Equine Assisted World with Rupert Isaacson

In this episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Katja Mehlhorn — psychologist, academic, and founder of Horse Kids Groningen in the Netherlands. Katja bridges two worlds that rarely meet: university‑level research and deeply embodied, nature‑based equine‑assisted practice.

From her early work in PATH programs in the United States to building a highly individualized, child‑led practice on a Dutch farm, Katja shares how curiosity, movement, imagination, and horse welfare shape everything she does. Together, Rupert and Katja explore how neuroplasticity, safety, and play support learning in children who struggle with anxiety, school refusal, autism, and social‑emotional challenges.

This conversation ranges widely — from teaching maths through Formula One role‑play on horseback, to helping traumatized clients rebuild self‑worth by caring for horses, to using landscapes, wildlife, foraging, and even horse poo as gateways to regulation and learning. Along the way, Katja reflects on leaving a secure university career to grow her farm‑based work, and on what the equine‑assisted field must do to stay ethical, relevant, and humane.

If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How curiosity and play create safety and open the brain for learning 
• Why following the child matters more than following a protocol 
• How movement and balance activate neuroplasticity through the vestibular system 
• Ways to introduce maths, numbers, and academics without fear or pressure 
• How horses provide emotional feedback when children cannot verbalize 
• Why horse welfare, fitness, and variety of work are essential in equine‑assisted programs 
• How in‑hand and classical groundwork benefit both horses and humans 
• Why nature, foraging, animals, and landscape are powerful therapeutic tools 
• How rescue horses paired with at‑risk youth can transform both 
• What equine‑assisted practice can offer to struggling schools and post‑COVID students

🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode

[00:03:35] Katja describes her first experiences volunteering at a PATH center and witnessing profound changes in children

[00:09:18] Using Formula One racing games on horseback to gently reintroduce maths and numbers

[00:16:00] Teaching balance through playful exercises inspired by weighted “Russian doll” toys

[00:18:38] The role of vestibular activation in long‑term learning and neuroplasticity

[00:27:01] Reading horses’ calming and stress signals to understand what children cannot express

[00:32:57] Integrating fitness, trick training, and in‑hand work into therapy sessions

[00:40:17] How helping horses heal can rebuild self‑worth in traumatized clients

[00:43:00] Research findings from Brook Hill Farm showing improved school outcomes for at‑risk youth

[00:50:55] Using landscape, imagination, wildlife, and foraging to reconnect children with nature

[01:21:12] Why longer sessions allow children time to truly arrive and regulate

📚 Contact, Projects, and Resources Mentioned

• Katja Mehlhorn / Horse Kids Groningen https://katjamehlhorn.nl
• Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration https://ntls.co
• Long Ride Home / Rupert Isaacson https://rupertisaacson.com
• 
  

🌍 Follow Us

Long Ride Home 
https://longridehome.com 
https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh 
https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh 
https://youtube.com/@longridehome

New Trails Learning Systems 
https://ntls.co 
https://facebook.com/horseboyworld 
https://instagram.com/horseboyworld 
https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

📊 Affiliate Disclosure

Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

In this episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Suzie Latchford, founder of Heal With Horses in Ontario, Canada — a long‑running equine‑assisted program working with autistic children, families, and communities in a demanding four‑season climate.

Suzie shares how Heal With Horses grew organically over more than fifteen years, often without a clear roadmap, and what that growth revealed about sustainability, invisible structure, horse welfare, staff leadership, and practitioner wellbeing. What begins as a conversation about weather and logistics becomes a deeply honest exploration of burnout, menopause, identity, delegation, and the hidden costs of purpose‑driven work.

Rather than presenting easy answers, this episode offers lived experience from someone who has stayed in the work long enough to feel its strain — and to find ways through it. From following the child and respecting nature‑led limits, to building mobile animal programs and planning for succession, Suzie reflects on what it really takes to keep equine‑assisted work ethical, human, and sustainable over decades.

