Firenza Park Equine Services – your horse is in great hands

Kathryn Christieson (BAVBioSc, Dip EPT, RHDP) is a hoofcare practitioner who has worked in the industry full time for nearly ten years. Her day to day work involves trimming, composite shoeing, glue on shoe application, hot shoeing and boot fitting services. She works collaboratively with veterinarians, bodyworkers and trainers to achieve the best results for clients in performance and rehabilitation.

Kathryn has a commitment to education and continuous improvement. She co-hosts ‘Canter Therapy Podcast’ and co-founded the International School of Integrative Hoofcare Australia. She is passionate about building community and the sharing of knowledge with as many people as possible.

Outside her professional pursuits, Kathryn dedicates her time to the art of dressage, immersing herself in lessons and clinics to continually refine her skills. Her passion extends beyond riding, encompassing a profound interest in animal behavior and the intricacies of their minds. Kathryn explores the realms of self-awareness, recognising the relationship between personal growth and her horse’s well-being. This commitment reflects her holistic approach, where the pursuit of knowledge and personal development intertwines seamlessly with her love for horses.

Canter Therapy – Dr Shelley Appleton & Kathryn Christieson

In this episode, Shelley sits down with horseman and educator Peter Cowell, the “man of a thousand sayings” who quietly delivers some of the most grounded, practical horsemanship insight you’ll hear.

Peter shares how he found his way into horses (yes, it started with a girl), the three formative mentors who set his standards early, and why real learning is built in layers rather than slogans. The conversation explores what Peter calls the “ragged edge” of practice: handling weanlings year after year in the same facilities, with the same bloodlines, and refining timing, feel, and risk management through relentless repetition.

You’ll hear honest discussion about trade-offs (there are no complete solutions), why context matters more than certainty, and how skilled horse people can unintentionally skip teaching because they do not realise how much they are doing in the micro-moments. Peter also explains how his use of a flag evolved from driving horses to helping them think forward, and why “that’s a goal, not a method” should probably be written on half the walls in the horse industry.

Peter will be returning for a part two. Homework has been assigned.

How early mentors shape standards and decision-making
Practical expertise versus simplified “science flag” thinking, and why long-term patterns matter
Weanling handling as a real-world laboratory for repetition, refinement, and risk reduction
Timing, including “rewarding the thought” and recognising the earliest onset of behaviour
“No complete solutions, only trade-offs” applied to tying, handling, and training
The missing middle ground in the horse world, and why it is where most people actually live

You can find out more about Peter Cowell here:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConundrumHorseHandling

Email: conundrumhorse@hotmail.com

To learn more about the Canter Therapy Podcast, suggest an episode idea, or support the show, visit:www.cantertherapy.com.au

To find out more about Dr Shelley Appleton and support her work, visit:www.calmwillingconfidenthorses.com.au

To find out more about Kathryn Christieson and support her work, visit:www.firenzapark.com.au

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