✨ “The horse lives in the present. If you want to be a good horse person, you need to become more like the horse.” – Richard Williams✨ “Horsemanship is a physical meditation. The horse is a three-dimensional mirror.” – Richard WilliamsFrom preserving rare classical manuscripts to exploring the emotional and civilizing power of horsemanship, Richard Williams — publisher of Xenophon Press — joins Rupert Isaacson for a deep dive into why the old masters still matter.In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert and Richard trace the arc of classical equestrian knowledge from Xenophon through the Renaissance academies, La Guérinière, Steinbrecht, Baucher, and Nuno Oliveira — right up to the modern therapeutic and rehabilitative applications of classical riding.Richard shares how he came to acquire Xenophon Press, why publishing these works is an act of stewardship rather than profit, and how editing and translating classical texts became a form of "time travel." The conversation moves from Renaissance schools that trained diplomats through horsemanship, to emotional regulation in the saddle, to the role horses may play in addiction recovery and mental health today.🎥 FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpout📚 All Books Mentioned: https://longridehome.com/books🎟️ Xenophon Press Discount Code: 7greatCUSTOMER (7% off) https://xenophonpress.comThis is not simply a conversation about dressage. It is about humility, mastery, emotional regulation, leadership, and the civilizing influence of the horse.🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Richard’s journey into purchasing Xenophon Press and preserving classical texts ([00:03:00])How publishing classical works became a form of “time travel” across centuries ([00:06:00])Why Renaissance academies trained diplomats through horsemanship, fencing, and mathematics ([00:32:00])How stallions in the academies helped civilize young aristocrats ([00:35:00])The link between classical riding and emotional regulation ([00:49:00])Why breathing and “feel” anchor the rider in the present moment ([00:54:00])The four conditions of horsemanship: ignoring, opposing, yielding, harmonizing ([01:00:00])Why therapeutic riding is embodied practice — not a gimmick ([01:11:00])How classical training benefits the horse physically and mentally ([01:16:00])A recommended reading pathway through the classical canon ([01:18:00])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:Rupert describing Xenophon Press as a modern Library of Alexandria ([00:01:30])Richard’s story of his brother being launched into a manure pile by a pony ([00:37:00])The insight that horses sort for emotional maturity ([00:39:00])Discussion of how leaders historically were judged by how they rode ([00:43:00])The idea that horsemanship teaches recovery from imbalance — not avoidance of it ([01:02:00])Riding as a practice of embodied mindfulness and humility ([00:50:00])Exploring the potential of horses in addiction recovery work ([01:15:00])📚 Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned:XenophonGiovanni Battista Tomassini – The Italian Tradition of Equestrian ArtFrançois Robichon de La Guérinière – École de CavalerieGustav Steinbrecht – Gymnasium of the HorseFrançois BaucherNuno OliveiraDom Diogo de Bragança – Dressage in the French TraditionAlois Podhajsky – The Complete Training of Horse and RiderSally Swift – Centered RidingRenaissance Schools of Horsemanship in Naples🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us:Long Ride Home: Website: https://longridehome.com 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/newtrailslearningsystems📊 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.

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 than two decades of frontline work with abused, neglected, and discarded horses. Rather than separating rescue from therapy, Christine describes an integrated model where horses are not “fixed and then used,” but supported as whole beings whose own healing journey becomes part of the therapeutic relationship.Together, Rupert and Christine explore what it means to witness suffering without becoming hardened, how faith, humility, and structure play a role in sustainable rescue work, and why some of the deepest lessons in equine‑assisted practice come from horses with the hardest pasts.This episode is an honest look at abuse that still exists in modern America, the quiet heroism of long‑term rescue work, and the possibility of creating true second chances — for horses and for people.If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome🔍 What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHow Christine’s calling into equine‑assisted work began at age sixteenWhy Triple H Ranch combines horse rescue with therapeutic programmingWhat real horse neglect and abuse still look like in the U.S. todayHow rehabilitating horses and humans can be part of the same ecosystemWhy patience, time, and humility are essential in rescue‑based programsHow faith and purpose sustain long‑term frontline animal welfare workWhat horses with traumatic pasts can teach practitioners about trustThe ethical responsibilities involved in turning rescued horses into partners 🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode[00:00:44] Rupert introduces Christine and the rescue‑plus‑therapy model of Triple H Ranch[00:02:14] Christine recounts asking for a “large flashing sign” about her life’s purpose[00:03:16] Discovering how horses were used to help heal troubled youth[00:55:00] Faith, calling, and what sustains people in long‑term rescue work[01:03:01] Why true rescue means changing systems — not just saving individual horses[01:11:54] Facing real abuse and neglect without becoming numb or hardened[01:28:14] The cumulative toll of neglect — and why it’s still hidden in plain sight[01:41:44] Burnout, moral injury, and the cost of witnessing suffering over decades[01:59:00] What “second chances” actually require — for horses and for humans📚 Contact, Projects, and Resources MentionedTriple H Ranch (Chicago area): https://www.hhhranchil.org/New Trails Learning Systems – Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration https://ntls.coRupert Isaacson / Long Ride Home https://rupertisaacson.com🌍 Follow UsLong Ride Home https://longridehome.com https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems https://ntls.co https://facebook.com/horseboyworld https://instagram.com/horseboyworld https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems📊 Affiliate DisclosureLinks 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.

