Equine Assisted World with Rupert Isaacson

✨ "I believe that in our ancestry we were equestrians, and that's why it's connected so hard with my family." – Louis Hook For 35 years, the Compton Cowboys mission has run a self-development program in Compton, California, that leverages horses to help kids grow into upstanding young men and women — serving roughly 30 kids a year. Founding member Louis Hook and HeartMath practitioner Kansas Carr...

Russell Craig is a celebrated visual artist now based between Philadelphia, New York, and Wellington, Florida, who grew up in the foster care system from age five and spent a total of twelve years in the Pennsylvania prison system before building an art career that has taken him from a mural on the African American Museum in Philadelphia to the White House, the Democratic National Convention, and...

✨ "They come in with a cane and feeling disabled, and then they say, 'Here, take the cane, honey. I'm gonna walk this horse.' We've seen this so many times we can't even number it." – Nancy Schier Anzelmo Description Paula Hertel and Nancy Schier Anzelmo are the co-founders of Connected Horse, a California-based program that brings equine-assisted experiences to older adults living with dementia...

✨ "What is HeartMath doing? They're measuring your care." – Kansas Carradine Description Kansas Carradine is a HeartMath-certified trainer, acrobatic stunt rider, and equine guided educator based in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. She spent years performing with the international touring show Cavalia — working alongside 70+ head of horses, many of them stallions — before dedicating her...

Kim Barthel is an occupational therapist, international educator, and author based in British Columbia, Canada, trained in sensory integration, neurodevelopmental therapy, and holotropic breathwork. Leana Tank is an occupational therapist and consultant working with complex populations including individuals in the criminal justice system, combining equine-assisted practice with deep expertise in m...

✨ "The horses don't see the stories. They see who you are right now — and what you brought with you." – Jane Strong Jane Strong is the founder and executive director of The Equus Effect, a nonprofit based in Connecticut, USA, that uses equine-assisted experiences to help veterans and first responders rebuild healthy relationships — with themselves, each other, and their communities. What sets Jan...

✨ "The healing process is there in service of your life, not the other way around. Do the healing in order to live." – Kira Julius  Kira Julius is a German-Danish horse trainer and equine assisted practitioner whose career has taken her from working young horses in Tanzania at 16, to eight years alongside Australian warmblood specialist Will Rogers — first in the Netherlands, then Germany — to th...

Petra Vlasblom is a Dutch horse behavior specialist based in the Netherlands, founder of 2Moons, and one of Europe's most sought-after trainers for problem horses — particularly in the high-stakes world of elite sport horses. She came to the profession not through a traditional equestrian route, but as a former graphic designer from the city who fell in love with an "unrideable" horse that nobody...

In this episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Lucy Dillon, who runs the equine unit at ChildVision in Drumcondra — right in the center of Dublin, Ireland. ChildVision (formerly St. Joseph’s School for the Blind) provides services for children and young people with visual impairments and complex needs. Unlike most equine‑assisted programs located in rural areas, Lucy’s progr...

In this deeply personal and wide‑ranging episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson speaks with longtime colleague and friend Karla Brahms of Wellenreiter in the Odenwald, Germany — a region steeped in myth, forest, and living horse culture. What begins as a conversation about equine‑assisted practice unfolds into an intimate exploration of grief, love, resilience, and the sacred role horse...

In this grounded and deeply moving episode of Equine Assisted World , Rupert Isaacson speaks with Christine Doran, founder of Triple H Ranch in the Chicago area — a rare ecosystem that combines a full‑scale horse rescue with equine‑assisted work for humans. Christine shares how her path into this work began as a teenager through a moment of spiritual clarity, and how that calling evolved into more...

What if the core of equine‑assisted work isn’t a method, a certification, or a discipline — but the shared act of creating a new story together? In this wide‑ranging and deeply human conversation, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Betsy Kahl — senior PATH instructor, social worker, horsewoman, and long‑time collaborator in the Horse Boy and Takhin Equine Integration work. Drawing on decades of experienc...

In this powerful and far‑reaching episode of Equine Assisted World , Rupert Isaacson speaks with Brandy Tomhave, Executive Director of the Native American Humane Society and an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation. This conversation goes far beyond animal welfare. Together, Rupert and Brandy explore how animals—especially dogs and horses—serve as bridges between cultures, as carriers of medicine,...

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...

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 growt...

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 empow...

✨ “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, c...

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 servi...

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...

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 mea...

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 innovativ...

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 connecti...

Episode Title: Guest Introduction: (If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome ) “Being attuned to hesitation is what allows for finding the next step.” – Dr. Mark Uranga 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...

In this episode of Equine Assisted World , Rupert Isaacson sits down with Dr. Janet Varhus, DVM—a veterinarian whose decades of practice bridge old-school horsemanship, holistic care, and cutting-edge therapies like acupuncture, fascia release, and low-level laser treatment. From endurance riding roots to working alongside Linda Tellington-Jones, Dr. Varhus offers a rare, practical roadmap through...

In this essential episode of Equine Assisted World , Rupert Isaacson sits down with Dr. Temple Grandin, one of the world’s most influential voices on autism, sensory processing, and practical approaches to learning and healing. Together, they explore how therapeutic riding centers can do more than just offer horse time—they can create whole environments of sensory safety, meaningful skill-building...