✨ "Men don't need less empathy. They often need empathy delivered differently." – Eric Robertson✨ "Success is a tricky thing. You can get to the point where you start to believe your own bullshit — and that has some negative impacts on your relationships." – Eric RobertsonEric Robertson spent 33 years inside some of the most painful moments families ever face — divorce. As one of Austin's most respected family law attorneys, he sat across from men and women at their most raw and most desperate. What he noticed about the men changed the direction of his life. They weren't falling apart in the ways the system was built to recognize. They were shutting down, overworking, picking fights, and quietly disappearing inside themselves — and nobody had a name for what was happening to them. That observation sent Eric back to school for a second master's degree in clinical mental health counseling, and launched an entirely new career focused on men's emotional wellbeing.This conversation matters deeply if you love a man — a son, a partner, a brother, a father. So much of what Eric shares illuminates not just what men are going through, but why they behave the way they do when they're struggling, and what the people around them can actually do to help. If you've ever felt the wall go up, or watched someone you care about go quiet when you knew something was wrong, this episode will give you language, compassion, and insight you didn't have before.Rupert and Eric move through the staggering statistics behind male loneliness and suicide, the question of why successful men are often the ones struggling most, and the double standards men quietly carry. Eric walks through how depression actually shows up in men — irritability, emotional numbness, compulsive overworking, chronic pain — so listeners can recognize what they might previously have dismissed or misread. The conversation takes a genuinely practical turn when Eric demonstrates a live bilateral tapping session with Rupert on-air, offering a simple tool for emotional regulation that anyone can begin using today.Rupert brings his own lens throughout — from his years living with San Bushmen hunter-gatherer communities in southern Africa, to raising his autistic son Rowan, to his own honest reflections on therapy, mentorship, and what men actually need to heal. Whether you're listening for yourself, for someone you love, or simply because you sense the men in your world are carrying more than they're letting on — come with an open heart, and you'll leave with new eyes.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy Eric left a 33-year career as a top divorce attorney to become a men's therapist — and what he kept seeing in his male clients that no one was addressing [00:03:35]The statistics behind male loneliness and suicide: 80% of suicides in 2023 were men, and 15% of young men now report having no close friends — a fivefold increase since 1990 [00:04:34]How depression and emotional distress show up differently in men — and why so many cases go unrecognized [00:10:21]Why successful men are often the ones struggling most, and how chasing external validation can quietly hollow out a life [00:16:38]The role of mentorship in Eric's own story — how one senior attorney modeled a different way to live and why Eric credits him with changing his trajectory [00:25:00] • What divorce coaching is, why it differs from therapy or legal advice, and why well-meaning "shadow advisors" often make things worse [00:37:33]The double standard men silently carry — expected to be emotionally present at home, while still judged as providers if they fall short [00:55:39]How to raise emotionally literate boys, including the powerful practice of "connection before correction" when a child acts out [00:53:03]Why young men need healthy risk — and how the loss of mentored, nature-based challenge is driving the retreat into screens and isolation [01:07:38]The neuroscience of the developing frontal cortex: why young men's brains aren't yet wired for emotional regulation, and what that means for how we respond to them [01:21:00]How bilateral tapping works to regulate emotional overwhelm — demonstrated live in the episode [01:24:15]Eric's closing framework for working with men: normalize emotion without forcing verbal vulnerability, focus on goals, and frame help as skill-building rather than weakness [01:31:49]Memorable MomentsEric describes watching male divorce clients shut down rather than fall apart — the observation that sent him back to school and into an entirely new career [00:03:35] Rupert and Eric do a live bilateral tapping session on-air — Rupert taps along as Eric guides him through the protocol, and notes a genuine shift by the end [01:24:46] Eric admits that at the height of his legal career he started believing his own success story in ways that cost him his closest relationships — and the moment he knew something had to change [00:19:00] Rupert shares the story of a young man who wouldn't leave his room — brought to his farm in winter, where chopping wood to stay warm turned out to be the intervention no therapist had managed [01:17:03] Eric describes a divorce case that flipped the gender script: a stay-at-home husband whose female breadwinner said exactly what men usually say — revealing how much of conflict is human, not gendered [00:56:18] Eric admits he used to do secret tapping exercises before every courtroom trial to manage his own anxiety — and now uses that confession to help male clients get past the "touchy-feely" resistance [01:28:36]Projects and Organizations MentionedRobertson Counseling and Therapy — Eric Robertson's practice in Austin, Texas: https://robertsonct.comAmerican Academy of Matrimonial LawyersAmerican Institute of Boys and MenEMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)Divorce Discernment CounselingMovement Method / New Trails Learning Systems: https://ntls.coUniversity of Bournemouth equine study on domestic violence re-offendingThe Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home, The Healing Land — books by Rupert IsaacsonAbout Eric RobertsonEric Robertson is a licensed professional counselor associate based in Austin, Texas. After 33 years as a family law attorney — including serving on the board of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers — he returned to his original calling and completed a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling. He now works with men and individuals navigating divorce, offering both therapy and divorce coaching to help people stay emotionally regulated when it matters most. His website is www.robertsonct.com.See All of Rupert's Programs and Shows: https://rupertisaacson.comFollow 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/newtrailslearningsystemsAffiliate 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.

