The Long Ride Home – Book

The long awaited sequel to The Horse Boy.

Rowan came back from the shamans in Mongolia a changed boy. The three most debilitating effects of his autism – his incontinence, his endless tantruming, and his inability to make friends – were gone.

But a year almost to the day since Rowan’s improvement he started regressing: the accidents and tantrums reappeared, terrifying his father Rupert. Something had to be done.

Father and son embarked on a new quest, journeying from the bushmen of Namibia to the coastal rainforests of Queensland, Australia and finally to the Navajo reservations of the American southwest, where Rowan was transformed – they had begun the Long Ride Home.

Now available for Order in the US! Click here. (Also available on Amazon PRIME and KINDLE)

UK: Buy on Amazon.co.uk
Australia: Buy on Amazon.com.au

“Literally couldn’t put The Long Ride Home down. It’s a wonderfully powerful story of love in so many ways.”Autism Media Channel

When his son Rowan was diagnosed with autism, Rupert Isaacson feared he might never communicate with his child. But when he discovered Rowan responded to horses, they traveled to Mongolia – the spiritual home of the horse – where shaman healing hands banished the tantrums, the incontinence and the hopeless isolation. 

However, a year after Rowan’s improvements, he started regressing. Only then did Rupert remember the shaman had told him that he and Rowan must make three more healing journeys. 

Journeying to the bushman of Namibia and Australia’s coastal rainforests and finally to America’s Navajo reservation, Rupert discovered new ways of connecting with autistic children using nature, movement and animals. Through the process of healing Rowan and using his Horse Boy Method, he learned to unlock children from the most severe autistic symptoms. 

The Long Ride Home is the story of Rupert and Rowan’s journeys – of incredible love and extraordinary adventure – that would test their courage and change their lives, and those of the families who joined them, forever. 

Below is a playlist of selected videos about the Long Ride Home. To choose a different video, click the little icon at the top left of the video and choose which clip you would like to watch. 

Rupert Isaacson reads from The Long Ride Home

Below is a playlist of selected videos about the Long Ride Home. To choose a different video, click the little icon at the top left of the video and choose which clip you would like to watch.

About the Author

Rupert Isaacson was born in London in 1967 to Southern African parents. He now lives in Austin, Texas. His books include The Healing Land, chronicling his time spent living with the Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert and his adventure helping them to win back their lost hunting grounds; The Wild Host, the History and Meaning of the Hunt; and The Horse Boy, which tells the story of his quest on horseback across Mongolia to find healing for his autistic son Rowan, translated into 30 languages.

Isaacson is also a film-maker: his feature doc of The Horse Boy screened on TV worldwide and in cinemas all over America. His journalistic work has appeared in national newspapers and magazines in the UK and USA. In 2008 Isaacson founded the Horse Boy Foundation, which helps children find communication and learning both using horses (Horse Boy Method) and play equipment and the environment (Horse Boy Learning).

Reviews & Press

CBS Houston : Rupert and Temple Grandin

“Literally couldn’t put The Long Ride Home down. It’s a wonderfully powerful story of love in so many ways.”Autism Media Channel

“An even better book – if that were possible – than The Horse Boy.” John Mitchinson – Unbound

“This is a book everyone should read.” Dr. Temple Grandin – bestselling author & autist on The Horse Boy

“Rupert Isaacson is a champion for suffering families. His ability to follow his spirit and heart into a world so often misunderstood gives us a peek into the potential of the human mind! Pure inspiration, healing, and hope!” Kristine Barnett – author; The Spark

“If you want a method that will really help your kid, read this book.” Thalia Michelle (TEX – Thinking Moms Revolution)

“Literally couldn’t put The Long Ride Home book down. Its a wonderfully powerful story of love in so many ways. Rupert Isaacson frankly tells the story of his son Rowens development. This extraordinary journey takes us through utter desperation with heartbreaking tears, genuine belly aching humor and a real insight into a fathers feeling of torture and determination to improve the quality of life for his delightful son with autism. As a mother of a 19 year old son with autism, I urge parents to read this compelling book that ultimately is about love, hope and miracles. It leaves you empowered and ready to get back in the fight, the fight for our children who so desperately need to be just given a chance. Refreshing to read an autism book that doesn’t leave you feeling guilty about you as a parent, how you feel,  what you have done or not done, this book does not judge just heaps love, we are as Rupert says a tribe, a family – we are not alone and deeply loved.” Polly Tommey – The Autism Trust

“At last a positive voice for Autism and a great story!” Dr. Julian Maha – Kulture City

“Inspiring …and funny! This is not just a ‘what-happened-next’ follow-on to The Horse Boy but a great and insightful book in its own right. The three separate trips to shamans advised by Ghoste at the end of The Horse Boy are fascinatingly different. The book provides searingly honest insight into the hearts and minds of Rowan’s family at the time of the trips as well as vivid and reflective description of three very different cultures – beautifully written and a great read. But what is perhaps most impressive is Rowan’s family’s generous desire to share their insights into what helps Rowan with other families – and the story of their determined efforts to do just that is a thread throughout the book. Mistakes and failures are described with the same searing honesty – as well as the splendid successes. I thoroughly recommend this book.” Sian Lockwood

“Must Read for carers of kids in the autistic spectrum” rafe nauen

“Brilliant. Really enjoying the book. I have also read the Horse Boy but I think this far more interesting. Very Inspiring.” Fiona H Legg

“A MUST READ for anyone suffering from or treating Autism. As someone diagnosed with Aspirer’s Syndrome late in life I found this a fascinating read confirming many of my own experiences with dealing with the problems of being “different” and coping with part of the Autistic Spectrum. It further confirmed much of what I have learnt for myself in traveling round the world on many extreme adventures and so much that I have learnt from my dealings, not only with horses, but also dogs and camels and their ability from almost ‘magical’ communication to aid the ‘healing’ process. This is a MUST read for parents with children suffering from Autism and for those professionals assigned to help, challenging, as it does, many of the accepted treatments.” Ian Archer

“You will shed a tear, I promise.” philsaunty