Sanaa Pharayra runs the Romeo Roadshow, a Southern California-based program that brings miniature horses named Romeo and Ziggy directly into memory care facilities, senior day programs, and hospital rooms for people living with Alzheimer's and dementia.What began as a rescue project for a single abandoned, feral miniature horse has grown into a program now drawing research interest from the University of Southern California and Cal State Channel Islands. Faculty there are studying why repeated visits from Romeo and Ziggy appear to reduce fear and increase engagement in residents, even those who don't consciously remember the horses' earlier visits.Sanaa and Rupert dig into the neuroscience behind why this works, from oxytocin and cortisol to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and compare notes on what it actually takes to train a horse for genuine emotional engagement rather than quiet compliance. They also discuss Sanaa's own Bedouin and Arab-Israeli ancestry, discovered as an adult, and what it might mean for the program's future. If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome ✨ "I call it the awe factor. That's what I see in these people's faces — they're in awe." – Sanaa Pharayra 🔍 What You'll Learn in This EpisodeHow a rescued, feral miniature horse named Romeo became the foundation of a therapy program that now visits memory care facilities across Southern CaliforniaWhy repeated visits from the horses reduced residents' fear within just three visits, even when they had no memory of the horses' previous visitsWhat staff report when comparing horse therapy visits to the dog therapy programs already in place at the same facilitiesHow Sanaa connected with The Connected Horse program, founded by Nancy Scheer and Paula Hirtel, and their research advisor Dr. Claudia SonderWhy Romeo Roadshow is now partnering with USC and Cal State Channel Islands, working with Professor Ronald Verkowski, to formally study its effectsHow oxytocin, cortisol, and BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) explain the neuroscience behind equine-assisted therapyWhy horses must be trained for genuine emotional engagement, not just quiet compliance, to be effective therapy partnersWhy Sanaa believes people with more advanced cognitive decline may respond even more strongly to the horses once language falls awayHow Sanaa discovered her Bedouin and Arab-Israeli heritage as an adult, including her grandfather's history as a "Faras," an Arab horseman who raced ArabiansWhy Sanaa and Rupert believe the program could eventually support conflict-resolution work in the Middle EastWhat Sanaa's long-term vision is for Romeo Roadshow, including plans for a documentary and a newly filed 501(c)(3) nonprofit statusHow the program is exploring intergenerational partnerships that pair university students with senior residents through the therapy visits🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode[00:13:00] The Painted Turtle charity holiday party visit that reveals Romeo is a therapy animal  [00:20:00] Residents who were once afraid of the horses lose their fear within three visits, despite not remembering earlier ones  [00:58:00] Rupert cites a University of Bournemouth study showing a 51% reduction in domestic violence a year after a five-week equine intervention  [01:01:00] Rupert describes his horse Clou spontaneously nuzzling and licking a boy believed to be in a vegetative state  [01:17:00] Sanaa describes "the awe factor" she sees on residents' faces during visits  [01:44:00] Sanaa learns via a message from a cousin that her grandfather was a "Faras," an Arab horseman who raced Arabians  [02:08:00] Rupert suggests a documentary title: "Where for Art Thou?"  [02:11:00] A nonverbal elderly man musters the words "I grew up on a farm" during a hospital room visit with the horses 📚 Contact, Projects, and Resources MentionedSanaa Pharayra – Founder, Romeo Roadshow  https://romeoroadshow.com  New Trails Learning Systems – Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration https://ntls.co  Rupert Isaacson / Long Ride Home https://rupertisaacson.com  Patreon Support https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome  🌍 Follow UsLong Ride Home  https://longridehome.com  https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh  https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh  https://youtube.com/@longridehome   New 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.