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 else could manage, and whose path to becoming a professional was shaped as much by personal crisis as by equine knowledge.What makes Petra's story and her work unusual is the degree to which her own life has mirrored the horses she works with. Her first horse, Two Moons — still alive today — broke her arm, dislocated her hip, and ultimately catalyzed years of deep personal work. A later riding accident broke her neck and forced a four-month recovery period that fundamentally changed how she listens: not with her head, not with her heart, but with her gut. That shift is now at the core of everything she teaches.In this conversation, Rupert and Petra cover the full arc of her journey — from a childhood with no horses and a career in graphic design, to buying an impossible horse on a whim in Belgium, to running a professional school for horse behavior in France, to the neck injury that changed everything. They go deep on her methods for trailer loading, her framework for reading horse body language at the moment of decision, her "software install" philosophy for training both horse and owner, and what she believes all therapeutic equine programs need to address around herd dynamics and horse wellbeing. The conversation closes with a shared invitation: Petra and Rupert will be running a joint workshop in the Netherlands in June 2026 — details at https://longridehome.com/events.If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome🔍 What You'll Learn in This Episode How a horse that no professional trainer could ride became the catalyst for Petra's entire career — and what that says about the horses that come to therapeutic programs as "donations"Why Petra distinguishes between listening to the heart versus listening to the gut — and why the gut is the more reliable guide for both horse and human practitionersHow to read the precise moment a horse is making a mental decision during trailer loading: what to look for in the eyes, ears and head carriage, and why forcing that moment produces a dangerous animal in transitWhy Petra's trailer loading method involves letting the horse exit freely after going in voluntarily — and how this counterintuitive step produces lasting compliance versus temporary complianceHow the "software install" metaphor helps owners understand why training the horse without training the owner always fails — and how Petra uses this framing to set up her client education eveningsWhat the rehab of a problem horse offers as its own form of therapy — for people returning from military service, abuse, or chronic anxiety — and why Rupert's programs use prospective therapy horse rehabilitation as a standalone treatment modalityWhy the chronic use of stabled horses in therapeutic settings creates specific stress and behavioral problems, and what practical solutions — including "crazy time" and companion animals — can address these without large financial outlayHow Petra's approach differs from classical natural horsemanship in one key respect: the horse is not asked to make the wrong thing harder, but to make a genuine, uncoerced choiceWhat a broken neck, a dislocated hip, and a broken arm taught Petra about the difference between professional obligation and gut instinct — and how running on exhaustion impairs even experienced practitioners' ability to read horses accuratelyWhy Petra now requires all horse owners to attend a three-hour education evening before she will train their horse — and what changed in her success rate when she introduced that conditionHow self-disconnection — particularly through overwork and screen-based living — undermines a handler's ability to connect with a horse, and what both Rupert and Petra suggest as entry-level solutions for practitioners facing this🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode[00:01:00] Rupert introduces Petra — the Dutch problem-horse specialist he first saw in action with a nervous horse at one of his retreats[00:06:10] Petra describes the moment she saw Two Moons in Belgium: eight years old, "very dangerous, very untrainable" — and fell in love immediately[00:11:00] "I thought with my love, everything will be okay" — Petra on what happened next, and why she spent a lot of time in hospitals[00:15:06] The big accident: Petra describes breaking her neck after seven weeks of back-to-back teaching, arriving exhausted, and ignoring her gut[00:38:03] The shift after the neck break: from running on obligation to listening to intuition — the lesson she took from four months in a harness[00:56:34] Rupert describes watching Petra work with "Eddie" — a horse hard to catch — and the 12-minute process in which the horse chose to be haltered[01:00:23] Petra explains her trailer loading philosophy: "When I'm finished, the horse only wants to get into the trailer. He doesn't want the trailer out anymore."