Author • Educator • Horseman • International Speaker

Rupert Isaacson is an award-winning author, journalist, educator and horseman whose work explores how horses can transform human learning, communication and wellbeing. His pioneering work in autism and other neuropsychiatric conditions, together with his contributions to classical dressage, has made him an internationally sought-after speaker, teacher and educator.

Born in London to Southern African parents, Rupert studied history at the University of York before beginning a career as a journalist and writer specialising in Indigenous cultures, conservation and human rights. His first book, The Healing Land, chronicled his years living with the San Bushmen of the Kalahari and became a New York Times Notable Book. His journalism established a career exploring the relationships between people, culture, nature and, ultimately, horses.

Rupert came to international prominence with The Horse Boy, the true story of his family’s horseback journey across Mongolia in search of ways to help his autistic son, Rowan. The book became an international bestseller and was later adapted into an award-winning documentary. The journey continued in The Long Ride Home, which followed the family’s travels across North America while broadening the conversation beyond autism to explore trauma, resilience, education and the extraordinary relationship between horses and humans. Together, these books marked the beginning of decades of work exploring how movement, relationship and horses can support learning, regulation and human development.

Together with his wife, educator Iliane Lorenz, Rupert co-founded New Trails Learning Systems (NTLS), where they developed the internationally taught Horse Boy Method, Movement Method and Takhin Equine Integration. Today these approaches are used by families, educators, therapists and equine professionals around the world to support autistic and neurodivergent individuals, people recovering from trauma, and others seeking new approaches to learning and development.

Alongside his work in education, Rupert has continued a lifelong study of classical dressage and the traditions of working horses. Together with Iliane, he co-founded Long Ride Home, an international educational platform dedicated to relationship-based horsemanship. Through clinics, online programs, podcasts, YouTube and a growing global community, Rupert teaches riders how to develop softness, balance and communication with their horses through classical principles presented in practical, accessible ways.

While Rupert’s work spans subjects as diverse as autism, classical dressage, movement, neuroscience and Indigenous horsemanship, students consistently describe the same quality above all others: his remarkable ability to make complex ideas easy to understand. Whether teaching advanced dressage, explaining the nervous system, or helping families better understand learning and behaviour, Rupert is known for breaking difficult concepts into practical, logical steps that people can immediately apply. That ability to bridge disciplines and make them accessible has become the hallmark of his teaching. The themes that appear repeatedly in student feedback—clarity, hope, confidence and practical understanding—reflect that reputation.

Today Rupert teaches internationally through professional trainings, clinics, keynote presentations and online education. Whether working with riders, parents, educators, therapists or organisations, his goal remains the same: to help people discover better ways to communicate, learn and grow—always with horses, movement and relationship at the heart of the process.

What Others Say

“Rupert has a remarkable ability to explain complex ideas in ways that are practical, logical and immediately understandable. He doesn’t simply teach techniques—he helps people understand why they work.”

“The best explanation of how to adapt to your horse I’ve ever heard. I had often been told I needed to adapt to each individual horse, but nobody had ever explained how.”

“Everything is broken down so well that it becomes achievable.”

“For the first time it makes sense to me and I feel there is hope for me as a rider rather than feeling incapable and stuck.”

“Rupert is so thorough in his explanations. He anticipates where we might run into difficulties and then explains exactly what to do.”

“This is explained so beautifully—in such a clear, simple and genuinely accessible way. It really makes everything easy to understand and enjoyable to follow.”

Books

• The Healing Land – A memoir of Rupert’s years living with the San Bushmen of the Kalahari.
• The Horse Boy – The international bestseller that introduced millions to the Horse Boy Approach.
• The Long Ride Home – Continuing the family’s journey while exploring trauma, resilience and the relationship between horses and humans.
• The Horse Boy Method – A practical guide to the internationally taught educational approach.

Media & Speaking

Rupert is an internationally sought-after keynote speaker, clinician and educator, presenting on subjects including autism, neurodiversity, education, equine-assisted interventions, classical dressage, indigenous knowledge and the science of learning. His work has been featured internationally through books, documentaries, podcasts, television and print media.
Rupert is the creative force behind Horse Boy, Rowan is his mentor, teacher and muse. Together all aspects of Horse Boy begin and from there the wider team helps to develop each aspect.