If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How following the child builds communication and trust before any therapeutic goals are imposed
• Why nature‑based limits — weather, seasons, and animals — can support regulation better than rigid schedules
• What invisible structure looks like in real equine‑assisted programs, and why it matters
• How long‑term practitioners experience burnout, including emotional, physical, and hormonal factors
• Why delegation, staff leadership, and succession planning are essential for program survival
• How mobile animal programs extend equine‑assisted work into seniors’ homes, schools, and community spaces
• What sustainable horse welfare looks like in cold climates through herd living and 24/7 turnout

🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode

[00:01:40] Suzie reflects on the unplanned beginnings of Heal With Horses and how Horse Boy Method shaped her early direction

[00:06:53] Navigating winter cancellations, financial strain, and client expectations in extreme Canadian weather

[00:16:26] A clear, lived example of “following the child” through imagination, animals, and choice

[00:32:37] Suzie speaks candidly about burnout, depression, and losing joy in work she once loved

[00:40:00] An open discussion about menopause, identity loss, and rebuilding self‑trust

[00:50:00] How stepping back allowed younger staff to step up — and why delegation matters

[01:25:24] The mobile animal program: bringing pigs, goats, and bunnies into nursing homes and universities

[01:41:00] Redefining success beyond money, productivity, and traditional metrics

📚 Contact, Projects, and Resources Mentioned

Heal With Horses (Canada) https://healwithhorses.ca

Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration https://ntls.co

Long Ride Home / Rupert Isaacson https://rupertisaacson.com

🌍 Follow Us

Long Ride Home 

• https://longridehome.com 
• https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh 
• https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh 
• https://youtube.com/@longridehome

New Trails Learning Systems 

• https://ntls.co 
• https://facebook.com/horseboyworld 
• https://instagram.com/horseboyworld 
• https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

📊 Affiliate Disclosure

Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

In this episode, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Celisse Barrett — a practitioner whose work blends equine‑assisted therapy, movement‑based regulation, and full‑scale equestrian spectacle. From trick riding, vaulting, and Roman riding to using these same performance skills day‑to‑day with clients, Celisse shows how horses become partners in confidence‑building, trauma recovery, coordination, and empowerment.

Rather than separating therapy from performance, Celisse explains how showmanship, rhythm, choreography, and playful challenge help clients — including neurodivergent and special‑needs riders — access balance, focus, and self‑belief. The conversation moves through her personal journey, her training roots, her safety framework, and the way she shapes a space where horses and humans learn together.

If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Celisse integrates trick riding, vaulting, Roman riding, and performance skills into therapeutic work
• Why movement, choreography, and physical challenge help clients regulate and build confidence
• How she creates a safety culture that allows playful risk without compromising wellbeing
• The role of rhythm, balance, and co‑movement in trauma recovery
• How horses teach authenticity and emotional truth in both performance and therapy
• Ways Celisse adapts her show‑based techniques to different personalities and needs
• What long‑term practice has taught her about sustainability, joy, and preventing practitioner burnout
• How equestrian spectacle can become a tool for empowerment, identity, and belonging

🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode

• [00:03:00] Celisse describes the first time she realized trick‑riding skills could help a client regulate and connect.
• [00:10:00] A young rider discovers unexpected confidence through a simple performance‑style exercise.
• [00:25:00] Rupert and Celisse talk about balancing "spectacle" with safety — and why fun, when done right, is protective.
• [00:36:00] Breaking down how movement and balance training with a young horse transfers directly into client work.
• [00:50:00] Celisse explains how co‑movement and rhythm help clients rebuild trust in their own bodies.
• [01:20:00] A discussion about choreography, creativity, and how Roman riding principles translate into real therapeutic outcomes.
• [01:36:00] How performance‑style exercises unlock emotional breakthroughs in riders who struggle with traditional approaches.

📚 Contact, Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned

• Equestrian Chaos: 

https://www.equestrianchaos.com 

https://www.instagram.com/equestrianchaos/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/EquestrianChaos/

• Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration – https://ntls.co
• Long Ride Home – https://longridehome.com
• Rupert’s Programs and Shows: https://rupertisaacson.com

📲 Follow Us

Long Ride Home
Website: https://longridehome.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

New Trails Learning Systems
Website: https://ntls.co
Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld
Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

📊 Affiliate Disclosure

Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

✨ “Fun is the foundation of transformation. Once people laugh, anything becomes possible.” – Troy Shaw

✨ “Clichés are cliches because they’re true – when you make horses healthier and happier, you make humans healthier and happier, too.” – Rupert Isaacson

What happens when a corporate manager swaps the boardroom for the barn? In this heartwarming episode, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Troy Shaw, co-director of New Leaf Triangle in Leicestershire, UK — a thriving equine-assisted education and therapy center that grew from one family’s leap of faith into a nationally respected program. Alongside his wife Lorraine, Troy left behind the security of a corporate job to create a place where play, laughter, and horses transform lives.

