Equine Assisted World with Rupert Isaacson

By: Rupert Isaacson
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  • Summary

  • Here on Equine Assisted World. We look at the cutting edge and the best practices currently being developed and, established in the equine assisted field. This can be psychological, this can be neuropsych, this can be physical, this can be all of the conditions that human beings have that these lovely equines, these beautiful horses that we work with, help us with. Your Host is New York Times bestselling author Rupert Isaacson. Long time human rights activist, Rupert helped a group of Bushmen in the Kalahari fight for their ancestral lands. He's probably best known for his autism advocacy work following the publication of his bestselling book "The Horse Boy" and "The Long Ride Home" where he tells the story of finding healing for his autistic son. Subsequently he founded New Trails Learning Systems an approach for addressing neuro-psychiatric conditions through horses, movement and nature. The methods are now used around the world in therapeutic riding program, therapy offices and schools for special needs and neuro-typical children.  You can find details of all our programs and shows on www.RupertIsaacson.com.
    Horse Boy LLC
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Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success
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Episodes
  • Healing Hidden Wounds and Trauma in Northern Ireland through Equine Assisted Services with Dr. Helen Sharp | EP 26 Equine Assisted World

    Healing Hidden Wounds and Trauma in Northern Ireland through Equine Assisted Services with Dr. Helen Sharp | EP 26 Equine Assisted World
    Apr 17 2025
    In this episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Dr. Helen Sharp, an equine journalist, academic, and co-founder of Groundwork EAS—an equine-assisted charity on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. A leading voice in both equine media and trauma-informed equine work, Dr. Sharp brings a unique blend of artistry, horsemanship, and therapeutic insight to everything she does.She writes for The Irish Field and Farmers Journal, and her career spans journalism, community arts, equine bodywork, and academic research. She holds a PhD and has a background in sculpture and performance art, with her creative and research work shown around the world. As co-director of Groundwork, she serves veterans, trauma survivors, and neurodivergent individuals through programs that fuse nature, horses, and compassionate partnership.This powerful conversation traces her extraordinary journey from the Hebrides to heroin recovery, from performance art to equine-assisted leadership, and why horses continue to be the greatest teachers of all.📘 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The Origins of Groundwork EAS (Starts at 03:00)How Helen and co-founder Fiona Butchart launched the charity on a Northern Irish estate.The unique collaboration with Brooke House, a veterans' mental health charity.Why equine-assisted services are critical in a region with some of the UK’s highest mental health rates.Inside the Program: Grounding, Grooming, and Gentle Touch (Starts at 06:44)How Groundwork uses nonclinical space, tea rituals, and horsemanship to support healing.What a 10-week program looks like—from grooming to obstacle courses.The power of soft, tactile interaction and its effect on hypervigilance and aggression.Memorable Story: A Veteran’s Breakthrough with Breathing (Starts at 13:00)A former RUC officer transforms his relationship with anger through breathwork and horse partnership.How working with horses improved his family life.Breaking the Silence: Domestic Violence and Equine Healing (Starts at 19:35)A stroke survivor finds calm and confidence through grooming a yearling.How horse-human connection opens doors that talk therapy alone can’t.Childhood on the Edge: From the Hebrides to Horses (Starts at 23:03)Helen’s wild childhood on a remote Scottish island with no horses.How early life near the sea shaped her sensitivity and resilience.Art, Heroin, and Healing (Starts at 35:00)Helen shares openly about her past heroin addiction, recovery, and a near-death experience.How a vivid overdose changed her life trajectory—and deepened her compassion.Why this history helps her serve people in trauma without judgment.The Role of Routine, Ritual, and Horses in Recovery (Starts at 57:31)Why even intravenous drug use can mimic the grounding people seek in horses.The link between tactile connection and nervous system regulation.From Performance Art to Journalism (Starts at 01:00:00)Helen’s unexpected path from swinging off anchors in Belarus to writing for Horse & Hound and The Irish Field.Why writing was always at the center of her self-expression.Creating Change: Groundwork’s Model and the Power of the Broodmare (Starts at 01:16:00)How Helen uses young stock and broodmares to reflect complex family dynamics.Why one teenage girl found her voice by learning to speak clearly to a horse.The Future of Equine-Assisted Services in Ireland (Starts at 01:29:00)Helen’s vision for integrating equine-assisted work into the national healthcare system.Why collaboration—not competition—is key to the future of the sector.Lessons learned from the global Seen Through Horses campaign: https://horsesformentalhealth.org/seen-through-horses/✨ Memorable Moments from the Episode:“The hands can heal what the mind can’t.” (10:17)A veteran realizing that slowing down with his horse prevents family arguments (18:00)How grooming a yearling helped a stroke survivor regain stability (21:00)Helen’s overdose experience and the voice that saved her life: “You have a great brain” (38:00)“Frivolity is not the opposite of seriousness—it’s a form of joy.” (1:03:14)How observing a colt helped a mother process her teenage son’s behavior (1:26:00)🤝 Connect with Dr. Helen Sharp & Groundwork:Groundwork Equine-Assisted Services: https://groundworkeas.orgThe Irish Field (Helen’s journalism): https://www.theirishfield.ieSee All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:🌐 Rupert Isaacson: https://rupertisaacson.com🎧 Podcast Archive: https://lfrf.transistor.fm💻 Equine-Assisted Programs: https://newtrailslearning.comFollow Us:Long Ride Home📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh🎥 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems🌐 Website: https://ntls.co📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld🎥 YouTube: https://youtube.com/...
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    1 hr and 44 mins
  • Dr. Megan McGavern on Reclaiming Hope, Creating Saving Her Son, and Changing Medicine from Within | Ep 25

