The Long Ride Home: The Extraordinary Journey of Healing That Changed a Child's Life

I really loved this book. It was so positive and made me think about courage and love and daring. I am writing this during the covid-19 sheltering in place time, and I needed a story of hope and moving into new territory. Rowan’s parents clearly love him so much and work to help him. Rupert’s ability to think beyond the traditional was inspirational. I also found the spiritual undertone of the book very special.

I can't say enough great things about this book. For one thing it is a riveting true story, written with great love, compassion and liberal doses of humor. But more than that, Rupert Isaacson has profound things to say about child-raising in general, and specifically about the needs of autistic children and their families. I believe that the Horse Boy method is revolutionary, makes complete sense, and something that every parent of an autistic child should know about and try. (And you don't have to have horses to do it!) Further, this book can open your eyes to the potential power of the ancient healing shamanic practices of indigenous cultures. But if you are skeptical about the shamanic journeys that Isaacson undertook on behalf of his son, Rowan, the second part of the book focuses on Rupert's development of the Horse Boy method, including how and why he came up with these strategies. Again, I can't recommend this highly enough.

This was a great sequel to Horse Boy. I am inspired by Rupert, Rowan, and their programs to help others. Both books have opened my eyes to the ways we can celebrate our kids’ differences. Every child has unique gifts, and we adults can learn so much from them!

The healing power of horses and other animals is showcased in this book in which time in nature helps a family heal. The Horse Boy Method sounds like a way to reach students who don't thrive in the traditional classroom. Science says we all learn through different senses. Anyway, you can read this book as an adventure story - Isaacson is a heckuva travel writer - or following the family journey.

This tells the story of hope for autistic children. The need for committed and understanding parents to be not afraid to step outside the box of what others call normal, find the best avenue for their child and their family.Very well written. I could not put it down and will follow this family as far as the internet will take me.The people in the 'tribe' at New Trails are amazing people. I commend them all.Thank you!

For those familiar with autism, this is the follow-up book to Horse Boy. It's a very interesting true experience by the author's family in trying to help their son as he ages to relate to people and be able to find a suitable occupation for him when he becomes an adult.

Inspiring read...I loved Rupert's honesty and depth of commitment to his son. Loved reading about the shaman's in the different countries. And was also uplifted by his honest assessment of himself, his marriage, and his facility. I t made me more curious and interested in autism..and native healing methods.

This book, as well as Rupert's first book about being a parent of an Autistic child ( 'Horse Boy' ), was inspirational. I am amazed by the open minded approach that he and Kristen had in seeking to unlock Rowan's mind. They have opened doors for so many families. I hope that Rupert continues to write and keep us updated through the years. I am not the parent of a child with autism, but I am the grandparent of a child with SPD. I see similarities, on a much lesser scale of course. What amazing beautiful souls these children have.

I loved this book. I didn't enjoy The Horse Boy particularly but this sequel really is spellbinding and you don't need to have read The Horse Boy to get the full story. I loved it on so many levels. The author's love and compassion for his autistic son shines through, the sacrifices he has made are a lesson us all, parents or not, the insights he provides into autism are profound, seeing it not as an illness but as a different way of being in which you can help people be at their (different) best, his exposures to shamanism on different continents: in Mongolia with the reindeer shamans, in Africa with the Bushmen (whom he had helped fight land eviction at the United Nations), in Australia and America, the strain of raising an autistic child on his mariage and on his resources, his love and mastery of horses... all is revealed in beautiful prose. A rich, emotional read. Rupert Isaacson deserves a medal.

