The Horse Boy Foundation raises funds to help send low income families with children on the spectrum to therapeutic riding centers and on camps that provide Horse Boy Method.

To help us continue and broaden our work please donate by clicking below or send a check to:

Horse Boy Foundation
P.O. Box 1362
Elgin, TX 78621

All donations are being processed by the International Humanities Center

Who we are

The Horse Boy Foundation helps children and families with Autism to heal sensory dysfunctions and to gain direct communication. We work with horses and nature based environments using methods evolved by trial and error over the past seven years.

Horse Boy Method was pioneered by Rupert Isaacson, his autistic son Rowan and their Quarter Horse Mare Betsy. In 2007 Rupert, his wife Kristin and Rowan rode across Mongolia together – a journey that became the book and film “The Horse Boy”.

Since that journey the Horse Boy Foundation has helped hundreds of families in Central Texas, North America and in Europe to find the same incredible results in terms of sensory healing and direct communication with the exterior world, through horses and nature based environments.

The Horse Boy Foundation provides its services free of charge and supports other therapeutic riding stables across the globe, as well as running its own center – the New Trails Center in Elgin, TX. The foundation relies on fundraising and private donations to offer its services to families.

What we do

First we provide an environment in which autism families (and those with related neuro-psychiatric conditions) can find respite from man-made and industrial stimuli – which are known triggers for chronic episodes, seizures and tantrums. Once the child (or young adult) has relaxed into this environment we then introduce the horse.

We start with sensory work in which the child lies body to body with the horse in various positions that calm the nervous system. Then we begin the ridden work. In Horse Boy Method we ride in the same saddle with the child sitting in front of us and use a mixture of the horse’s rhythms and rapid response prompting to gain communication. From here we then begin to teach perspective taking skills, and academics – from very basic academics to really advanced stuff such as fractions, science, geography and general math.

The bottom line is that Horse Boy Method gets results.

Current Needs

Here is our current list of most pressing needs to further improve the services we can offer.

• Truck – we currently borrow from our neighbors when we need to take the horses out to demos. However, this year we will start a Horse Boy Community Outreach Program (Horse Boy Cops), taking our horses and staff to where the kids really need them: into the heart of the city. Most kids with autism are living on or near the breadline. Their parents and careers may not have the time or money to bring them out to us. We however can bring the horses to them, right where they are. For this we need a F250 (or similar) diesel truck with gooseneck connection. $6,500
• Shed – we recently purchased a large shed to use as a bunk house for working students and also visiting families. We need to insulate, wire, drywall and furnish. $4,500
• Covered Round Pen – it gets hot in Texas and in some years it’s even been known to rain. Currently we rely on the woods for sheltered riding but we could serve our kids better if we had a dedicated dry and shady area for sensory work and academics on horse-back. $15,000
• Center Improvements – The inside of the New Trails Center is currently carpeted – a nightmare when it comes to muddy boots, dogs, rabbits, iguanas, ducks and the occasional equine visitor. We would like to take up the carpet and put down tough, easy to clean flooring. $3,500 – Although the New Trails Center has a porch, it is a relative small one and is exposed to the afternoon sun. We would like to build a larger shade area on the East side of the house, where kids can get out of the sun and or rain yet still have room to run and play. Because we won’t be putting down decking, the cost of this will be relatively modest.  $5,000 – Shaded parking: kids hate hot cars and autism spectrum kids are especially sensitive. We would like to build a shaded parking area large enough for four cars. So that when families drive home from the New Trails Center they can do so in a nice cool car. $5,000
• Fencing – We have recently been offered some wonderful grazing for the horses at a nearby location. However the acreage requires fencing and gates. We will also have to hire some help to pick up junk and scrap metal that is scattered there. $3,000
• Hay – Winter is coming and the drought isn’t breaking. Even with extra grazing come January we will still need hay. Prizes for round bales have skyrocketed in this rainless year: a round bale of coastal hay usually costs $60 for a 5’x6’ bale; now the price has risen to $120 for a smaller bale (4’x5’). If you like to buy us a round bale or two we would be very grateful. $120 is the going rate per bale

We thank you for your continued support.

~ Rupert & Rowan