Canter Therapy

After a little hiatus (and 100,000+ listens—thank you!) Shelley and Kat are back. Inspired by an episode of The Canine Paradigm, they explore “vibe”: how our energy, presence and intention shape every interaction with a horse—and with people. From the “volume knob” of our presence (too big vs too small) to practical ways to lift or soften energy, they dig into awareness, rope skills, and why the skill is in returning after you drift. They talk pivoting when you’re on the wrong train, embracing the awkward stage of learning, and why “meditation in motion” (hello, groundwork) counts. Plus: book chats—Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, Born a Crime, Man’s Search for Meaning, and Tiny Beautiful Things.

It’s honest, pragmatic, a bit cheeky, and very Canter Therapy.

Horseman and educator Steve Halfpenny (Light Hands Equitation, SA) joins Canter Therapy to talk being a “horse’s lawyer,” why the mind comes before the body, building trust without force, connection and feel, and why balance comes first.

We cover permission in coaching, awareness over labels, matching horses to humans, and practical ways to avoid triggering prey instincts while creating willing movement.

Kat and Shelley are joined by Tami Elkayam to share highlights from her Canberra workshops on keeping horses sound. They talk about moving beyond just spotting lameness to understanding the whole horse—posture, movement patterns, and prevention. The chat also touches on simple tools for owners and how hormones can affect mares’ performance.

To find out more about Tami and her owners course discussed in the episode go to:

https://equinetensegrity.com/

In this episode we wrap up 2024 with a look back at the highlights of the year, including our experiences at Equitana and the incredible visit from Tami Elkayam. We reflect on what we’ve learned, the connections we’ve made, and how these experiences are shaping our plans for 2025. Plus, we share some exciting goals for the new year and discuss our favorite book recommendations.

Daniel Dauphin Horsemanship is someone you need to know. He should be on your radar—not only because he is an exceptional horseman who has started thousands of colts, trained high-level performance horses, and conducts clinics worldwide, but also because he is the host of the popular Adult Onset Horsemanship Podcast and an expert on bits. Daniel can explain bits from every angle! He knows his engineering, physics, and anatomy. Daniel is also extremely entertaining, and you’re sure to learn a lot from this interview.

To find out more about Daniel Dauphin:

Website: https://dauphinhorsemanship.com

Bit Course: https://thebitcourse.com

Facebook: Dauphin Horsemanship

In this episode we talk to the lovely Carol Layton from Balanced Equine. Carol had brought mineral supplementation into the everyday horse owners repertoire.

We talk about the importance of specific minerals and their place in our horses diets as well as how to put together a basic diet that suits the average horse.

If you want to find out more about Carol Layton or the products she has available, her website is balancedequine.com.au

Anna Minogue is back!

In this episode we talk about everything dentistry and bit fitting from the differences in mouth shape between breeds to the different actions of bits.