In this episode of the Canter Therapy Podcast, Shelley and Kat speak with Stacey Wallace about one of the most rapid and grounded transformations she has witnessed in a horse owner. Stacey returned to horses as an adult, postpartum, without a pony club background and with a young, reactive horse that challenged her confidence and skills from the outset. Over a relatively short period of time, Stacey developed exceptional handling skills, sound decision-making, and the ability to calmly navigate complex situations that derail many horse owners. Her progress was supported not only by structured learning, but also by her own background in cheerleading and the Air Force, which shaped her discipline, ability to practise methodically, take responsibility, and stay calm under pressure. A central theme of the conversation is how working within Shelley’s framework, through the Complete Reboot program and the Calm Willing Confident Horse Society, helped Stacey cut through the noise of conflicting expert advice. Rather than becoming dependent on opinions, Stacey learned a process for observing, testing, and refining her approach. She also speaks openly about the role of trusting her gut, particularly when expert advice conflicted or did not align with what she was seeing in her horse, even when faced with soundness issues, hoof concerns, injuries, and management challenges. This episode offers an honest and practical look at what is possible for first-time and adult horse owners who never went to pony club, do not have the “perfect” horse, and are trying to build real capability in a confusing horse world. If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe. And if you’d like to support it in a more tangible way, visit the Canter Therapy website to explore Shelley and Kat’s education resources, clinics, and events. There’s also merchandise, because nothing says “I appreciate critical thinking and horses” quite like a hoodie! Visit www.cantertherapy.com.au for more information.