✨ "Your horse does not anticipate. He simply reads your mind." – Dominique Barbier✨ "I want people to smile when they ride, because if they don't smile, why are you riding?" – Dominique Barbier Dominique Barbier grew up in France with no horsey family background, but an early and almost uncanny sensitivity to horses that set him apart from the biomechanical training he encountered in England and France. After training and competing across multiple disciplines, he made his way to Portugal to study for two years with the legendary Nuno Oliveira, absorbing lessons that would go on to shape the French-Portuguese school of dressage he now teaches worldwide from his base in California. This conversation centers on Don Giovanni, the volatile, nearly-destroyed stallion who became Dominique's greatest teacher, and the three-step process of "getting out of the way" that Dominique developed to earn his trust. Dominique and Rupert also dig into descente de main and descente de jambe, the difference between riding physically and riding mentally, and Dominique's blunt take on spurs, competition, and the pursuit of joy over technique. A candid, wide-ranging two-hour conversation from one of dressage's most original voices.FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpoutAll Books Mentioned: https://longridehome.com/books What You'll Learn in This Episode00:03:00 – Dominique's unusual early sensitivity to horses and how his father let him follow his passion00:12:00 – Why Dominique says a horse doesn't anticipate — he reads your mind00:16:00 – The nine months Dominique couldn't ride, and what he discovered about the intellectual mind blocking connection00:20:00 – Dominique's 90/10 philosophy: staying out of the horse's way00:39:00 – How Dominique met and nearly lost the chance to save Don Giovanni, the horse who taught him the most00:48:00 – The three-step process Dominique used to earn Don Giovanni's trust00:52:00 – Reading a horse's true preferences through nature, play, and "crazy time"01:04:00 – The story behind descente de main, descente de jambe from Dominique's time with Nuno Oliveira01:13:00 – Why Dominique now teaches people to smile when they ride01:50:00 – Fear as simply "what you don't know," and how Dominique helps students move through it Memorable Moments from the Episode00:42:00 – The dramatic story of winning the right to bring Don Giovanni home — a horse marked for destruction01:26:00 – Dominique's candid reflection on Nuno Oliveira's complicated inner life, and why he never wanted to "be" his master01:42:00 – Dominique's confession about once owning 300 spurs, and why he regrets it02:00:00 – Dominique reveals his upcoming book, simply titled Consciousness02:16:00 – Dominique's parting invitation to share a glass of Merlot with Rupert in California Guest Contact & LinksDominique Barbier Website: https://dominiquebarbier.com About Dominique BarbierDominique Barbier is one of the leading figures in classical dressage, known as an exponent of the French-Portuguese school. Raised in France with no equestrian family background, he trained across multiple disciplines before spending two formative years studying under the legendary Nuno Oliveira in Portugal. He has authored numerous books, including Dressage for the New Age, with a new book titled Consciousness forthcoming, and continues to teach and train worldwide from his base in California. His approach emphasizes visualization, presence, and reading what a horse genuinely enjoys over rigid technique. 🐎 Want to go deeper? Join the Long Ride Home membership — weekly live sessions, exclusive content, and a community of riders seeking real connection with their horses. 👉 https://longridehome.com — just $24.95/month 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.

✨ "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 Carradine, who has worked alongside the organization for years, join Rupert Isaacson to talk about the mission's history and how it works today. What started when Louis's sister Maisha Akbar moved to Compton's Richland Farms neighborhood in 1988 has grown into a four-track program covering horsemanship, equine science, farming, and self-development. Kansas brings the science side of the conversation, explaining how heart rate variability and heart coherence research from the HeartMath Institute is being used to help kids and horses regulate together.The conversation ranges from the history of West African cavalry culture and Mansa Musa to the concept of epigenetic and intergenerational trauma, and what Louis calls "Shadow PTSD" in kids growing up in high-violence neighborhoods. It's a wide-ranging discussion about ancestry, the funding challenges facing Black equestrian nonprofits, and why reconnecting to the history of Black horsemanship matters for healing. 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 the Compton Cowboys mission began 35 years ago when founder Maisha Akbar moved to Compton's Richland Farms neighborhoodWhy Compton developed an equestrian culture at all, and how a protective land deed kept it from being lost to urbanizationHow the Compton Cowboys' "four tracks" model — horsemanship, equine science, farming, and self-development — structures a full day for kidsWhy the program shifted from Western to English riding due to funding and racial barriers within the Western equestrian worldWhat HeartMath research reveals about heart rate variability (HRV) and how horses respond to human nervous system regulationHow epigenetic and intergenerational trauma is passed down, and why reconnecting to ancestry can support healingHow the Compton Cowboys' own research into Mansa Musa and West African cavalry culture reshaped their understanding of Black equestrian historyWhat "Shadow PTSD" means for kids growing up in high-violence neighborhoods, and why the organization believes it needs formal recognitionHow the Compton Cowboys have expanded to serve LA's broader community, not just Black familiesWhy field trips to ranches and farms are a powerful — and fundable — model for connecting urban kids to natureWhat it actually costs to run a nonprofit equestrian program, and how funding and celebrity support really work in practiceHow Compton Cowboys has advocated to keep equestrian centers open across LA CountyHow Rupert's own experience adapting fox hunting into inclusive countryside days connects to the episode's larger theme of nature and healing🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode[00:01:00] Rupert