Rupert Isaacson was born in London in 1967 to South African parents. He also grew up training horses on his aunt’s farm. A journalist since 1990, he has written for most of the British and many American newspapers and magazines. He has been a human rights activist since 1996, working for the bushmen of southern Africa’s Kalahari desert in their attempts not to be moved from their ancestral lands. His organization, The Inidgenous Land Rights Fund, won the two largest land claims in African history in 2006 and 2011. As a result he is banned from Botswana.
In 2004, His son, Rowan, was diagnosed with autism and also began speaking while riding on horseback with Rupert. In 2007, Isaacson and son Rowan rode across Mongolia. The journey was documented in the book and film, The Horse Boy. Rowan came back with a vey different son.
Since 2007 Isaacson has run the Horse Boy Foundation, which helps autism families come together with horses (www.horseboyfoundation.org) and teaches people how to work with autism spectrum children and horses (horseboymethod.com).
Isaacson regards autism as a skill set rather than a disorder, and is amazed at the sheer adventure of it all.
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A psychology podcast by David Van Nuys, Ph.D.
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Hi David,
I watched the Horse Boy on Hulu based on your recommendation. First let me say how I continue to enjoy being a faithful listener. I remain so because of the wide range of topics and fascinating interviewees to whom you introduce your fans. Back to “Horse Boy,” I was moved on so many levels, often to tears, at the dedication of these parents to seek healing for their son diagnosed with Autism. I appreciated that they allowed their story to be unvarnished. Healers come in many forms and Shamanism fit with their hope and expectation for transformation.
Keep the good stuff coming.
Tom Murray
(PS. I’ve recently been separated from my wife. I would have never anticipated the grieving that has come. I would welcome any interviews on the topic of divorce, fathering, and transcendence.)
ESTIMADO SR ISAACSON:
ESTOY TERMINANDO DE LEER SU LIBRO Y QUIERO DECIRLES A USTED Y SU ESPOSA QUE ME SIENTO MUY HONRADA DE PODER ESCRIBIRLES Y FELICITARLOS POR LO EXCELENTES PADRES QUE SON, TAMBIEN QUE ME HA CONMOVIDO MUCHO SU HISTORIA Y QUE ROWAN ES YA PARTE DE MI CORAZON, HE ABRAZADO A SU HIJITO JUNTO CON USTEDES EN LOS MOMENTOS CRITICOS Y HE DISFRUTADO CON SUS LOGROS. QUE DIOS AYUDE A ROWAN A SEGUIR SIEMPRE A DELANTE Y BENDIGA A TODA SU FAMILIA Y GENEROSOS AMIGOS.
SOY MEXICANA Y VIVO EN AUSTIN, Y LES DESEO SIEMPRE, POR SIEMPRE Y PARA SIEMPRE LA MEJOR DE LAS SUERTES, ROWAN NO PUDO TENER MEJORES PADRES!!!!