✨ “I’m upset because life should be so beautiful.” – Rejane D’Espirac ✨ “Healing begins with attention.” – Rupert IsaacsonIn this expansive and deeply reflective episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson is joined by French writer, journalist, filmmaker, and activist Rejane D’Espirac for a wide‑ranging conversation on healing, presence, storytelling, plants, and what it means to live a life in service.Rejane’s work sits at the crossroads of human rights, environmental activism, health, and inner transformation. From documenting the long‑term aftermath of the Bhopal industrial disaster in India, to exploring Ayurveda, yoga, infertility, and the healing power of attention, her life and career have been shaped by one central question: how do we truly care for one another in a damaged world?Together, Rupert and Rejane explore the idea of being “upset by beauty” — not anger, but the kind of heartbreak that comes from seeing how precious life is, and how easily that magic is overlooked or harmed. They discuss relationship as medicine, presence as a healing force, plants as silent allies, and why service — rather than self‑actualization alone — is often the key to meaning.❤️ Support the Podcast on Patreon https://patreon.com/longridehomeThis episode weaves personal story, activism, philosophy, and nature into a conversation about attention, awe, responsibility, and hope.🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:What Rejane means by being “upset” — not with anger, but with love, beauty, and the pain of seeing life disrespected ([00:02:26]–[00:06:00])The long‑term human and environmental impact of the Bhopal industrial disaster, and why its consequences are still unfolding decades later ([00:08:44]–[00:11:00])How the Sambhavna free clinic in Bhopal uses Ayurveda, yoga, plants, and care to support survivors when Western medicine alone no longer works ([00:13:17]–[00:26:23])Why care, listening, and relationship account for a large part of healing — often more than techniques or medication ([00:31:25]–[00:37:21])Rejane’s personal journey through infertility, Ayurveda, and unexpected pregnancy — and what it revealed about quality versus quantity in healing ([00:47:11]–[00:57:06])How attention, presence, and being truly seen can unlock self‑healing processes in body and mind ([01:02:27]–[01:04:53])Why sadness, isolation, and disconnection are central challenges of modern life — and how service and relationship help counter them ([01:24:53]–[01:27:22])The quiet power of flowers, plants, and awe — and why beauty itself can be a political and healing force ([01:29:42]–[01:33:22])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:Rejane explains how witnessing suffering without solutions led her from journalism into activism ([00:07:40]–[00:08:15])A detailed account of how the Sambhavna clinic was founded, and why detoxification, yoga, and plants became central tools ([00:21:02]–[00:25:55])Rupert reflects on care, attention, and yoga nidra as accessible forms of self‑healing ([00:40:31]–[00:42:16])Rejane shares how a simple question — “Why are you so sad?” — opened a profound healing journey ([00:49:49]–[01:03:10])A moving exchange on flowers as symbols of connection, resilience, and life’s quiet intelligence ([01:29:24]–[01:33:30])📚 Books, Projects & Resources Mentioned:Sambhavna Clinic (Bhopal) & documentary “Sambhavna” https://sambhavnabhopal.org/At Last, a Baby – Rejane D’Espirac The Discreet Power of Flowers – Rejane D’Espirac https://www.rejanedespirac.com/The Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home & The Healing Land – Rupert IsaacsonMovement Method – New Trails Learning Systems🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us:Long Ride Home Website: https://longridehome.com 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/newtrailslearningsystems📊 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.