THE LONG RIDE HOMEBYRUPERT ISAACSONThe Long Ride Home is an emotionally charged book which tells the story of an incredible journey taken by parents; Rupert and Kristin and their wonderful young son; Rowan.Rowan has made significant progress since his earlier horseback adventure in Mongolia in 2007, as ‘The Horse Boy’; when he met Ghoste. Now a new adventure begins as he is joined by his parents and his grandmother to embark on yet another journey of healing.Rowan’s father; Rupert has lifelong links to Africa and with many of the Shamans who share the gift of healing. He first encountered the mystery of ‘Shamanic Healing’ when he was just seven years old.Rupert is learning to accept his son’s autism and to no longer seek a cure but rather to search for the hidden portals that might enable his son to overcome the many milestones ahead. He describes his son’s autism as:“So strange, this mix of language and memory, of sharp intellect and clouded perception, that makes up his autism”.Like all parents, Kristin and Rupert long to be able to engage with their son in conversation. They are desperately seeking a way for him to be able to avoid the terrible tantrums that torment him. They long for Rowan’s incontinence to be a difficult memory rather than a constant case of tremendous stress.They are hopeful that if they follow Ghoste’s guidance; given to them in Mongolia; and take three more healing journeys, then these three major milestones may be overcome. Their love for their cherished son is undeniable:“Rowan’s laughter like silver bells, nourishing me his father, as only the laughter of one’s own beloved child can do”.Rupert reflects fondly on his time spent helping the Bushmen of Botswana win back their land out in Africa, and realises that;“Now I was coming as supplicant asking for healing for my son, for myself, because there can be no real separation between a parent and a child; one love, one heart, always and forever”.Rowan’s connection with horses is hardly surprising given his father’s active role in the world of horses. The child is mesmerised by the four legged vision’s he sees in Africa;“He watched awestruck, as we drove slowly through that world of hoof and mane and muscle….”So the reader takes this illuminating journey with Rowan and his family and the stress and anxiety experienced by the family at times in this book are felt vividly.We read of outlandish characters, true individuals of mystique and wonder; Besa, Harold and Blue Horse, all so unique and each gifted with the power to heal.There are moments of humour in this book and one that immediately springs to mind is the curious conversation that two of the healers have on meeting. Their greeting continues:“Face like an old dead spirit”The response:“Death to your penis”Many exchanges between Rowan and Rupert I also found humorous’ The horrendous time Rupert had to endure relating his ‘poop in the bath story’ on the train in Romania, to a packed train of traumatised listeners; I found very funny. I realise he was suitably mortified; but I can’t help feeling that Rowan has a quirky sense of humour too!The beauty and the harshness of the changing landscapes as the journeys continue throughout this novel transport the reader to different continents; Africa, Australia, Eatern Europe and The USA. We learn so much about the wildlife and the vegetation of each location and the reader is enriched by many fascinating facts from places most of us will never ever frequent.It is very clear from reading this book that we as a society are shameful and intolerant. Autism has it’s challenges for families who have been gifted with such wonderful individuals; it is now time for everyone to consider another whole dimension to all these incredible people and we require teaching and ultimately healing ourselves.I enjoyed reading about Rowan’s struggle to find his way threw the fog and into a brighter environment. I admire his parents’ endless determination to find the best route to their cherished child’s happiness and fulfilment.I would score this book 8 out of a possible 10. I would recommend this book to all Neuro-typical Readers!Reviewed by The Mother Booker (Dublin) June 2014

This wonderful, uplifting sequel to The Horse Boy carries on the journey the author makes with his autistic son, Rowan, to find healing and acceptance.Having been instructed by the healer they visted in Mongolila to make three more journeys to seek healing from other shamas (spiritual healers), the family undertake three more journeys: to Africa, to Australia, and finally nearer home, to one living in the USA. For me, these books opens a window not only on autism, but on the very real powers of healers from ancient tribes who hand on their knowledge and skills down the generations. These people live in tribal groups, support each other, and seem to accept unquestioningly those who are different or "abnormal", and the healing described iis truly incredible.But is is not only Rown who is healed. His parents too benefit, learning to accept him for what he is, not wanting to change him, but to help him find his own kind of happiness and fulfillment . Progress is slow, there are heartbreaking setbacks and frustrations, but in the end, Rowan and his family triumph.The author has now set up his own centre for the healing of autistic children (the sales of his books help to fund this), using horses and other animals, and as natural an environment as possible to enable the children to grow and flourish. At the end of the book, he questions modern insular living, and the lack of spiritual awareness in today's society. It is a book to enlighten, inspire, and perhaps most of all, to make the readers (or this reader) question the establishment we in the West have come to accept.Read it! You won't regret it.

I was blown away by this book I first read it as a library book,as my son @ 45 has been diagnosed as a high functioning Autistic I felt that it might help him come to terms with it & it's NOT necessarily a catastrophe that it is what is part of him that makes him what he is ! Above ALL it is a "True story of HOPE" Also there is more than ONE type of healing !One of the heart warming true stories of our time ! it was a very easy to read

I absolutely loved this book. Foremost for the feeling it gave me regarding Rupert's love for his son. It was very well written and also very honest - he did not shy away from saying things which did not always show him in the best light. It opened my mind to all sorts of possibilities regarding caring, community, ways of separating without rancour to name some of them. I totally recommend it! (I had already read Rupert's first book Horseboy and liked it very much too. This one somehow really topped it.)