[01:41:25] The "software install" metaphor — Petra explains why she trains the owner as well as the horse, and why she refuses jobs when owners won't attend her education evening[01:55:01] The disconnection problem: Petra on why people who can't connect with themselves can't connect with their horses — and the modern crisis of screen-based living[02:00:36] Closing: Petra and Rupert announce their joint June 2026 workshop in the Netherlands — details at longridehome.com/events📚 Contact, Projects, and Resources MentionedPetra Vlasblom – Horse Behaviour Specialist, 2Moons https://www.2moons.nlNew Trails Learning Systems – Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration https://ntls.coRupert Isaacson / Long Ride Home https://rupertisaacson.comPatreon Support https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHomeJoint Workshop — Petra Vlasblom & Rupert Isaacson, Netherlands, June 2026 Details: https://longridehome.com/events🌍 Follow UsLong Ride Homehttps://longridehome.comhttps://facebook.com/longridehome.lrhhttps://instagram.com/longridehome_lrhhttps://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systemshttps://ntls.cohttps://facebook.com/horseboyworldhttps://instagram.com/horseboyworldhttps://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.

⭐ “Horses can only perform as well as they understand — and as well as they feel.” – Karen Rohlf⭐ “You have to be either searching or enjoying — nothing in between.” – Karen RohlfKaren Rohlf didn’t start out trying to reinvent dressage — she started as a horse‑crazy kid, fell into traditional training, and then slowly realized something wasn’t adding up.In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Karen about the hidden tension inside modern dressage, the difference between training and performance, and why so many riders get stuck chasing “correctness” instead of connection.Karen shares her journey from competitive dressage into a more horse‑centered approach, including the moment she nearly quit horses altogether — and how rediscovering joy, curiosity, and partnership brought her back.The conversation explores the deep conflict between competition and wellbeing, the limits of traditional systems, and why many so‑called “dressage problems” are actually issues of communication, lifestyle, or emotional state. Karen introduces her “Happy Athlete Training Scale,” a radically simple but powerful framework that starts not with movement — but with happiness, harmony, and understanding.From letting go of ego‑driven goals to developing real feel, this is a conversation about what dressage could be — and what it becomes when we truly listen to the horse.FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpoutAll Books Mentioned: https://longridehome.com/booksWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode: How traditional dressage systems often prioritize appearance over communication [00:11:30] The difference between training for tomorrow vs performing for today [00:12:30] Why competition can quietly distort good training decisions [00:18:00] Why Karen Rohlf almost quit horses — and what brought her back [00:23:00] How Karen blends dressage with natural horsemanship principles [00:27:00] The role of relaxation — and why it’s widely misunderstood [00:34:30] Karen’s “Happy Athlete Training Scale” — happiness, harmony, communication, biomechanics, and sport [00:37:00] Why many dressage problems are actually communication problems [00:39:00] How to develop real feel instead of relying on rigid techniques [01:11:00] A practical method to improve your horse without being told “what’s right” [01:12:00] Why play, curiosity, and experimentation create better precision than control [01:14:00] The importance of voice, reward, and feedback in training [01:20:00]Memorable Moments from the Episode: The concept that many riders are trained to “make it look right” even when it isn’t [00:12:00] The moment she saw her horse trying so hard he broke gait trying to please her [00:20:00] Karen realizing she didn’t actually want the Olympic path — despite being on track for it [00:21:00] Living out of a horse trailer between Florida and Colorado while redefining her approach [00:26:00] The insight that horses don’t need to be controlled — they need to understand [00:39:00] The