This moving memoir by British journalist and travel writer Rupert Isaacson was a National Bestseller and was recently published in paperback. While this is not a new release, I am sure many horse lovers have never heard of this memoir, and it is worth the read. There was also a documentary made that was selected as a 2009 Official Selection of the renowned Sundance Film Festival.
While at the Chicago airport recently (headed to a horse show as most of you can relate), I went on a search for a new book to read when I realized I had forgotten the novel I was reading back at home. Usually, I steer away from reading horse related novels and books unless they appear to be written by a person versed in equine related jargon that only insiders of the horse world would understand. Nothing is more frustrating than reading a book about a person trying to pass off as a horse expert when it is obvious, they are one of those people that don’t know a thing about horses. Not to sound elitist, but you horse people know what I am talking about.
Luckily, the author Isaacson had an extensive background training horses for fox hunting. Immediately, I was drawn into the story due to his extensive knowledge and passion for horses. This book is also a good read for anyone who has children or has been involved with children with special needs. At the age of two, Isaacson’s son, Rowan, was diagnosed with autism. Horses are widely known as being the best therapeutic animal to help children who have motor and neurological disorders. Being from a family who has two handicapped siblings, I know first hand the desperation this couple is feeling trying to help their son. Every parent wants their child to grow up to be self-sufficient and independent. Unfortunately, a parent’s wishes and desires are drastically altered when your child is diagnosed with a medical condition beyond your control. Especially ones that the doctors tell you can never be cured.
The memoir begins by summarizing Rowan’s life up to the age of five. At this age, he is still suffering from extreme emotional and physical incontinence–still throwing uncontrollable tantrums and not potty-trained. Rowan is also uncommunicative and can not carry on a conversation. At this point, Rupert and his wife, Kristin, are beside themselves after trying several medical and behavorial treatments that had no positive effect on their son. Isaacson, who is involved with human rights work with the Bushmen of Botswana, Africa, became close to some of these indigenous men who are considered powerful faith healers in their tribal communities. When his son happened to be around some of them, Rowan, surprisingly, seemed to take huge emotional and cognitive leaps forward before regressing back to his former self. Also, around this time, Rowan became fascinated with a neighbor’s bay Quarter Horse mare named Betsy. Betsy was the alpha mare, but around Rowan, she was completely the opposite.
Here is one excerpt in the book that was particularly moving, detailing Rowan’s interaction with the mare:
I knew I was witnessing something extraordinary. The mare was spontaneously submitting to the child on the ground before her. In all the years that I had been training horses, I had never seen this happen. My son had some kind of direct line to the horse.
And then I cried, the tears coming silent and unbidden on the humid June day, because I thought: “He’s got it. He’s got the horse gene. But he’s autistic. I’ll never be able to ride and share it with him. Never be able to teach him to ride. Never share this joy with my son.
It is stunning how wrong a parent can be.
Rowan seemed to make noticeable improvements when he was around Betsy and the faith healers. His father started questioning that maybe if they combined these two things for an extended time that it could improve Rowan’s behavior even more. Isaacson had an idea to travel to Outer Mongolia where the horse (Equus caballus) evolved during the ice ages–to ride horses across the vast grasslands to visit several shamans (healers) to see if they could heal their son. Of course, Isaacson’s wife thought he was completely mad, but she grudgingly decided to go along on the adventure. The majority of the book details their trek across this largely uninhabited land into remote parts of the country to meet spiritual healers to try to help their son. It is a roller coaster ride of many highs and lows.
I would highly recommend this book to avid readers who love horses, traveling, and exploring other alternative forms of religion and healing besides western medicine.
To find out more information about this book, please go to www.thehorseboythebook.com. The Isaacson’s also started a foundation aptly named The Horse Boy Foundation that helps children by immersing them in nature through riding horses and being involved with other animals. Their website is www.horseboyfoundation.org
Other helpful autism related websites include:
www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org
If anybody has other books they would recommend for our readers, please share in our comments section.
