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Live Free Ride Free with Rupert Isaacson

Live Free Ride Free with Rupert Isaacson

Di: Rupert Isaacson
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A proposito di questo titolo
 Welcome to Live Free Ride Free, where we talk to people who have lived self-actualized lives on their own terms, and find out how they got there, what they do, how we can get there, what we can learn from them. How to live our best lives, find our own definition of success, and most importantly, find joy. Your Host is New York Times bestselling author Rupert Isaacson. Long time human rights activist, Rupert helped a group of Bushmen in the Kalahari fight for their ancestral lands. He's probably best known for his autism advocacy work following the publication of his bestselling book "The Horse Boy" and "The Long Ride Home" where he tells the story of finding healing for his autistic son. Subsequently he founded New Trails Learning Systems an approach for addressing neuro-psychiatric conditions through horses, movement and nature. The methods are now used around the world in therapeutic riding program, therapy offices and schools for special needs and neuro-typical children.  You can find details of all our programs and shows on www.RupertIsaacson.com2023 Helios Harmony, LLC Igiene e vita sana Medicina alternativa e complementare Successo personale Sviluppo personale
Episodi
  • You Can't Ride With Lightness If You're Heavy of Heart: Groundwork, Deep Breathing & Classical Mastery | Charlotte Wittbom | LFRF 66

    You Can't Ride With Lightness If You're Heavy of Heart: Groundwork, Deep Breathing & Classical Mastery | Charlotte Wittbom | LFRF 66
    Nov 5 2026

    ✨ "I don't believe it's possible to ride with lightness if you're heavy of heart." – Rupert Isaacson

    ✨ "It's in the break where you get the effect of the exercise." – Charlotte Wittbom

    Charlotte Wittbom grew up in Sweden riding ponies through the forests and competing in eventing, then found her way through a UK riding school to Portugal, where she spent years with the Valença family and went on to run Quinta do Brejo, Nuno Oliveira's old yard. She now teaches classical riding and in-hand work in England, working alongside physios and with a growing number of competition riders.

    Rupert and Charlotte talk about the Valença method as a living system rather than a rigid one, and how groundwork patterns such as quarter turns around the cones build posture, muscle and understanding in the horse. They also cover compensation patterns, stress and sustainability in competition, curiosity and lightness in teaching, and Charlotte's recent work on the horse's diaphragm and deep breathing.

    A rich, wide-ranging conversation that closes with plans for deeper dives on the diaphragm work and a demo at Tribe Day in July 2027.

    FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpout

    What You'll Learn in This Episode

    00:02:26 – How riding ponies in the Swedish forests without rules shaped Charlotte's feel for balance and freedom with horses.

    00:23:23 – Why the Valença method gives you a system that becomes part of your DNA while leaving you free to develop your own path.

    00:34:08 – Why groundwork became Charlotte's focus in the UK, and how it helps riders understand feel versus how things look.

    00:49:49 – How small movements, such as a quarter turn around the cones, teach the horse the same pattern as a half halt.

    00:59:03 – Why a horse's stiffness is there for a reason, and how resistance and release build muscle without force.

    01:14:00 – How to ask whether a movement is sustainable for the horse, and not just whether it scores well.

    01:31:53 – Why Rupert believes you cannot ride with lightness if you are heavy of heart.

    01:54:58 – Why Charlotte says that from the ground you create the horse you want to ride.

    01:56:55 – How Charlotte uses groundwork to help horses release the ribcage and diaphragm and take a deep breath.

    02:04:30 – Why the effect of an exercise shows up in the break, and not during the exercise itself.

    Memorable Moments from the Episode

    00:02:40 – Charlotte describes riding Shetland ponies as a child with flat saddles and an ice hockey helmet.

    00:18:34 – At Quinta do Brejo, Charlotte answers complaints about uncomfortable saddles by pointing out that Nuno Oliveira sat in them.

    00:40:04 – Charlotte recalls guests at Morgado Lusitano being disappointed to get her as an instructor instead of the Portuguese instructor they had hoped for.

    01:58:11 – Charlotte keeps her deep-breathing method a secret for now, and Rupert asks to make the check payable.

    02:05:07 – Rupert recalls Nuno Oliveira's advice to dismount and smoke a cigarette, and Charlotte suggests he try deep breathing instead.