Troy shares the story of how New Leaf Triangle began in 2014 with just a few students and a handful of horses, and how it evolved into a multi-site program supporting young people with autism, emotional challenges, and special educational needs. From fun and dress-up sessions that unlock neuroplasticity to serious discussions about risk, horse welfare, and staff training, this episode explores how joy and rigor can coexist in equine-assisted work.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a sustainable living doing meaningful work with horses, or how to bring more fun and authenticity into your sessions, this conversation is for you.

If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Troy and Lorraine Shaw left corporate life to build New Leaf Triangle from scratch ([00:03:00])
• The power of fun, silliness, and play in equine-assisted learning ([00:32:00])
• How to gain credibility and funding through professionalism and paperwork ([00:17:00])
• Why risk, laughter, and resilience are essential parts of therapy ([01:03:00])
• How to build horses that are confident, bombproof, and emotionally balanced ([00:50:00])
• The importance of matching horse and human personalities ([00:54:00])
• What makes a great equine-assisted staff culture – and how to train it ([00:43:00])
• The value of authenticity and humor in building resilience ([01:27:00])
• How to grow an equine-assisted business without losing joy ([01:52:00])

🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• Rupert and Troy reminisce about the night New Leaf Triangle was born over dinner in Soho ([00:24:00])
• The family who rediscovered communication through laughter on horseback ([00:11:00])
• Why leading with laughter creates safety and connection ([00:33:00])
• How dressing up as pirates, cowboys, or highwaymen becomes real therapy ([01:14:00])
• Troy’s candid reflections on leaving behind a pension for purpose ([00:09:00])
• The horses that teach emotional intelligence – and the humans who learn from them ([00:55:00])

📚 Contact, Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned:

• New Leaf Triangle – https://newleaftriangle.co.uk
• Lorraine and Troy Shaw – Co-directors, New Leaf Triangle
• Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration – https://ntls.co

🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:

Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

📲 Follow Us:

Long Ride Home
Website: https://longridehome.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

New Trails Learning Systems
Website: https://ntls.co
Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld
Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

📊 Affiliate Disclosure:

Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

What happens when curiosity meets compassion and data meets horsemanship? In this inspiring episode, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Dr. Pebbles Turbeville, CEO of the Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) — an organization that funds groundbreaking studies proving the power of horse-human interactions. For nearly two decades, HHRF has legitimized and advanced the field of equine-assisted services through rigorous, peer-reviewed research, helping programs worldwide access funding and credibility.

Pebbles shares the foundation's origins, from founder Molly Sweeney's question of how horses help humans to the global network of researchers and practitioners now carrying that torch. Together, she and Rupert explore the science behind equine-assisted therapy, innovative studies linking brain scans to equine activity, and the growing focus on equine well-being — because healing must go both ways.

If you’re in the equine-assisted world, this episode is your guide to the data, ethics, and compassion shaping the future of our field.

If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome

✨ “When we make horses healthier and happier, we make humans healthier and happier, too.” – Dr. Pebbles Turbeville

✨ “Research legitimizes what we do. It helps the world see that playing with ponies is powerful medicine.” – Rupert Isaacson

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Horses and Humans Research Foundation began — and the story of founder Molly Sweeney ([00:03:00])
• How HHRF’s Shark Tank-style grant process ensures integrity and safety in research ([00:08:00])
• The challenges of funding equine-assisted research and why quality control matters ([00:10:00])
• Highlights of HHRF-funded studies, including brain mapping in therapeutic riding ([00:27:00])
• How horses’ well-being is now central to research — and what the Five Domains model means ([00:34:00])
• Why fitness, enrichment, and emotional health matter for therapy horses ([00:38:00])
• How HHRF bridges research and real-world application through free webinars ([00:45:00])
• The organization’s upcoming conference and equine well-being initiatives ([00:47:00])
• Innovative grants focused solely on equine welfare ([00:50:00])
• The role of emotional intelligence and kindness in both horse and human learning ([01:05:00])
• How collaboration, not competition, will shape the future of the equine-assisted world ([01:25:00])

🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• The volunteer who changed everything: how one woman’s curiosity built a global research movement ([00:03:00])
• Pebbles on the irony of how hard it is to give away money – and what makes a great grant applicant ([00:10:00])
• The first study to measure both human and horse brain activity ([00:27:00])
• How understanding horse behavior and enrichment prevents burnout and aggression ([00:36:00])
• The power of the Five Domains: nutrition, environment, health, behavior, and mental state ([00:34:00])
• Rupert’s reflection on how emotional control and empathy are rooted in horsemanship ([01:06:00])
• Why interdisciplinary collaboration is the key to advancing the whole field ([01:25:00])

📚 Contact, Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned:

Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) – https://horsesandhumans.org

Dr. Pebbles Turbeville – CEO, Horses and Humans Research Foundation

Dr. Molly Sweeney – Founder, HHRF

Dr. Steven Peters – Keynote Speaker, HHRF Conference 2026

Dr. Helen Sharp – Research collaborator and educator

Dr. Beth Lanning, Baylor University – Neuroscience-based equine studies

Christina Wilkins – Equitation Science & Five Domains Course

Square Peg Foundation – https://www.squarepegfoundation.org

Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration – https://ntls.co

🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

📲 Follow Us:

Long Ride Home
Website: https://longridehome.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

New Trails Learning Systems
Website: https://ntls.co
Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld
Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

📊 Affiliate Disclosure: Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

What happens when autism transforms not just a child’s life, but an entire family’s purpose? In this heartwarming episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Monique and Cees Jan Timmermans from the Netherlands about their son Stan’s remarkable journey — from dolphin therapy in Curaçao to finding peace and communication through horses.

Monique, founder of InKompassie, shares how her family’s experience with autism inspired her to build a holistic equine-assisted practice that helps other families find balance, regulation, and hope. Together with her husband Ian, she reflects on the lessons they’ve learned about parenting, partnership, and letting go of expectations while embracing the beauty of the present moment.

From dolphins to horses, deep pressure to patience, and family dynamics to neuroplasticity — this episode explores how compassion, movement, and nature can rewire both brain and heart.

If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome

✨ “When you look with compassion — at your child, your partner, and yourself — healing begins.” – Monique Timmermans

✨ “Stu does things when he is ready. You can’t push it; you just have to recognize the moment.” – Ian Timmermans

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How dolphin therapy unlocked communication and calm for Stan ([00:18:00])
• The sensory connection between body awareness, regulation, and emotion ([00:06:00])
• Why involving the whole family is key to successful equine-assisted sessions ([00:05:15])
• The origins and meaning behind Monique’s practice name, InKompassie ([00:11:25])
• How horses help children with autism reconnect with their bodies and emotions ([01:01:00])
• Teaching academic skills like math and reading through movement and horses ([01:04:00])
• The neuroscience behind movement, nature, and neuroplasticity ([00:42:00])
• How Monique helps parents find regulation and perspective through horses ([00:59:00])
• Lessons from 20 years of parenting: acceptance, patience, and unconditional love ([01:20:00])

🎙️ Memorable Moments:

• Stan’s breakthrough moments during dolphin therapy in Curaçao ([00:19:00])
• Discovering that compassion begins with the self — after a hospital scare ([00:12:00])
• Watching Stan find peace and joy with horses at home ([00:45:00])
• How Monique’s practice evolved from personal healing to community support ([00:48:00])
• “When everyone was like Stan, it would be a beautiful world.” – Monique ([01:37:02])
• Ian on balance, respect, and partnership in parenting a special needs child ([01:22:15])
• The importance of letting go of expectations and embracing what is ([01:34:19])

📚 Contact, Projects & Resources Mentioned: 
Monique Timmermans – InKompassie (Equine-Assisted Practice, Netherlands) – https://inkompassie.nl 
Dolphin Therapy Center – Curaçao Dolphin Therapy & Research Center (CDTC) 
Temple Grandin – Author, Autism Advocate 
Horse Boy Method Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration – https://ntls.co

🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: 
Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

📲 Follow Us: Long Ride Home
Website: https://longridehome.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

New Trails Learning Systems
Website: https://ntls.co
Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld
Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

📊 Affiliate Disclosure: Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

When most people think of the Thoroughbred industry, they picture racing, speed, and high stakes. But what happens to these horses after the finish line? And could their intelligence, courage, and sensitivity make them perfect partners in equine-assisted work?

