The Confidence Connection: Horses, Humans & Hidden Shifts [WORKSHOP]

Name: The Confidence Connection: Horses, Humans & Hidden Shifts [WORKSHOP]
Start: 2025-12-12T09:00:00+08:00
Location: State Equestrian Centre

Schedule

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025 at 09:00 am

UTC+08:00

Location

State Equestrian Centre | Baskerville, WA

📍 State Equestrian Centre – Ocean Foam Room
303 Cathedral Ave, Brigadoon WA 6069
📅 Thursday 12 December
🕘 9:00am – 3:00pm
☕ Tea, coffee and snacks provided (please bring your own lunch)
🎟️ Tickets - $175.00 (Seats are limited)
“This workshop costs less than a couple of riding lessons, yet it will set you up with a clear plan — the key to unlocking progress with your horse, or helping others improve their own confidence and trust.”

Why This Workshop?
Confidence and trust are the foundations of horsemanship — but they’re also the first things to wobble.
Sometimes it’s obvious: a fall, a near miss, or a horse that suddenly feels “too much.” But often the causes are more subtle. Horses lose confidence when they’re confused, uncomfortable, or under chronic stress. Humans lose confidence through setbacks, fear, or hidden shifts inside their own bodies. And the two feed into each other in a cycle that leaves both horse and rider unsettled.
One of the most significant — yet rarely talked about — factors is perimenopause. The hormonal changes that can begin in your mid-30s quietly affect balance, stress response, confidence, and decision-making. Small worries feel overwhelming, old fears resurface, and your horse picks up on the change.
This workshop looks at the whole picture. It’s not about quick fixes or empty mantras. It’s about seeing what really shapes confidence and trust — in both horses and humans — and what you can strategically do about it.

What You’ll Learn
This interactive day will give you the tools to:
Understand how horses gain and lose confidence, and how trust is built strategically.
Explore how humans experience shifts in confidence, from fear and setbacks to life stages like perimenopause.
Recognise the feedback loop between horse and rider — how one affects the other.
Identify both horse-side and non-horse avenues (including health professionals and practical supports) that play a vital role in rebuilding confidence.
Leave with a plan: a clear understanding of your own situation and practical next steps for you, your horse, or the people you coach or care about.

The Day at a Glance:
Session 1: 9:00 – 10:00
- What Is Confidence & Trust with Horses?
- Do we need to be more “brave” or “informed & strategic”?
- What Causes Confidence & Trust Issues?
Session 2: 10:20 – 12:00
- Causes of lost confidence & trust in humans: fear, setbacks, hidden shifts like perimenopause.
- Causes of lost confidence & trust in horses: confusion, discomfort, soundness issues, gut health, impacts of chronic stress, and more.
Lunch: 12:00 – 1:00 (BYO)
Session 3: 1:00 – 2:00
The Hidden Shifts of Perimenopause
-What’s really happening in the body.
– How it influences riding, balance, stress, and decision-making.
– Strategies and supports that make a difference.
Session 4: 2:20 – 3:00
Strategic Solutions
– How to rebuild confidence and trust in both species.
– Horse strategies, human strategies, and where they meet.
– Non-horse avenues and professionals who play a key role.
– Creating your personalised plan.

Who It’s For
- Everyday equestrians who want to enjoy riding with confidence.
- Coaches and trainers supporting clients through setbacks.
- Professionals working in the horse industry who want a deeper understanding of confidence and trust.
- Anyone curious about how horses and humans influence each other — and how to make that connection stronger.

Why Me?
I’m Dr Shelley Appleton. I’ve dedicated my life to understanding people and horses — and how the two shape each other. I hold a PhD in human learning and expertise, I’m a professional horse trainer, and before this, I spent over 20 years as a pharmacist and university lecturer.
That means I bring both worlds together: the horse expertise and the human science. My workshops are designed to be practical, compassionate, and insightful — with plenty of stories and humour to keep it real.
Final Word
This workshop isn’t about tips and tricks. It’s about uncovering what really shapes confidence and trust in you and your horse, and what you can do about it — strategically, practically, and compassionately.
Seats are limited, so if you’ve ever wondered why your confidence wobbles, why your horse’s trust feels fragile, or how life changes might be influencing both ends of the lead rope — this is the place to find answers.
TO BOOK CLICK LINK BELOW:
https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=24017282&appointmentType=83125785