A podcast hosted by Dr. Shelley Appleton of Calm Willing Confident Horses and Kathryn Christieson of Firenza Park Equine Services on all things horse and learning
115. When Training Isn’t the Problem: Grass, Hooves, Capacity and Listening to the Horse
It’s just Shelley and Kat this week, catching up on what’s happening in their horse worlds and, as usual, ending up somewhere much deeper.
From track systems, spring grass and subclinical laminitis to a training horse who simply wasn’t progressing, they explore how management, discomfort and physical limitations can show up as behavioural and training problems.
Shelley also introduces her idea of the horse’s “capacity bank account”, a practical way of understanding why some horses struggle to cope with what we ask of them.
Sometimes the answer isn’t better training. Sometimes we need to ask why the horse is finding the training difficult.
Show Notes
CANTER THERAPY SPECIAL OFFERS
50% OFF Kat’s Hoof Care Basics Course
Learn how to better understand and care for your horse’s hooves with Kat’s Hoof Care Basics: Essential Guide to Understanding & Caring For Your Equine Hooves.
Use coupon code CT50 for 50% off.
LINK: https://firenzapark.com.au/online-learning/ (https://firenzapark.com.au/online-learning/)
15% OFF Shelley’s Courses
Get 15% off all of Shelley’s online courses for the next month.
Use coupon code CANTERTHERAPY at checkout.
LINK: https://calmwillingandconfidenthorses.thinkific.com (https://calmwillingandconfidenthorses.thinkific.com)
PRE-ORDER: Why Horses Become Difficult
Shelley’s new book, Why Horses Become Difficult: Understanding Behaviour, Capacity, and What Changes, is available to pre-order now and will be released on 30 October 2026.
Pre-order today and receive 15% off using CANTERTHERAPY.
LINK: https://calmwillingandconfidenthorses.thinkific.com/courses/why-horses-become-difficult (https://calmwillingandconfidenthorses.thinkific.com/courses/why-horses-become-difficult)
LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP: Calm Willing Confident Horse Society
Join Shelley’s Calm Willing Confident Horse Society for $250 (usual price $350) and become a member for life. Get access to Shelley, member resources, learning activities and social events without another monthly subscription.
Use coupon code CANTERTHERAPYSOCIETY.
LINK: https://calmwillingandconfidenthorses.thinkific.com/bundles/CWCH-society-project-reboot (https://calmwillingandconfidenthorses.thinkific.com/bundles/CWCH-society-project-reboot)
To find out more about Kat and Shelley, visit www.cantertherapy.com.au (http://www.cantertherapy.com.au/).
23 Sept 2026
114. Her Ride, Her Way - Sabrina Davies
What if rebuilding confidence with your horse didn’t begin with pushing yourself harder?
In this episode, Shelley and Kat talk with Sabrina Davies, founder of Her Ride, Her Way, about confidence, communication, people pleasing, self-doubt and why “just ride through it” might be some of the least helpful advice we give nervous riders.
Sabrina shares her human-first approach to horsemanship and one powerful question: what might change with your horse if you changed something in yourself first?
Show Notes
To find out more about Sabrina Davies:
Website: www.herrideherway.com (https://www.herrideherway.com)
Facebook: Her Ride, Her Way (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578271286315)
Email: herrideherway@gmail.com (mailto:herrideherway@gmail.com)
To find out more about Canter Therapy Podcast and hosts Dr Shelley Appleton (https://www.calmwillingconfidenthorses.com.au) and Kathryn Christieson (https://firenzapark.com.au):
Website: www.cantertherapy.com.au (https://www.cantertherapy.com.au)
12 Sept 2026
113. What the Horse's Body is Telling Us - Interview with Mary Sargeant
What can we learn about a horse by really learning to see its body?
In this fascinating and wonderfully candid conversation, Shelley and Kat talk with equine bodyworker Mary Sargeant about the experiences that transformed the way she sees horses.
From dissections and compensation patterns to pain, rehabilitation, behaviour, riding, regulation and the increasingly popular language of choice and consent, Mary isn't afraid to question accepted ideas. She also explains why understanding anatomy doesn't need to be intimidating and how learning to recognise what is happening beneath the surface can help us make better decisions for horses.
Funny, thoughtful and packed with ideas worth pondering, this is an episode about observation, curiosity and having the courage to ask: does what we believe about horses actually make sense?
Show Notes
To find out more about Mary Sargeant:
Website: www.equinebodyworksbymarysargeant.com (https://www.equinebodyworksbymarysargeant.com)
Mary's Shop to purchase her Easy to Understand Anatomy ebooks: www.equinebodyworksbymarysargeant.com/shop (https://www.equinebodyworksbymarysargeant.com/shop)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/equinebodworks ( https://www.facebook.com/equinebodworks)
To find out more about Canter Therapy Podcast and Dr Shelley Appleton & Kathryn Christieson:
Website: www.cantertherapy.com.au (https://www.cantertherapy.com.au)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.6 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
4.5 / 5
55 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 46 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
59
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
85
Contact Canter Therapy
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Canter Therapy?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