✨ “It’s a win-win situation for the equine-assisted world and for the Thoroughbred world — an opportunity to give back to society in a meaningful way.” – Suzi Pritchard-Jones

✨ “Any living creature is made up of energy. Unless you can express that energy, it gets bottled up and becomes destructive.” – Suzi Pritchard-Jones

In this compelling episode, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Suzi Pritchard-Jones — a breeder and advocate working to bridge the gap between the racing world and the equine-assisted community. Suzi shares her vision for a more humane future for Thoroughbreds, both during their careers and beyond, where welfare, horsemanship, and second careers in therapy and education take center stage.

From Ireland to Florida to the UK, Suzi is pushing for change within an industry often misunderstood and criticized, championing transparency, accountability, and empathy for one of the world’s most athletic and misunderstood breeds. Together, she and Rupert explore how Thoroughbreds — once the engine of civilization — can once again serve humanity through healing, learning, and connection.

If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Thoroughbreds deserve a second chance — and how their traits suit equine-assisted work ([00:06:00])
• The evolution of the racing industry — from owner-breeders to syndicates — and how that affects welfare today ([00:18:00])
• How misconceptions about “hot” Thoroughbreds persist, and what really defines their temperament ([00:22:00])
• How better horsemanship could transform the racing world ([00:28:00])
• Inside prison programs using retired racehorses to teach empathy and responsibility ([00:39:00])
• Creating unity between equine-assisted practitioners and the racing establishment to secure funding and respect ([01:00:00])
• How the in-hand Takhin method can help retrain racehorses and improve balance, confidence, and soundness ([01:17:00])
• Rediscovering the origins of the Thoroughbred — from the Barley Turk to modern breeding concerns ([01:23:00])
• Why equine-assisted practitioners must explain the science behind their work to earn support ([01:42:00])
• How the Newmarket Pony Academy and Autism & Racing initiatives are paving the way for social change ([01:45:00])

🎙️ Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• Suzi recalls growing up riding out racehorses in Ireland and learning trust over dominance ([00:05:00])
• The lightbulb moment: seeing Thoroughbreds used in therapy for veterans at Ville, France ([00:15:00])
• The evolution of the racing industry and its changing relationship with welfare ([00:18:00])
• How better horsemanship and “crazy time” for horses can prevent frustration and burnout ([00:28:00])
• Thoroughbreds and prisons: how touch, empathy, and hope transform both horses and inmates ([00:40:00])
• Creating transparency and accountability in racing welfare programs ([00:48:00])
• The challenge of funding and uniting the equine-assisted field ([01:00:00])
• How the in-hand Takhin method builds balance, confidence, and soundness in ex-racehorses ([01:17:00])
• Rediscovering the origins of the Thoroughbred — from the Barley Turk to modern breeding concerns ([01:23:00])
• The Newmarket Pony Academy and Autism & Racing initiatives leading social change ([01:45:00])

📚 Contact, Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned:

• Suzi Pritchard-Jones – Author of Barley: The Thoroughbred’s Ticking Time Bomb: https://amzn.to/492f7Dd
• International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) – https://www.internationalracehorseaftercare.com
• Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation – https://www.trfinc.org
• Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance – https://www.thoroughbredaftercare.org
• Horseback UK – https://www.horseback.org.uk
• Square Peg Foundation – https://www.squarepegfoundation.org
• Newmarket Pony Academy – British Racing School, UK
• Autism & Racing – Initiative founded by Bobby Beavers, UK
• Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration – https://ntls.co

🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

📲 Follow Us:

Long Ride Home
Website: https://longridehome.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

New Trails Learning Systems
Website: https://ntls.co
Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld
Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

📊 Affiliate Disclosure:
Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

When doctors advised abortion after a devastating prenatal diagnosis, Gitti and Henrich Berkhoff chose a different path. Their son Julian was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, enduring multiple life-threatening surgeries. Against all odds, Julian not only survived but thrived—becoming a rider, public speaker, and inspiration.

Out of this journey, Gitti built one of Germany’s most innovative equine-assisted programs, blending neuroscience, horsemanship, and joy. From wheelchair fox hunting to pillow fights on horseback and even toilet-brush “microphone” interviews, her farm is a living testament to humor, creativity, and resilience.