introduces the Compton Cowboys, with founding member Louis Hook and HeartMath practitioner Kansas Carradine [00:06:00] The Richland Farms land deed that preserved Compton's equestrian culture  [00:32:00] The Compton Cowboys' behind-the-scenes role in Beyoncé's Super Bowl halftime show  [00:41:00] Inside the Compton Cowboys' four-track daily program for kids  [00:49:00] Kansas explains HeartMath's heart rate variability research and how horses respond to human regulation  [00:55:00] Discovering Mansa Musa and West African cavalry history after watching The Woman King  [01:19:00] Epigenetic trauma and the idea that DNA carries generations of memory  [01:41:00] The case for equine-assisted programs to formally recognize "Shadow PTSD" in high-violence neighborhoods [02:00:00] How to support Compton Cowboys, and the real cost of running summer camp 📚 Contact, Projects, and Resources MentionedLouis Hook & Kansas Carradine – Compton Cowboys https://comptoncowboys.com Compton Junior Equestrians (nonprofit) https://comptonjuniorequestrians.org New Trails Learning Systems – Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration https://ntls.co Rupert Isaacson / Long Ride Home https://rupertisaacson.com Patreon Support https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome 🌍 Follow UsLong Ride Home https://longridehome.com https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh https://youtube.com/@longridehome New 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.

✨ "The difference between destruction and creation kind of just disappears, and this is a beautiful thing to be able to do." – Arne Koets✨ "Are you making a foundation for a skyscraper or are you making a foundation for a shed? Those are not the same foundations." – Arne Koets Arne Koets is a historical dressage teacher, jouster, and practitioner of Rossfechten — mounted sword fighting — who trained at the Fürstliche Hofreitschule in Bückeburg, Germany, reaching the level of Hofberater (courtly rider). His work draws on European martial arts manuscripts dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, blending biomechanics, classical in-hand work, and the disciplines of combat horsemanship into a living, practiced tradition. In this conversation, Rupert and Arne trace the deep connections between martial arts on horseback, tango, and the finest ideals of classical dressage. They explore how the same biomechanical principles that make a good fighter also make a good dancer — and how understanding this can transform the way we train and relate to our horses. The conversation moves through in-hand work, the role of the schoolmaster horse, the philosophy of building community, and what it actually takes to get a beginner riding with confidence and joy from the very first lesson.A far-ranging, intellectually rich conversation that will delight history nerds, dressage geeks, and anyone who has ever wondered what riding was really for. TimestampsHow Arne's background in reconstructing European martial arts led him to historical dressage and Bückeburg [00:01:00]The connection between Argentine tango, wrestling, and riding — and why the line between building balance and destroying it is thinner than we think [00:10:00]Why teaching the collection work first, not last, is the old way — and why Steinbrecht actually agrees [00:16:00]The concept of unificare — inviting the horse to come up into an embrace with the rider — versus driving the seat bone down [00:25:00]Why confused definitions (what does "forward" actually mean?) have degraded the modern system of riding instruction [00:32:00]Arne's step-by-step in-hand training sequence: figure-of-eight, lateral movements, piaffe steps, and preparing for the first rider [01:03:00]The role of the "ground monkey" and "sky monkey" — why team work is not optional in breaking young horses [01:13:00]How Rossfechten (mounted sword fighting) builds community, releases ego, and teaches riders to feel what their horse is doing [01:26:00]Why horses become genuine strategic partners in mounted fencing — including Arne's story of a horse who executed a spontaneous 360 to protect his rider [01:41:00]How "deliberate hacking" — making conscious choices in the terrain — builds the horse's back and collection as effectively as arena work [02:30:00]A beginner sword fighter with zero riding experience sits piaffe on a stallion during his first lesson, then rides one-handed with a sword in canter by his tenth [00:16:00]Arne recounts confronting an FN clinician about why German riding schools don't follow what Steinbrecht actually says on page three [00:20:00]The horse who competed fully blindfolded by accident — caparison covering his eyes — and never put a foot wrong because rider and horse were one [01:44:00]Arne describes a group cavalry skirmish with 200 infantry and 48 mounted riders — and how the horses learn to aim the sword [02:13:00]The moment Arne's horse spontaneously executed a 360-degree bullfighting spin mid-sword fight, placed the weapon to parry an incoming blow, and then resumed the attack — entirely the horse's idea [01:41:00] Arne's Website: www.arnekoets.comRosswochen Symposium (first weekend of May — academic lectures, workshops, tango night, mounted demonstrations): www.arnekoets.comFürstliche Hofreitschule Bückeburg (the Princely School for Riding Art referenced throughout): www.hofgestut-bueckeburg.de About Arne KoetsArne Koets is a Dutch-born historical dressage teacher, jouster, and the foremost practitioner of Rossfechten — mounted sword fighting in the tradition of the European fighting manuscripts. He trained at the Fürstliche Hofreitschule in Bückeburg, Germany, achieving the rank of Hofberater, and spent years interpreting equestrian history at the Royal Armouries and the Dutch Army Museum. He now teaches clinics internationally and hosts students and riders at his home in Thuringia, Germany. His approach synthesizes biomechanics, classical in-hand work, and the martial arts manuscripts of the 14th through 16th centuries into a living, teachable system. His events attract riders from across Europe, the US, and beyond. 🐎 Want to go deeper? Join the Long Ride Home membership — weekly live sessions, exclusive content, and a community of riders seeking real connection with their horses. 👉 https://longridehome.com — just $24.95/month 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/@longridehome New 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.

