In this episode, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Celisse Barrett — a practitioner whose work blends equine‑assisted therapy, movement‑based regulation, and full‑scale equestrian spectacle. From trick riding, vaulting, and Roman riding to using these same performance skills day‑to‑day with clients, Celisse shows how horses become partners in confidence‑building, trauma recovery, coordination, and empowerment.

Rather than separating therapy from performance, Celisse explains how showmanship, rhythm, choreography, and playful challenge help clients — including neurodivergent and special‑needs riders — access balance, focus, and self‑belief. The conversation moves through her personal journey, her training roots, her safety framework, and the way she shapes a space where horses and humans learn together.

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🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Celisse integrates trick riding, vaulting, Roman riding, and performance skills into therapeutic work
• Why movement, choreography, and physical challenge help clients regulate and build confidence
• How she creates a safety culture that allows playful risk without compromising wellbeing
• The role of rhythm, balance, and co‑movement in trauma recovery
• How horses teach authenticity and emotional truth in both performance and therapy
• Ways Celisse adapts her show‑based techniques to different personalities and needs
• What long‑term practice has taught her about sustainability, joy, and preventing practitioner burnout
• How equestrian spectacle can become a tool for empowerment, identity, and belonging

🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode

• [00:03:00] Celisse describes the first time she realized trick‑riding skills could help a client regulate and connect.
• [00:10:00] A young rider discovers unexpected confidence through a simple performance‑style exercise.
• [00:25:00] Rupert and Celisse talk about balancing "spectacle" with safety — and why fun, when done right, is protective.
• [00:36:00] Breaking down how movement and balance training with a young horse transfers directly into client work.
• [00:50:00] Celisse explains how co‑movement and rhythm help clients rebuild trust in their own bodies.
• [01:20:00] A discussion about choreography, creativity, and how Roman riding principles translate into real therapeutic outcomes.
• [01:36:00] How performance‑style exercises unlock emotional breakthroughs in riders who struggle with traditional approaches.

📚 Contact, Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned

• Equestrian Chaos:

https://www.equestrianchaos.com

https://www.instagram.com/equestrianchaos/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/EquestrianChaos/

• Horse Boy Method, Movement Method & Takhin Equine Integration – https://ntls.co
• Long Ride Home – https://longridehome.com
• Rupert’s Programs and Shows: https://rupertisaacson.com

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New Trails Learning Systems
Website: https://ntls.co
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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.