Now, as she and her husband bring equine-assisted therapy to the German parliament, Gitti shares how horses, family, and a belief in joy over suffering reshaped her life—and how they can reshape equine therapy itself.

If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome

✨ “If you have something that makes you happy and you share it, then it grows. That gives you energy.” – Gitti Berkhoff

✨ “If you are not consciously creating joy, you may be unconsciously creating suffering.” – Rupert Isaacson

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Choosing life: why Gitti and Henrich refused abortion despite grim medical predictions ([00:03:00])
• Julian’s early years—nine surgeries, brain infections, and the fight for survival ([00:09:00])
• The role of prayer, resilience, and one unforgettable moment of recognition ([00:14:00])
• From nurse to horsewoman: how Gitti’s medical background shaped her practice ([00:21:00])
• Building an “active stable” and preparing horses far beyond typical therapy standards ([00:29:00])
• Why play, rebellion, and humor matter more than therapy ([00:33:00])
• Pillow fights, toilet-brush games, and fishing thistles—turning frustration into joy ([00:35:00])
• Green Care farming: integrating agriculture, nature, and equine work ([00:56:00])
• Bringing animals into schools after trauma and conflict ([01:05:00])
• Validation, empathy, and the art of truly believing what children and dementia patients feel ([01:13:00])
• Taking equine-assisted work to the German parliament with David Doyle ([01:22:00])

🎙️ Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• A doctor cries when baby Julian shows he can recognize faces—proof his brain is working ([00:15:00])
• Handing her child over for surgery with a fever of 41°C, not knowing if he’d survive ([00:16:20])
• Discovering Horse Boy Method in 2017 and deciding to go all the way to Texas for training ([00:07:00])
• Children on horseback “hunting” their parents with toilet brushes full of water ([00:36:00])
• Turning burdock weeds into an Olympic sport of “fishing” from horseback ([00:41:00])
• Installing an old toilet in the sandpit to help autistic kids laugh at and overcome toilet fears ([00:43:00])
• A schoolboy tells Gitti after a farm day: “This was the best day of my life.” ([01:07:00])
• Preparing to bring equine-assisted programs before the German parliament ([01:23:00])

📚 Contact, Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned:

• Gitti Berkhoff – Hof Berkhoff / Green Care Farm Hof Berkhoff: https://greencarefarm.de/
• David Doyle & Liskennett Farm, Ireland – pioneering government-backed equine-assisted work
• Temple Grandin – autism advocate and author
• The Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home, and The Healing Land – books by Rupert Isaacson
• Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration – https://ntls.co

🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:
Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

📲 Follow Us:

Long Ride Home
Website: https://longridehome.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

New Trails Learning Systems
Website: https://ntls.co
Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld
Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

📊 Affiliate Disclosure:
Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

From a childhood marked by abandonment in Australia to building a groundbreaking equine-assisted program in New Mexico, Dr. Rebecca Evanko’s story is one of resilience, survival, and transformation. Joined by her husband, physician Dr. Marc Evanko, the two share how their own neurodivergence—autism and ADHD—shaped Wilder Wood Equine Therapy, a program centering female autism and authentic connection with horses.

Together they discuss the creation of WRADIANCE©, a new diagnostic tool designed by autistic women for autistic women, and their unique counseling model that blends equine interaction with trauma-informed, neurodivergent-led support.

✨ “For the first time, I said to myself: I’m not a problem. I’m autistic. I think differently.” – Dr. Rebecca Evanko

✨ “There’s nothing wrong with either operating system—Android or Apple. They both work. It’s just different.” – Dr. Marc Evanko

If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Growing up autistic, obsessed with horses, and left alone at 15 in rural Australia ([00:04:00])
• Surviving homelessness, finding mentors, and building resilience through horses ([00:06:00])
• Misdiagnosis, masking, and why female autism is so often overlooked ([00:10:00])
• Meeting Marc, ADHD as both challenge and superpower, and their shared love of horses ([00:21:00])
• Why true classical dressage informed their horse work at Wilder Wood ([00:27:00])
• Creating equine therapy and counseling programs rooted in lived autistic experience ([00:48:00])
• How WRADIANCE© was developed: 900+ narratives from autistic women worldwide ([00:57:00])
• The limitations of “gold standard” diagnostic tools and why WRADIANCE© is different ([01:00:00])
• Grief, tribe, and the importance of community for autistic women ([01:17:00])
• Joy as the opposite of suffering—and the role of horses in bringing it back ([01:53:00])