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 museum collections around the country. What makes Russell's story so striking is how directly his lived experience speaks to the populations equine-assisted practitioners are trying to serve — kids in foster care, people coming out of incarceration, and anyone navigating systems that were never built with their wellbeing in mind. He found his way through art, using it inside prison as both an escape and, eventually, as a plan for life after release. In this conversation, Russell and Rupert dig into what a horse-based program for foster kids and formerly incarcerated people would actually need to work — structure, mentorship, hands-on care, transportation, funding, and a real sense of separation from old environments — as well as the deeper parallels Russell sees between horses and his own experience of captivity and freedom. If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome ✨ "When it's built on good structure, it will stand." – Russell Craig 🔍 What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy Russell sees foster care and incarceration as a "funnel" that equine-assisted practitioners need outside mentorship to address responsiblyHow Russell first reconnected with art inside the prison system, and why it became his primary survival strategyWhy structure and a clear long-term plan — not just talent — turned Russell's art into a real career after releaseHow Russell draws parallels between leading a horse and his own experience of incarceration, and what that means for horsemanshipWhy Russell believes any foster-care equine program would need to feel like a true separation from a kid's old environment, not a day visitWhat Russell thinks foster care agencies would need to see before referring kids to an equine programWhy transportation and funding are the two biggest barriers to access for kids who could benefit from equine-assisted programsHow the parole system's rules can make it nearly impossible to stay out of prison, even for someone trying to build a stable lifeWhy Russell believes any program working with formerly incarcerated or at-risk people needs a spiritual or nature-connection componentRupert and Russell's shared idea for a "campus" model that combines equine therapy with green jobs, land restoration, and forestry trainingWhy Russell sought out an arts program from inside prison — and how that became his springboard after releaseRussell's closing advice to practitioners working with foster kids or people coming out of incarceration🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode[00:03:00] Russell describes being placed in foster care at age five and ending up on the streets by twelve  [00:09:00] Russell on reconnecting with art inside prison as a way to escape his surroundings and stay focused  [00:21:00] Russell on training himself to look for "the awesome" even inside hard or painful situations  [00:35:00] Rupert and Russell draw the parallel between leading a horse and Russell's own experience of incarceration  [00:45:00] Rupert outlines NTLS's three certification programs: Horse Boy Method, Movement Method, and Takhin Equine Integration  [01:11:00] Russell explains why kids in a foster-care equine program would need real separation from their old environment, not just a day visit  [01:13:00] Rupert and Russell brainstorm a "campus" model combining horses with green jobs, land reclamation, and forestry training  [01:39:00] Russell details the parole system's rules and how they can make it nearly impossible to stay out of prison  [01:53:00] Russell describes seeking out an arts program from inside prison and turning it into his springboard after release  [02:03:00] Russell's closing advice: keep pushing, don't do it alone, and connect with others doing the work 📚 Contact, Projects, and Resources MentionedRussell Craig – Artist Search: Russell Craig artist  New Trails Learning Systems – Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration https://ntls.co  Rupert Isaacson / Long Ride Home https://rupertisaacson.com  Patreon Support https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome 🌍 Follow UsLong Ride Home  https://longridehome.com  https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh  https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh  https://youtube.com/@longridehome  New 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.