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 experience across therapeutic riding, classical dressage, social work, and the performing arts, Betsy reflects on where equine‑assisted practice has come from, where it is now, and where it may need to go next.Together, Rupert and Betsy explore the often‑unspoken layers beneath equine‑assisted work: grief and loss, belonging and exclusion, the tension between mainstream systems and lived wisdom, and the role horses play in helping humans keep moving when life threatens to stall. From theater arts and role‑playing to adaptive riding, veterans’ work, and the quiet intelligence of in‑hand training, this episode weaves together disciplines that are too often kept apart.Rather than arguing for a single approach, this conversation invites practitioners, riders, and listeners to reflect on what unites all good equine work — care for the horse’s wellbeing, respect for individual capacity, and the courage to remain present in uncertainty. It is a dialogue about humility, creativity, and the radical idea that healing — for horses and humans alike — is relational.If you work with horses and people, or if horses have helped you navigate grief, transition, or identity, this episode offers both grounding and challenge.If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome🔍 What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHow therapeutic riding, classical dressage, social work, and theater intersect in equine‑assisted practiceWhy horses help humans move through grief without getting stuck in the pastHow theater arts and role‑play create safe containers for emotional processingWhat it means to “create a new story together” in equine‑assisted workWhy horse welfare is foundational to human safety and healingHow loss — of people, horses, or dreams — shapes equine relationshipsThe difference between siloed systems and integrated horse culturesWhy belonging matters for practitioners as much as for participantsHow in‑hand work can remain a lifelong anchor when riding changesWhat equine‑assisted fields can learn from humility, improvisation, and presence🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode[00:02:51] Betsy introduces her background bridging PATH, dressage, and social work[00:07:02] Growing up with horses who taught lessons, jumped, and worked in adaptive programs[00:12:37] From theater arts to social work: learning to listen, respond, and stay present[00:22:37] Shakespeare, non‑speaking students, and performance as a safe container[00:31:00] The arena as a stage — and why presence matters more than perfection[00:39:02] Creating new stories together across disciplines and populations[00:48:50] Veterans, classical systems, and horses as co‑creators[01:09:00] Equine welfare as the shared ground beneath all methods[01:25:00] Grief, aging horses, and continuing the story when things change[01:34:00] Why horses help humans keep moving through loss[01:36:00] Belonging, inclusion, and the future of equine‑assisted work📚 Contact, Projects, and Resources MentionedBetsy Kahl – Wonder Horse Ranch Email: betsy@wonderhorseranch.orgNew Trails Learning Systems – Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration https://ntls.coRupert Isaacson / Long Ride Home https://rupertisaacson.com🌍 Follow UsLong Ride Home https://longridehome.com https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems https://ntls.co https://facebook.com/horseboyworld https://instagram.com/horseboyworld https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems📊 Affiliate DisclosureLinks 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.

✨ “Being different is not your weakness — it’s your superpower.” – John Kippen ✨ “Story is the original healing technology.” – Rupert IsaacsonIn this deeply moving and wide‑ranging episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson speaks with resilience coach, magician, and motivational speaker John Kippen about identity, illness, visibility, and what it truly takes to come out of hiding.John shares his extraordinary personal story — from being diagnosed with a life‑threatening brain tumor in his early thirties, to waking from surgery with permanent facial paralysis that led him to withdraw from public life for more than a decade. What followed was not just physical recovery, but a long inner journey through shame, self‑judgment, and loss of identity.Through magic, storytelling, and radical honesty, John ultimately found his way back into the world — discovering that the very thing he tried to hide could become his greatest point of connection. Today, he uses those lessons to help others step out of fear, reclaim their dreams, and see their differences as sources of strength.This conversation explores illness, facial difference, vulnerability, creativity, neuroscience, coaching, dreaming, and the quiet power of presence. It is an episode about being seen — and about learning to see yourself with compassion.❤️ Support the Podcast on Patreon https://patreon.com/longridehome🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How a sudden medical crisis can fracture identity — and why facial difference uniquely impacts how we see ourselves and how others respond ([00:03:22]–[00:07:46])What it means to “go into hiding” emotionally and socially — and how shame keeps people invisible for years ([00:07:14]–[00:08:10])How magic became a tool for healing, presence, and connection rather than performance ([00:10:00]–[00:14:00])Why naming the story behind visible difference allows others to relax, connect, and truly see you ([00:12:22]–[00:13:40])How creativity and wonder help bypass fear and open new neurological pathways ([00:50:32]–[01:00:14])John’s “Tripod Method” for getting unstuck when fear and overwhelm take over ([00:40:32]–[00:43:19])Why many adults are living someone else’s dream — and how to reconnect with your own ([00:51:42]–[00:54:08])How coaching can help uncover limiting beliefs rooted in childhood experiences ([01:03:23]–[01:08:03])The role of joy, service, nature, and presence in sustaining a meaningful life ([01:16:32]–[01:19:34])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:John describes waking from brain surgery and realizing how deeply facial paralysis affected his sense of worth ([00:06:15]–[00:07:14])A powerful story from the Magic Castle where a single evening of magic helped a woman stop hiding after a mastectomy ([00:16:00]–[00:25:00])Rupert reflects on facial identity, vulnerability, and storytelling as a form of healing ([00:19:00]–[00:23:00])John explains how COVID mask mandates challenged — but did not undo — his healing around visibility ([00:29:50]–[00:31:26])A moving discussion on dreams, creativity, and why it’s never too late to begin again ([00:51:00]–[01:25:00])📚 Books, Projects & Resources Mentioned:Playing the Hand You Were Dealt – John Kippen https://amzn.to/3YM8K0EJohn Kippen:  https://johnkippen.com The Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home & The Healing Land – Rupert Isaacson Movement Method – New Trails Learning Systems🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us:Long Ride Home Website: https://longridehome.com 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/newtrailslearningsystems📊 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.