    Dr. Megan McGavern on Reclaiming Hope, Creating Saving Her Son, and Changing Medicine from Within | Ep 25
    Apr 3 2025

    In this episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Dr. Megan McGavern, a board-certified physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Megan shares the powerful story behind the founding of C.H.A.T.S.—Creative, Holistic, Adaptive, Therapeutic Solutions—and how it was born out of both professional insight and personal necessity.

    When her son Cole faced significant challenges, and medical professionals told her to accept that he might never regain functionality, Megan refused to give up. Drawing on her medical training, clinical experience, and deep intuition as a mother, she created C.H.A.T.S. as a space where children like Cole could thrive. C.H.A.T.S. is not about traditional therapy or horseback riding—it is about building relationship, regulation, and readiness to learn through purposeful, adaptive, equine-based engagement.

    What sets Megan apart is her ability to take science-based, evidence-backed practices—like Movement Method—and integrate them meaningfully into both therapeutic and clinical settings. After traveling to New Trails to learn Movement Method and Horse Boy Method firsthand from Rupert Isaacson, Megan returned home and applied what she had learned with her son Cole. The profound changes she witnessed led her to establish C.H.A.T.S. as a nonprofit organization. From there, she worked to bring Movement Method into the medical establishment, eventually helping to launch a neuroscience conference focused on the approach and its clinical applications.

    What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    From Despair to Innovation: A Mother’s Mission (Starts at 01:45)

    • The moment Megan was told to “accept the loss” regarding her son Cole’s future.
    • Why she decided to go beyond traditional care models.
    • The founding of C.H.A.T.S. and how it gave Cole a new chance at life.

    Movement Method and Medical Practice (Starts at 20:10)

    • How Megan found the Movement Method and incorporated it into her work.
    • Practical ways she’s brought it into institutional and clinical settings.
    • The role of science—not mysticism—in shaping her therapeutic philosophy.

    C.H.A.T.S. in Action (Starts at 32:40)

    • What makes C.H.A.T.S. distinct from other equine-assisted programs.
    • Why it's focused on adaptability, safety, and authentic connection.
    • How Megan uses observation, relationship, and responsiveness to meet each child’s needs.

    The Dual Role: Mother and Medical Professional (Starts at 48:15)

    • How personal experience reshaped her understanding of care.
    • Advice for professionals who want to do more—but don’t know how.
    • Why being present often matters more than having all the answers.