🎙️ Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• Riding her horse through mist at 2 a.m. as a teen left alone in Queensland ([00:05:00])
• A kitchen accident leading Rebecca back to horses at age 52 ([00:27:00])
• Marc’s ADHD metaphor: starting to rake leaves, ending up at Home Depot, forgetting the rake ([00:32:00])
• Discovering that most autism programs weren’t designed by autistic people ([00:48:00])
• The “aha” moment: interviews don’t work—written narratives reveal female autism ([00:57:00])
• Women saying after WRADIANCE©: “I feel so heard. I feel so seen.” ([01:04:00])
• Why masking makes girls “fly under the radar” until adolescence melts them down ([01:12:00])
• The concept of learned helplessness vs. finding survival strategies ([01:45:00])
• Horses as partners in teaching self-reliance, not helplessness ([01:52:00])
• Rebecca’s memoir Joy—naming what she found on the other side of suffering ([01:53:00])

📚 Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned:

• Joy – Memoir by Dr. Rebecca Evanko https://amzn.to/4meH0uP
• Wilder Wood Equine Therapy – https://wilderwoodequinetherapy.org
• The  WRADIANCE© Protocol – female autism diagnostic tool in clinical trials https://wilderwoodequinetherapy.org/the-wradiance-instrument-and-protocol/
• Temple Grandin – Autism advocate, professor, and author
• Movement Method & Horse Boy Method – https://ntls.co

🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:
Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

📲 Follow Us:

Long Ride Home:
Website: https://longridehome.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

New Trails Learning Systems:
Website: https://ntls.co
Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld
Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

📊 Affiliate Disclosure:
Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

Episode Title:

Guest Introduction:

(If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome)

In this episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson is joined by Dr. Mark Uranga, a pediatrician from Boise, Idaho, with deep Basque roots and a lifelong connection to horses and mules. Blending his medical expertise with his equestrian experience, Dr. Uranga explores how resilience, community, and attunement shape both childhood development and equine-assisted practices.

From the cultural heritage of the Basque people to the sure-footed wisdom of mules, this conversation dives into what resilience really means, why attunement is vital in pediatrics and horsemanship, and how nature and equines offer healing pathways beyond clinical walls.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Basque traditions of tribal upbringing and resilience (Starts at 00:05:00)
• The difference between authoritarian vs. authoritative parenting (Starts at 00:23:00)
• How attunement with children and horses builds trust (Starts at 00:38:00)
• Why mules embody persistence, safety, and discernment (Starts at 00:42:00)
• The role of stubbornness vs. flexibility in human growth and horsemanship (Starts at 00:51:00)
• The mammalian caregiving system and why nurture drives resilience (Starts at 01:35:00)
• Why doctors should “prescribe nature” alongside medicine (Starts at 01:46:00)

🌟 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• “A comfortable child is a more reliable patient.” (00:04:00)
• On Basque childhood: “An 8-year-old carrying an 8-month-old — that’s resilience in practice.” (00:08:00)
• “Authoritative parenting provides the framework — without the conflict of authoritarianism.” (00:26:00)
• The mule’s pause as a model for resilience: “Their sense of self-preservation keeps us safe.” (00:47:00)
• “Being attuned to hesitation is what allows for finding the next step.” (00:59:00)
• On magic and awe: “We’re still monkeys on horses, moved by the mystery of it all.” (01:20:00)
• Why every pediatrician should spend time in nature-based learning environments (01:51:00)

🤝 Connect with Dr. Mark Uranga:

🎙️ Podcast: The Kid Wrangler (Spotify)
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Warm Springs Care Farm (Boise, ID): https://www.warmspringscarefarm.org/

🌐 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:

Rupert Isaacson: https://rupertisaacson.com
Equine-Assisted Programs: https://newtrailslearning.com

📲 Follow Us:

Long Ride Home
Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

New Trails Learning Systems
Website: https://ntls.co
Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld
Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

🧺 Affiliate Disclosure:

Some links may be affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show!