    Guest Contact & Links

    Charlotte Wittbom

    Website: charlottewittbom.com

    YouTube: Charlotte Wittbom

    Podcast on Spotify: Charlotte Wittbom Classical Mastery


    About Charlotte Wittbom

    Charlotte Wittbom is a Swedish-born classical riding instructor based in England. She started in eventing with ponies, trained and worked in Portugal with the Valença family, and ran Quinta do Brejo, Nuno Oliveira's old yard. Her approach builds on the Valença system and puts groundwork first, working with physios to help horses develop posture, muscle and calm before and alongside ridden work. She teaches across the UK, gives clinics in Sweden, and hosts a podcast of portraits of classical masters in their own words. Find her at charlottewittbom.com.


    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.
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    2 ore e 12 min
  • The Living Master of Equestrian Art: Love, Joy & Dressing a Horse Like Chopin | Luis & Sofia Valença | LFRF 65

    The Living Master of Equestrian Art: Love, Joy & Dressing a Horse Like Chopin | Luis & Sofia Valença | LFRF 65
    Oct 22 2026
    ✨ “The principal thing is love, passion, love, passion and passion and love.” – Luis Valença✨ “The first thing is to communicate with the horse, and for the horse to accept you.” – Luis Valença ✨ “It’s not gymnastics.” / “Our work is like music. It’s the same as listening to Chopin or Beethoven.” – Luis Valença✨ “I have the same enthusiasm because I love life, I love the horses, I love the family.” – Luis Valença ✨ “Never take the personality from the horse.” – Luis ValençaRupert Isaacson welcomes Mestre Luis Valença of Lisbon, whom he calls a living legend, a national treasure and the greatest living exponent of equestrian art, together with his daughter Sofia. Luis describes his method as a connection between human and horse built on love, comparable to the way we communicate with our children, and traces it back through his three masters: his godfather Fernando Ralão, Cunha Menezes (a Baucherist), and Nuno Oliveira.The conversation explores what the word dressage truly means (to dress the horse so he feels soft and good in his own body), the comparison of the work to music like Chopin and Beethoven, and how older, arthritic or traumatized horses are given back their trust and often rejuvenated. Sofia and Rupert also discuss the simplicity and flexibility of the method, learning to read the student in front of you, the contrast with competition dressage, and why the Valença family's inclusive, tribal approach sends people home with real tools.A rich, story-filled conversation with a family at the heart of classical equestrian tradition.FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpoutWhat You'll Learn in This Episode00:02:37 – Luis describes his method as a connection between human and horse, built on love and the same communication we use with children.00:07:47 – How the method works for young horses and old ones alike, clearing negative memories and rebuilding trust before any work begins.00:11:08 – Luis introduces his three masters and what each gave him, from his godfather's farm to Cunha Menezes and Nuno Oliveira.00:25:10 – Rupert asks what dressage really means, and Luis explains "to dress" the horse as something soft, like music.00:29:31 – Sofia explains dressage as helping the horse feel good in his own skin, and why the joy should begin the moment he enters the arena.00:32:16 – Luis shares how he adapted a session for a horse showing back pain, staying with what worked without force.00:48:15 – Sofia describes what a method really is and why the most important skill is learning to read the student in front of you.00:50:12 – Rupert recalls Luis's sequence of lunging, in-hand work and the laterals that grow into piaffe and passage.01:02:48 – Luis explains why you must never take away a horse's personality and how each horse has its own specialty.01:35:38 – Luis and Sofia share their parting thoughts: love and passion, and learning to listen to what your horse is saying.Memorable Moments from the Episode00:18:17 – Luis recalls receiving lessons from the ailing Cunha Menezes, who taught him from a chair with two reins and a spoon in his hand.00:20:30 – Nuno Oliveira phones Luis's mother after watching him ride and invites him to begin working with him.00:38:31 – Nuno chooses the "worst" horse from a group of Russian youngsters, Bunker, to prove his method could solve it.01:16:47 – The story of a polo player's horse that fought its strong-handed owner and then opened up for a rider it trusted.01:37:21 – Luis explains his habit of giving a carrot or sugar at the start and end of each lesson as discipline without force.Guest Contact & LinksValença Equestrian Academy: https://valencaequestrianacademy.comSocial media: Valença Classical Riding and Sofia Valençahttps://www.facebook.com/ValencaEquestrianTours/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069242888414About Luis & Sofia ValençaMestre Luis Valença, introduced by Rupert as the living master of equestrian art, lives in Lisbon, where he has practiced and taught equestrian art for decades, keeping a stable of school master horses that he and his family have prepared themselves. His approach centers on love, passion and a soft, communicative way of working that respects each horse's personality, drawing on the old masters, including Baucher and Nuno Oliveira. His daughter Sofia teaches the method in around 40 countries and helps people learn to read their horse and apply it with a simple language. Their work is relevant to anyone who wants joy and softness in their riding, and you can find them at valencaequestrianacademy.com.See All of Rupert's Programs and Shows:Website: https://rupertisaacson.comFollow Us:Long Ride HomeWebsite: https://longridehome.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrhInstagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrhYouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning SystemsWebsite: https://...
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    1 ora e 42 min
  • What Five-Star Eventing Taught Me About Backing Off: Joy, Feedback & the Horse's Yes | Sinead Maynard | LFRF 64

