Separation Anxiety in Horses

Understanding Herd Instinct

Reframing Instinct as Intelligence

This presentation will reframe your understanding of separation anxiety—not as disobedience or a behavioural issue, but as a natural survival instinct rooted in vulnerability and herd dynamics.

We’ll explore:

  • What separation anxiety really is (hint: it’s not misbehaviour)
  • How herd instinct and collective intelligence influence your horse
  • Why domestication changes everything
  • How you, as the human, can become your horse’s anchor
  • How my program teaches people to support and influence horses with clarity, confidence, and skill


Let’s shift from frustration to understanding—and find solutions that honour the horse’s nature.


Note: The primary purpose of this presentation is to help you reframe what separation anxiety truly is—and to introduce how targeted training can reduce the likelihood of it being triggered in the first place.

Price

Price to view presentation

Instructor(s)

Dr Shelley Appleton

Dr. Shelley Appleton is the founder of “Calm Willing Confident Horses”. Shelley teaches people how to train horses by presenting online courses, training lessons and clinics throughout Australia. Shelley helps riders nurture partnerships with their horses whilst building confidence, trust, knowledge and skillsets. Shelley has an uncanny, highly experienced ability to recognise, problem solve and correct issues with horses. Her doctorate in Human Learning proves beneficial to all coaching scenarios allowing a deeper understanding of strategies helping people develop their awareness, thinking and skillsets to be more in tune with their horse. Shelley is a published author of books - Confidence & Trust, Solving the Human & Horse Equation and Buying & Supporting a New Horse, The Essential Guide. She is the co-host of the popular Canter Therapy Podcast and creator of the her program of teaching people to help horses called the Complete Reboot System. You can find out more about Shelley on her website: https://www.calmwillingconfidenthorses.com.au