✨ “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

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New Trails Learning Systems
Website: https://ntls.co
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📊 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.