    Memorable Moments from the Episode:

    • Megan recounts hearing that her son might never regain function (04:02).
    • The turning point where C.H.A.T.S. took form in response to Cole’s needs (11:50).
    • Integrating Movement Method into medical care (24:35).
    • A reflection on letting go of "being the expert" to simply be present (53:20).

    Connect with Dr. Megan McGavern:
    🌐 C.H.A.T.S. Website: https://chats757.com
    📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coleshorsetherapy

    See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: 🌐 Rupert Isaacson: https://rupertisaacson.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

    Tune in to this grounded and powerful conversation with Dr. Megan McGavern to learn how clinical science, determined parenting, and adaptive equine approaches are reshaping what's possible for children and families facing big challenges.
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    2 hrs and 2 mins
  • Warwick Schiller on Attunement, Connection, and Trust in Horsemanship | EP 24 Equine Assisted World

    Warwick Schiller on Attunement, Connection, and Trust in Horsemanship | EP 24 Equine Assisted World
    Mar 20 2025
    In this episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Warwick Schiller, renowned horseman and creator of Attuned Horsemanship. Warwick is widely recognized for his transformative approach to horse training, which focuses on attunement, connection, and creating a sense of safety for the horse. Through his Journey On Podcast and extensive teaching, Warwick has helped thousands of riders and trainers understand the deeper layers of horsemanship and how true awareness changes everything.Together, Rupert and Warwick explore the concept of attunement—how being truly present and aware influences both horses and people. They discuss how small, subtle shifts in attention can have profound effects on behavior, trust, and emotional regulation. They also dive into sleep deprivation in horses, the power of following rather than controlling, and what it really means to develop a deep partnership with an equine partner.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Understanding Attunement and Connection (Starts at 02:20)The definition of attunement and why it matters in horsemanship.How attunement applies to both horses and people.Warwick’s journey to understanding deep connection.The Role of Awareness in Building Trust (Starts at 16:10)The difference between “trusting you won’t hurt me” and “trusting your awareness to keep me safe.”How observing small signals from your horse builds trust over time.The science behind attunement and safety in mammals.The Power of Giving Up Control (Starts at 36:27)Why giving up control doesn’t mean losing control.How allowing horses to make choices increases connection.Exercises for developing attunement by matching steps and mirroring behavior.How Sleep Deprivation Affects Horses (Starts at 56:10)Why some horses struggle with sleep deprivation and what it means.How Warwick accidentally helped a sleep-deprived horse by simply listening.The connection between feeling safe and being able to sleep.Integrating Attunement into Riding and Training (Starts at 1:14:22)Why training should be about awareness, not just technique.The role of breath and relaxation in riding.How to ensure your horse is mentally and emotionally present before asking for movement.Practical Tools for Creating Attunement in Everyday Training (Starts at 1:36:27)Simple ways to start building attunement today.The “look where they look” technique and why it’s so powerful.How mirroring movement builds trust and awareness.Memorable Moments from the Episode:The story of the Mustang who overcame bolting through attunement (12:03).How giving a horse space to “say no” transformed its willingness (45:36).The unexpected link between sleep deprivation and emotional regulation in horses (1:04:00).The revelation that attunement and safety go hand in hand (1:42:38).Why trust is built on recognizing and repairing ruptures in connection (1:44:17).Connect with Warwick Schiller:📌 Learn More & Courses: https://warwickschiller.com 🎥 Video Library: https://videos.warwickschiller.com 🎙️ Podcast: Journey On Podcast 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/WarwickSchillerAttunedHorsemanship 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/warwickschillerSee All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:🌐 Rupert Isaacson: https://rupertisaacson.com Follow Us:Long Ride Home📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh🎥 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems🌐 Website: https://ntls.co📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld🎥 YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystemsTune in to this inspiring conversation with Warwick Schiller to rethink your approach to horsemanship and connection!
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    1 hr and 57 mins
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