clinic story where fixing basic communication transformed advanced movements instantly [00:50:00] The simple but powerful rule: “You must be either searching or enjoying” [01:15:00] Karen’s reflection on stepping away from the “horse industry” to stay true to her values [01:27:00]Projects and Organizations Mentioned:• Dressage Naturally• New Trails Learning Systems• Helios HarmonyAbout Karen Rohlf:Karen Rohlf is an internationally recognized clinician, author, and creator of the Dressage Naturally approach.Originally trained in traditional competitive dressage, she has spent decades developing a system that blends classical training with horse‑centered communication, emotional awareness, and partnership.Her work focuses on helping riders develop feel, clarity, and connection — creating horses that are not just trained, but willing, confident, and understood.Website: https://dressagenaturally.netSee All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: https://rupertisaacson.comFollow 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/newtrailslearningsystemsAffiliate 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 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 program operates in the middle of a major city — serving populations who would otherwise have little or no access to horses.Lucy shares the realities of running an urban equine therapy program: balancing horse welfare with limited space, designing programs for children with visual impairment and multiple disabilities, and maintaining high standards of horsemanship within a therapeutic setting.The conversation explores Lucy’s path through traditional British horse training, riding schools, equine education, and professional qualifications before transitioning into therapeutic work. She discusses how the structure and discipline of classical horsemanship become essential foundations for safe and effective equine‑assisted programs.Together, Rupert and Lucy examine how horses support children with sensory and neurological challenges, how urban equine programs can remain sustainable, and why good horsemanship remains the backbone of any meaningful therapeutic practice.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 Lucy Dillon built and now leads the equine unit at ChildVision in DublinWhat makes an urban equine therapy program fundamentally different from rural centersHow children with visual impairments experience horses and equine environmentsWhy horses can support sensory integration and body awareness in visually impaired ridersHow to design equine programs for children with multiple disabilities and complex needsWhy strong horsemanship foundations are essential in therapeutic ridingHow Lucy’s background in traditional British riding schools shaped her approach to therapy workThe importance of horse welfare when programs run in limited urban spaceHow urban programs provide access for communities who would otherwise never encounter horsesWhy therapeutic programs must balance clinical needs with genuine horse knowledgeHow equine units operate within larger educational and medical institutionsThe daily logistical realities of maintaining horses in a city environmentWhy joy, fun, and relationship with the horse remain central to therapeutic outcomes🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode[00:00:44] Introducing Lucy Dillon and the ChildVision equine unit in central Dublin[00:05:31] Lucy’s early path through British horse training and equine education[00:13:04] Working in traditional riding yards before moving toward therapy work[00:22:40] How horses help children with visual impairments experience movement and space[00:34:10] Designing equine programs for children with multiple disabilities[00:46:18] Why strong horsemanship matters inside therapeutic riding programs[01:02:14] Managing horse welfare and logistics inside a city‑based equine facility[01:15:22] The realities of maintaining horses for therapy in a dense urban environment[01:32:40] Why access to horses matters for children growing up in cities[01:47:12] What makes equine‑assisted work sustainable over the long term📚 Contact, Projects, and Resources MentionedLucy Dillon – ChildVision Equine Unit (Dublin) Search: Lucy Dillon ChildVision Dublin https://childvision.ie/what-we-do/equine-assisted-activities/New Trails Learning Systems – Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration https://ntls.coRupert Isaacson / Long Ride Home https://rupertisaacson.comPatreon 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/@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.

