Episode list

Rike often gets along better with horses than with people. With the noble animals she finds a loving closeness that she lacks in her family and their traditional horse breeding. She doesn't want anything to do with the Wildenstein Riding School, which she turned her back on 13 years ago. When her father dies, Rike returns for the funeral from faraway Arizona, where she breeds mustangs with her partner Jack. As soon as she is home, Rike remembers why she first found happiness abroad: her mother Elsa teases her like she used to and her brother Ferdinand runs the farm in a tough "old school" way - unfortunately without success. Everything depends on the stallion Jacomo: If the expensive dressage horse doesn't start collecting prize money soon, there's a risk of bankruptcy. In order to protect the sensitive animal from the brutal tournament rider Dessaulier, Rike faces conflict with her family. She has to accept her unloved inheritance and saddle up in a tournament herself to keep investors on board. A key role is played by her childhood sweetheart Christian, who finds himself in a dilemma as a bank employee: on the one hand he wants to help the Wildensteins, on the other hand he has to represent the interests of the creditors. The fact that earlier feelings flare up again between him and Rike doesn't make things any easier - especially since he is a family man.

Rike tackles the great challenge of getting the heavily indebted Wildenstein Riding School back on track with vigour. She unexpectedly gets reinforcements: Tabea, who has a criminal record, is supposed to complete a rehabilitation program with her. The young police chief Meier leaves Rike no choice: only if she takes in the difficult teenager will she escape punishment for her traffic offences. Although Tabea is anything but good at introducing herself, Rike firmly believes in her new trainee. However, the new boss soon finds out that her brother Ferdinand is betraying her and her mother Elsa. He signs up at another farm and tries every trick he can to take the best horses with him. Not only does the future of the ailing stud depend on the highly talented stallion Jacomo, but also Rike's heart. It is also Jacomo with whose help she saves a teenager who is injured in a riding accident. Ferdinand and his wife Loretta use this incident to push through their plan. However, Rike gets unexpected support in her fight. She also now knows how to fight for Hof Wildenstein. She has to decide about her feelings for Christian Falkenberg, because his wife Jessica finds out that things are crackling again between her and her childhood sweetheart.

Rike can finally realize her dream of animal-friendly riding and her therapeutic concept. At the traditional Wildenstein Stud, under her management, it is no longer about top performance and prize money, but rather about the harmony between horse and rider. The desperate guest, Philipp, whose horse Leo goes through with the slightest irritation, relies on her special talent. Rike empathetically sets out to fathom the trauma of the sensitive black horse and to rebuild his trust in people. An unannounced inspection by the supervisory authority shocks the stud boss: Friedel Ischinger, who wants to see safety and hygiene deficiencies everywhere, closes the operation until further notice. When the stallion Jacomo, who is standing in the stable on her brother Ferdinand's new farm, disappears and his partner Loretta casts suspicion on Rike, everything seems to have conspired against the horse whisperer. Unexpected support from the family comes as if called, because the Wildensteins get together in times of need. In order to master her current crises, Rike has to find the real causes - and face painful chapters of her past.

In Starnberg, a free-roaming palomino mare causes a sensation: the beautiful stranger does not allow any contact - not even from the horse whisperer Rike. The horse farm manager is fascinated by the runaway who behaves like a lonely person. The well-cared for but idiosyncratic animal is only interested in eleven-year-old Joschi, who is supposed to live with his dad Jan for a few weeks. The divorced police chief can hardly live up to his role as a father because he has to investigate the disappearance of the stallion Jacomo. The fact that Rike is hiding something from him develops into an endurance test for their budding love. Meanwhile, Rike's tense relationship with her mother Elsa, who also seems to settle the long-standing argument with her unconventional sister Michi, is thawing, in order to finally be open about her relationship with vet Georg. When Ferdinand learns a family secret, new rifts open. Now it is also up to his scheming partner Loretta whether he finally breaks up with his family. In order not to lose him, Rike has to learn to understand the point of view of others.

Rike has an unexpected encounter during a ride: a wolf appears for a moment - and ensures that her inexperienced riding student Sabine is thrown off. However, Rike's special understanding does not make her doubt the horse. She knows: The sensitive animals reflect people's feelings and react uncontrollably when they lack confidence. Nor does Rike make a hasty judgment when Sabine's husband Kaspar finds several torn sheep on his farm. Of course, the suspicion falls on the immigrant wolf and other conspecifics. Hardliners, who want to take up hunting weapons immediately, and conservationists clash at the community meeting, which is scheduled at short notice. The young wolf researcher Moritz, who recently lived in a log cabin nearby and is working on the reintroduction of this almost extinct species, has had a difficult time. Rike trusts his assessment that the shy robbers pose no threat to humans. The "horse whisperer" learns from Moritz to approach wolves in a sensitive way - and to fight for them.

Riding farm boss Rike and her trainee Tabea discover a horse that has been left behind in the nearby forest. However, the beautiful stallion is in critical health and lies on the ground with cramps. The previously convicted Tabea, whose work on Wildenstein is part of the legal probation requirements, has serious problems as a result of the rescue operation. This is because Tabea missed a lesson in vocational school - not for the first time. Rike manages to get the deeply angry teacher Lina Ackert to turn a blind eye for the very last time. Shortly afterwards, however, there is an argument in which Tabea knocks down her teacher. Now Tabea threatens to return to the juvenile prison. The prospective horse host not only looks to blame on herself, but also on her boss: Rike, so the accusation, thinks first of her animals and then of the people. In order to fight Tabea one last chance before the youth judge Kaltenhoff, Rike uses her whole environment: from Uncle Hubert as an experienced lawyer to Dr. Stadelmeier in his dual function as veterinarian and mayor to local police officer Jan Meier. Rike also includes her new friend Moritz, who has a PhD in behavioral research. Although he specializes in the social behavior of wolves, Rike convinces him to develop a special anti-aggression training for Tabea.