    What Five-Star Eventing Taught Me About Backing Off: Joy, Feedback & the Horse's Yes | Sinead Maynard | LFRF 64
    Oct 8 2026
    ✨ "For me, competition has always been real feedback, not what I think is good." – Sinead Maynard✨ "There's nothing about me that's gonna make you do this. You gotta love it, and we gotta love it together." – Sinead MaynardSinead Halpin Maynard was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to Irish immigrant parents and grew up in South Carolina, where she stumbled into eventing via a hunter-jumper barn that didn't approve of her mother's black saddle. At 15 she drove herself to Middleburg, Virginia, as a working student, went on to train with David and Karen O'Connor, and after losing a horse on course, moved to England to ride for William Fox-Pitt. On the French-bred Manoir de Carneville ("Tate"), she finished third at her first five-star at 30, was first reserve for the London 2012 Olympics and rode on the US team at the 2014 World Championships in Normandy. Today she and her husband, Tik Maynard, run their farm in Florida, teach clinics, and Sinead commentates on top-level eventing and serves as a US team selector.Rupert and Sinead talk candidly about the money and hustle behind a competitive career, why she still loves competing, and how she uses competition as honest feedback on her partnership with the horse. They explore sports psychology and narrow-versus-broad focus, whether riders have the right to ask horses to compete at all, and the difference between training from fear and training from play. Sinead explains retreat and approach, why she'll swap a bigger bit for a rope halter, how rider selection now weighs horse welfare, and why fitness and varied terrain are the foundation of a sound, happy horse.A frank, funny and wide-ranging conversation between two eventers at heart.FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpoutWhat You'll Learn in This Episode00:03:19 – Why eventing's camaraderie comes from competing against the track and your own preparation, not other riders00:17:59 – The honest truth about money, sponsorship and getting a "leg up" in upper-level horse sport00:37:58 – William Fox-Pitt's two pieces of advice: go five-star by 30, and don't let anyone change a horse's natural style00:52:15 – Why Sinead competes: taking the relationship out under pressure to find the flaws you can't see at home00:56:00 – Narrow focus, broad focus and visualization: the sports psychology that turned fear into a skill set01:06:07 – Do we have the right to ask horses to compete? Matching the horse to the job and calling it when it isn't a fit01:09:26 – Fear versus love, the role of play, and how skill sets and familiarity make room for joy01:17:42 – Why "tough it out" training fails, and how retreat and approach builds a horse's confidence in you01:34:36 – How to watch a top-level horse: expression, balance and why independent balance means safety01:45:20 – Fitness as the foundation of welfare: varied terrain, interval work and heart rate monitoringMemorable Moments from the Episode00:19:33 – Karen O'Connor tears up Sinead's lesson check; years later she pays David with her first big prize money00:33:04 – Sinead takes a 30-quid ferry to France to see a "skinny and ugly" horse who becomes her five-star partner00:36:00 – Days after arriving at William Fox-Pitt's, a surprise pony provokes Tate into kicking through a metal door00:55:32 – David O'Connor's "one jump at a time" gets a terrified Sinead around the course after breaking her femur01:38:00 – An Italian rider jumps off his horse one fence from home at the World Championships because something feels wrongGuest Contact & LinksCopperline Equestrian (Sinead & Tik Maynard): https://www.copperlineequestrian.comAbout Sinead MaynardSinead Halpin Maynard is a five-star event rider who represented the US at the 2014 World Championships and was first reserve for the London 2012 Olympics with Manoir de Carneville. She learned her trade as a working student in Middleburg, with David and Karen O'Connor and as a rider for William Fox-Pitt in England. Now based in Florida with her husband, Tik Maynard, she combines competition with a horse-first approach built on retreat and approach, play and honest feedback. She teaches clinics, commentates on top-level eventing and serves as a US eventing team selector.See All of Rupert's Programs and Shows:Website:https://rupertisaacson.comFollow Us:Long Ride HomeWebsite: https://longridehome.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrhInstagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrhYouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning SystemsWebsite: https://ntls.coFacebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworldInstagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworldYouTube: 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.
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    1 ora e 55 min
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