“ If you lead with heart and joy, you end up with heart and joy.” – Laura Chesterfield“ It’s not about being an expert in everything — it’s about being interested in everything.” – Laura ChesterfieldLaura Chesterfield grew up inside one of the most magical landscape restorations in the world: The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall. As the daughter of Heligan co‑founder Tim Smit, Laura watched the famous gardens emerge from decades of abandonment after the First World War — a process that revealed not only a remarkable landscape, but powerful stories about people, nature, restoration, and belonging.In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Laura about what it means to build a sense of place — and why storytelling, nature, animals, and imagination are essential to human wellbeing.Laura shares the extraordinary story of Heligan’s rediscovery, when the signatures of gardeners who had left for World War I were found written on a wall in the “Thunderbox Room,” marking the moment the gardens fell silent for decades.From tropical jungles and giant tree ferns to regenerative farming, rare breed livestock, poetry hidden in landscapes, and sculptures like the famous Mud Maid, Heligan has become a living example of how landscape, creativity, ecology, and community can intertwine.The conversation explores how landscapes can become healing spaces, why storytelling connects people more deeply than information, the role animals — including horses — play in shaping human identity, regenerative farming and biodiversity restoration, reintroducing beavers as a keystone species, and how curiosity and playfulness drive innovation.Laura also discusses her next chapter: launching Lova Studios, a consultancy helping organizations discover and communicate the deeper stories within their landscapes, businesses, and communities.This is a conversation about place, memory, nature, imagination, and how meaningful stories shape the future.FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpoutWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode:How the Lost Gardens of Heligan were rediscovered after decades of abandonment following World War I [00:03:00]The powerful moment when the signatures of the wartime gardeners were discovered on the wall of the “Thunderbox Room” [00:04:29]Why Heligan became a living landscape rather than a static historic garden [00:12:10]How landscapes can become places of emotional healing and reflection [00:15:13]The famous Heligan sculptures — including the Mud Maid, the Giant’s Head, and the Grey Lady — and how they inspire storytelling [00:26:10]How poetry and art were integrated into the landscape through Simon Armitage’s Dwell collection [00:33:00]The creation of the six‑meter fox sculpture inspired by Heligan wildlife and poetry [00:39:00]Why the Heligan Bug Hotel became the largest insect hotel in the world [00:46:04]How beavers function as a keystone species and transform ecosystems [00:56:27]The role regenerative grazing plays in restoring soil health and biodiversity [01:11:00]How horses shaped Laura’s personal connection to nature and leadership [01:18:00]Why storytelling is the key to helping people connect emotionally with landscapes and places [01:37:00]Memorable Moments from the Episode:The rediscovery of Heligan’s abandoned tools and buildings exactly as the gardeners left them before the war [00:02:50]The haunting signatures of the gardeners who left for World War I and never returned [00:04:29]Walking through Heligan’s jungle ravine of giant tree ferns and gunnera plants [00:18:00]The Mud Maid sculpture — a sleeping earth figure made of moss and soil [00:26:10]Simon Armitage’s poem inspiring the creation of the massive fox sculpture [00:35:54]The Bug Hotel TripAdvisor poem told from the perspective of insects [00:49:59]The moment a fallen 200‑year‑old tree was transformed into the fox sculpture [00:42:00]Laura describing the day she lost her beloved Welsh Section D pony after 23 years [01:21:00]The idea that storytelling — not signage — is what makes people truly connect to a place [01:46:27]Projects and Organizations Mentioned:The Lost Gardens of HeliganThe Eden ProjectRare Breeds Survival TrustNew Trails Learning SystemsHelios HarmonyAbout Laura Chesterfield:Laura Chesterfield grew up surrounded by one of the most remarkable landscape restoration projects in Europe: The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall.Over nearly a decade working at Heligan, she helped lead projects that integrated storytelling, livestock farming, ecology, art, and visitor experience — including the Heligan Rare Breed Farm Park, wildlife initiatives, sculpture programs, and biodiversity projects such as beaver reintroduction and regenerative grazing.Laura is now launching Lova Studios, a consultancy dedicated to helping organizations uncover and communicate the deeper stories within landscapes, communities, and businesses.Website:  Lowenva Studios: https://lowenvastudio.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/newtrailslearningsystemsAffiliate 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.