to be in partnership with horses. We are breaking free from old methods that mask symptoms and stepping into a science-backed, polyvagal-informed approach that transforms relationships at the root.

What Survival can look like:

How It Works:

Reconnect With Your Nervous System and Your Horse

✔ Recognise subtle signs of survival mode in both you and your horse—before it builds
✔ Gently shift from tension and overwhelm into attuned, embodied connection
✔ Explore polyvagal-informed strategies to co-regulate in real time—at the pace of safety

What this opens up for you:
Clarity instead of confusion.
Compassion instead of second-guessing.
A more regulated, responsive relationship—with your horse, and with yourself.

Build a Trust-Based, Lasting Partnership

✔ Learn what to look for in the moment—so you can respond instead of react
✔ Access an ever-growing video library with step-by-step tools, reflections, and real-life case studies
✔ Explore gentle, science-backed techniques that build trust through attunement—not force

What this creates:
Confidence in your next step.
A deeper sense of partnership that’s grounded in safety.
A horse who feels heard, relaxed, and ready to connect.

Be Part of a Community That Understands

✔ Join monthly live Q&A calls where you can ask, reflect, and receive support
✔ Share your journey in a private, grounded space held with care
✔ Access personal guidance so you’re never left walking this path alone

What this makes possible:
No more isolation.
A circle of equestrians walking a similar path—who truly get it.
Support that meets you where you are, with space to grow in your own rhythm.

Bonus: A Full Programme, Included

When you join, you’ll also receive Leaving Survival Mode – Finding Connection, my full 12-week programme on nervous system integration and connection, normally €997.

It’s already there for you inside—ready whenever you are.

No pressure. Cancel anytime.
Stay as long as it feels good.

What’s Included in Your Membership?

  • Growing Video Library

    Explore real-life, polyvagal-informed videos on co-regulation, nervous system patterns, and groundwork. New content added monthly.

  • 12-Week Programme

    Get full access to Leaving Survival Mode – Finding Connection—a guided journey through the nervous system and into deeper connection.

  • Monthly Community Calls

    Join live Zoom calls for support, insight, and shared reflection. Replays available inside the membership.

  • Reflection & Integration Resources

    Access prompts, practices, and audio tools to help you apply what you’re learning in daily life with your horse.

  • Ongoing Support & Community

    You’re not doing this alone. Inside the Inner Circle, you’ll find guidance, community, and ongoing presence—so you feel seen, held, and supported as you grow.

This is for you if…

  • You’re done with pressure-based, dominance-first methods

  • You want to deepen your connection through nervous system awareness

  • You value grounded science and intuitive guidance

  • You’ve started your inner work and want a space to go deeper

  • You’re ready to stop “fixing” and start co-regulating

  • You want to feel safe, seen, and supported

You don’t need to be more advanced or intuitive to be here—just open to doing things differently.

Membership Plans

Choose which option works best for you. Get 2 Months Free with the Annual Plan.

The Difference This Work Made on Bee, pictured below in 2014 and 2019:

The Transformation this Framework brought on for Karlchen within a few short Weeks:

Access Included To

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Hear from Our Members

Alysen & Sophie

The session I had with Steffi was eye-opening! She picked up on so many subtle nuances in my mare’s behaviour that I was missing. I’m grateful for this new awareness! I now feel equipped to notice these signals before they escalate and potentially manifest into other behaviours. The session helped me reshape our training in a way that supports her nervous system for better and quicker regulation. Since practicing the exercises, I’ve noticed a huge shift in her ability to quickly return to a calm state during moments of stress. Steffi is kind and grounded; I felt comfortable, safe, and supported during our session, which also positively impacted my own nervous system in connection with my horse. She is an expert at the forefront of guiding humans into deeper connections with their horses, utilizing science and pioneering techniques focused on nervous system regulation for both humans and horses.

Steffi really helped me be more confident with what I was doing

Clare & Cyrus

Building connection and relationships with our horses is a journey, with ups and downs (mainly ups of course), and constantly worrying whether we’re doing it right. Well, that’s the case for me! Steffi really helped me be more confident with what I was doing. Her empathetic, knowledgeable, horse first approach really called out to me. After chatting things through I felt more confident to do what I felt was right. And low and behold, progress. Thanks Steffi!

Sandra & Lord

Thank you for the nice community here and for your honest texts, questions, tips, ideas, opinions,... 🌟 Thanks to Steffi for everything you do, here in the community, out in the horse world in real life and online with your valuable courses ❤️

Nat

This space has been exactly what I needed. The science makes sense—but the way it's taught here feels like coming home. Every call leaves me more grounded. I’ve learned more about my own nervous system than I ever expected—and my horse feels it too.

Miriam & Greta & Karlchen

Steffi Spielhaupter is an extraordinary guide for both humans and horses. With her expertise as an Equine Scientist, her big heart, and her infectious enthusiasm, she creates a unique connection between mind and heart – fostering a holistic and harmonious relationship. Steffi supported me during particularly challenging times with my two horses, Greta and Karlchen. When it came to finding the right time to say goodbye to Greta, she was an invaluable support. With great sensitivity, empathy, and clarity, she stood by my side and guided us through this difficult process – compassionate, supportive, and always with Greta's best interest at heart. With Karlchen, she accompanied me from the very beginning: from our first meeting and my decision to welcome him into my life, to the tough moments of his unexpected and serious illness. During this time, Steffi not only impressed me with her incredible knowledge and experience but also with her warm-hearted and humorous nature, which brought courage and comfort even in the hardest moments. She has an exceptional ability to guide processes while keeping both the human and the horse at the center of her attention. Steffi’s strength also lies in her versatility. She is a true expert in all aspects of horse care – whether it’s training, improving the human-horse connection, feeding, housing, or simply enhancing quality time together. Her deep understanding of the nervous system, equine body language, and her vast experience with a wide variety of horses allow her to find individual and creative solutions for every situation – always in the best interest of the horse. At the same time, her humorous and appreciative manner enriches every conversation and interaction. I already know that I won’t hesitate to turn to Steffi again as soon as my heart is ready to welcome a new horse into my life. Her support is simply invaluable, and I couldn’t imagine a better companion for life with horses. ❤️

