Equine Assisted World with Rupert Isaacson

In this inspiring episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Melissa Connor, Executive Director of Renew Therapeutic Riding Center in Holland, Michigan. Recorded just weeks after Rupert visited the center, this conversation highlights what it takes to create a truly horse-centered therapeutic program—where equine well-being is as prioritized as human healing. Melissa shares h...

 In this thought-provoking follow-up episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson reunites with legendary horseman Mark Rashid and clinician-author Crissi McDonald. This time, the conversation shifts deeper into the internal landscapes of both horse and human, exploring what it really means to be soft—without losing structure. From navigating low-level panic and reframing anxiety, to understa...

In this episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson welcomes renowned horseman Mark Rashid and equine clinician and author Crissi McDonald. Broadcasting from their home in Estes Park, Colorado, this inspiring duo shares how softness, internal awareness, and individual connection form the core of their horsemanship and life philosophy. From Aikido to equine-assisted work, from storytelling to...

In this episode of Equine Assisted World , Rupert Isaacson speaks with Catherine Ward and her daughter Nicole Jones of One Acre Farm in Texas. Together, they’ve built a thriving outdoor farm school and equine-assisted program on just a single acre—proving that miracles don’t require massive land, just massive heart. From backyard chickens to neurodiverse farm school, from ABA burnout to Montessori...

In this episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Emma Hutchinson and Jay Hare of HorseBack UK, a groundbreaking charity based in the Scottish Highlands. Originally developed to support military veterans recovering from physical and emotional trauma, HorseBack UK now works across diverse populations including at-risk youth and refugee communities. Jay shares his powerful person...

In this episode of Equine Assisted World , Rupert Isaacson sits down with Dr. Chantel Prat—a neuroscientist, psychologist, linguist, and horsewoman. Dr. Prat teaches at the University of Washington and is the author of The Neuroscience of You , a groundbreaking book that examines how every brain is different and what that means for our lives, relationships, and learning processes. Rupert and Chant...

In this episode of Equine Assisted World , Rupert Isaacson sits down with Leana Tank, an occupational therapist from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and an accomplished horsewoman specializing in equine-assisted services and behavioral health. Leana works with individuals at the extreme end of the mental health continuum—people coming from psychiatric hospitals and the criminal justice system, many diagno...

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 insi...

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...

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...

 In this episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Mary Wanless, a pioneer in the field of rider biomechanics. For decades, Mary has been at the forefront of reshaping how we understand equestrian training by focusing on the physics and physiology of riding. With a background in physics and a deep curiosity about what truly makes a great rider, Mary has worked to demystify t...

Robyn Hood, sister of Linda Tellington-Jones and a leading figure in the development of the Tellington TTouch Method, joins Rupert Isaacson in this insightful episode. Robyn has dedicated her life to refining and teaching TTouch, a revolutionary approach to working with horses, dogs, and other animals that fosters trust, connection, and healing. In this conversation, she delves into the origins of...

Shea Stewart, renowned craniosacral therapist and founder of Equine Balance (https://www.equinebalance.net), joins Rupert Isaacson in this enlightening episode to explore the intersections of quantum biology, mitochondrial health, and equine-assisted practices. With a wealth of knowledge in human and equine well-being, Shea unpacks the impact of natural light, electromagnetic fields, structured wa...

Norunn Kogstad, a Norwegian psychotherapist and psychiatrist, is the visionary behind Lundehagen, a therapeutic center that blends psychotherapy, equine-assisted therapy, and exceptional horse welfare practices. With decades of experience and a deep passion for human and equine well-being, Norunn has created a sanctuary where healing, connection, and joy thrive. Her unique approach integrates rela...

Healing Through Connection with Kim Barthel: Neuroscience, Safety, and the Power of Relationships Kim Barthel is an award-winning occupational therapist, international speaker, and bestselling author whose work integrates neuroscience, trauma therapy, and relational healing. With over 40 years of experience, she specializes in supporting individuals with trauma, neurodivergence, and developmental...

Linda Tellington-Jones, a pioneer in equine welfare and therapeutic riding, is best known for the Tellington TTouch Method. A globally celebrated horsewoman, author, and teacher, Linda has spent decades redefining equine care, integrating holistic techniques that enhance horse and rider communication. Her unique methods, which blend science, compassion, and creativity, have transformed practices i...

Empowering Education and Healing Through Horses with Alex Northover Alex Northover is the director of Making Momentum CIC, a community interest company in Cheshire, UK, that provides alternative education and therapeutic services for children and young people. With a background as a science teacher and extensive experience in equine-assisted methods, Alex merges academic learning, nervous system r...

Transforming Lives with Christine Dickson: Trauma, Trust, and the Wisdom of Horses Christine Dickson is an international speaker, mentor, clinical hypnotherapist, IEMT Advanced Practitioner, and Equine Coach who helps people let go of negative past memories and build a creative and connected life of purpose and abundance. Her clients describe the work as transformational and have gone on to create...

From PR to Horses: The Story of Smiling Goat Ranch with Sheryl Barto In this transformative episode of Equine Assisted World , Rupert Isaacson sits down with the remarkable Sheryl Barto, founder of Smiling Goat Ranch in Carbondale, Colorado. Sheryl shares her deeply personal and inspiring journey, shaped by her son James, who is on the autism spectrum, and her lifelong love for horses. Discover ho...

Many of us are familiar with the term "trauma informed' but Ellie Williams - a British therapist and horsewoman whose Equiteam practice is based in York, Pennsylvania, has accrued more than two decades experience of work in the field.  With her tight knit team, she has been pioneering the field of equine assisted psychotherapy since before most of us even knew about the term - and with startlingly...

Jane Faulkner is a household name, at least in Equine Assisted circles, down in Australia. And with good reason. Like many people who have come to the Equine Assisted world from an originally non horsy background, she has brought a therapist's perspective to our often overly horse-focussed field. Equine Assisted Therapy, Australia - Jane's organization - draws on her experience in nursing, and Ges...

The Journey On Podcast and Summits have become something of a legend in conscious equestrian circles - and rightly so. Anyone who has tuned in to the vast array of talent that Warwick features in his in depth interviews ends up walking away with insights into themselves as well as into horses and how they interact with and assist humans, both in the practical and mental/spiritual realms. To those...

Most of us in the equine assisted field are familiar with encountering skepticism - the inevitable "aren't you just giving kids pony rides?" attitude that can sometimes stand in the way of the field and its practitioners getting the recognition and therefore funding they deserve. Fortunately, in recent years there has been a massive uptick in the peer reviewed research into equine assisted modalit...

If you are in the Equine Assisted World and you have not yet hear of the Institute for Human and Animal Connection at Denver University, then you should. The institute - one of the first to really get academics behind the work we all do with horses and people (and not just horses) paved the way for real careers in the field, and through its research and collaborations had brought a much needed sci...

Linda Kohanov is a legend. A household name in the horse world and also for many of those interested in shamanism and myth, her bestselling books The Tao of Equus Riding Between The Worlds, Way of the Horse, The Power of the Herd and The Five Roles of a Master Herder have established her as a go to as a reference for the spiritual side of the horse and human connection. Her courses and lectures an...