I didn't know I was able to tune into my emotions whilst also interacting with horses [...] but it changed everything

Svea & Cosi

"I grew up with horses, but the way I looked at them started to change when I met Steffi. I learned how to perceive them holistically – which to me means being able to see their emotional and physical needs clearly, whilst also questioning myself in this context. It helped me to observe Steffi and the way she is showing up for and with her horses and the way she treats them. Her clarity with her own horses was something I was able to take and use for myself. I didn't know I was able to tune into my emotions whilst also interacting with horses. That never used to be an option before, but it changed everything. Steffi always looks at each individual horse in a holistic way, where ego plays no role. She is great at finding out who the horse is, what they need, where they are at in their own unique system and what else is part of that. She has this meta view on the horse and then she looks at the human and asks those same questions in order to bring them together on a much deeper level."

Suzie

I never thought horsemanship could feel like this. Safe, kind, and deeply intuitive.

Ich dachte schon daran, es ganz aufzugeben.

Svenja & Ginny

Das Dressurtraining mit meiner Stute Ginny fühlte sich festgefahren an. Ich dachte schon daran, es ganz aufzugeben. Durch ihre wertschätzende Art und einfühlsamen Fragen hat Steffi mir geholfen Lösungsideen zu entwickeln, die meine und Ginnys Bedürfnisse im Training berücksichtigen!

Steffi took the time to actively listen and understand their history and I could feel that she genuinely cared for us

Marika

I received online counseling from Steffi yesterday. I am about to bring a new horse in my herd and felt that I needed an external point of view from a qualified professional to ensure I make the right decisions and follow the right steps. Three of my five horses are rescued with a very traumatic past so it is an absolute priority to protect the peace and harmony of the herd. Steffi took the time to actively listen and understand their history and I could feel that she genuinely cared for us. She answered all my questions and provided valuable insight to support me through this exciting but delicate process. I felt seen and understood by her which is exactly what I needed. I would highly recommend reaching out to her for tailored and professional support in your horsemanship journey. On top of her knowledge, her kindness was very appreciated. Thank you Steffi!

Luxi has become much more confident in training now and loves to work with me

Jasmin & Luxi

Luxi was trained by Steffi for 8 weeks. Her loving and respectful treatment was great and very important to me. She responded completely to him and was able to teach him how to be ridden - all at his own pace. She taught me to listen to Luxi and how to work with him. I thought it was so great that I was allowed to be there at any time and could work with her or just even watch her train him. He has become much more confident in training now and loves to work with me.

Meet Your Guide

MSc Equine Science, ESMT Steffi Spielhaupter

Steffi is the founder of Science for Soundness®, creator of the 4 Pillars of Soundness™, and a trailblazer in the Equine Industry. With an MSc in Equine Science and certification as an Equine Sports and Rehabilitation Massage Therapist (ESMT), she helps horses and their owners move beyond survival mode into thriving, balanced partnerships. As a podcast host and educator, Steffi empowers owners with science-backed insights and a compassionate approach to build trust, resolve tension, and create lasting transformation—from groundwork to the saddle and beyond. Her mission is to give horses a voice, raise welfare standards, and redefine true partnership—fostering relationships built on trust, safety, and mutual understanding. IG: @scienceforsoundness

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What is the Inner Circle, and who is it for?

    The Inner Circle is a supportive membership for horse owners who want to deepen their understanding of their horse’s behaviour, address tension and stress at its root, and build a thriving partnership from the ground up into the saddle and beyond. Whether you’re struggling with miscommunication, behavioural challenges, or simply want to connect on a deeper level, the Inner Circle provides the tools, guidance, and community to help you transform your bond.

  • What’s included in the membership?

    When you join the Inner Circle, you’ll receive: Monthly live group coaching calls for personalised guidance. Access to the resource library filled with step-by-step tools, workshops, and video lessons. Community support from like-minded horse owners sharing the same journey. Actionable workbooks and guides to help you implement what you learn.

  • What makes the Inner Circle different from other programmes?

    Unlike traditional training programs that focus on surface-level behaviours, the Inner Circle addresses the root causes of tension and stress—your horse’s nervous system. This science-backed approach helps you move beyond temporary fixes and create lasting transformation built on safety, trust, and understanding.

  • What if I can’t attend the live calls?

    No worries! All live coaching calls are recorded and made available in the resource library. You can watch them at your convenience and still gain the valuable insights and guidance shared during the sessions.

  • Is the Inner Circle suitable for all horse disciplines?

    Absolutely. Whether you’re a dressage rider, a trail enthusiast, or simply a horse lover, the principles of connection, trust, and addressing tension apply universally. The Inner Circle meets you where you are, no matter your discipline or experience level.

  • What if I’m not sure this is the right fit for me?

    That’s okay! The Inner Circle is designed to be a safe, welcoming space. If you’re unsure, feel free to reach out with your questions or concerns. We’re here to help you decide if this is the right next step for you and your horse.

  • How do I join the Inner Circle?

    Joining is simple! Click the link below to learn more and enrol. Once you join, you’ll gain immediate access to the resource library, upcoming live calls, and the private community.