Let Them Work: Temple Grandin on Real Healing for Autism & Anxiety | Ep 34 Equine Assisted World
In this essential episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Dr. Temple Grandin, one of the world’s most influential voices on autism, sensory processing, and practical approaches to learning and healing. Together, they explore how therapeutic riding centers can do more than just offer horse time—they can create whole environments of sensory safety, meaningful skill-building, and community resilience.
Dr. Grandin shares her personal experiences growing up autistic, her early fears and breakthroughs, and the real-life tools that helped her thrive—tools that every equine program can apply. From using turn-taking games to stimulate speech to setting up repair shops and greeter stations to build confidence and career readiness, this episode is a blueprint for any equine-assisted center aiming to have deeper impact.
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If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome
✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
The Power of Observation & Following the Child (Starts at 01:00)
- How Rupert adapted Temple's three-step approach to help his nonverbal son
- Why nature and movement are essential for sensory integration
Equine Interaction & Sensory Patterns (Starts at 04:00)
- The three ways autistic kids respond to animals
- What PET scans and OTs show about rhythm, balance, and the cerebellum
- Why nature and gardens still matter even without horses
Early Intervention with Church Play & Library Play (Starts at 07:00)
- Why many children can't afford to be on waitlists
- Turn-taking games and imitation as entry points
- How to tap into local retirees to fill gaps in early intervention
Theory of Mind & Naturalistic Learning (Starts at 08:30)
- Flapping, spinning coins, and making daisy chains as foundational social engagement
- How structured tasks lead to intellectual development
High Expectations with Support (Starts at 14:00)
- Accommodating without overprotecting: ferry horns and dessert rules
- Why selling candy and hosting parties mattered for both Temple and Bill Gates
Practical Skills, Tools & Trades (Starts at 20:00)
- From coat hangers to glue guns: the neuroscience of hands-on learning
- How fixing things builds brains and self-worth
Rebuilding the Workshop Culture (Starts at 28:00)
- Why shop class should return to therapeutic barns
- Visual thinkers vs. math thinkers: all kinds of brains need tactile training
- Using retired mechanics, carpenters, and engineers as mentors
Structured Responsibility Around the Barn (Starts at 34:00)
- Real tasks: mucking, grooming, feeding, building stalls
- How responsibility leads to confidence and safety awareness
Social Skills Training through Greeting & Selling (Starts at 43:00)
- Simulating cookie sales, greeter roles, and party host behavior
- Controlled exposure to rejection and resilience building
Job Skills, Routine & Community Integration (Starts at 51:00)
- Creating modern equivalents of paper routes with local volunteers
- Why non-family bosses matter for skill-building
- Tap into senior centers to address budget shortfalls
The Cost of Screen Time & the Value of Movement (Starts at 54:00)
- How too much tech stunts development
- What real-world vestibular tasks do for brain growth
Cognitive, Motor & Emotional Growth Through Challenge (Starts at 59:00)
- The science behind tool use, play, and heavy work
- Balancing boards, swings, and walking rails in arenas and homes
Medication, Anxiety & Exercise (Starts at 67:00)
- Temple's 40-year experience with antidepressants
- Why burst exercise helps more than walking
- How low-dose meds plus movement can regulate fear systems
🌟 Memorable Moments from the Episode:
- Temple's method for helping kids tolerate scary noises like vacuum cleaners (01:34:00)
- How she visualizes responsibility: "Put the lid down and turn the latch." (01:36:22)
- Why greeting guests at parties was as important as riding horses (01:37:38)
- Temple's go-to back pain trick: "Look at the ceiling beams." (01:05:00)
🤝 Connect with Dr. Temple Grandin: Website: https://www.templegrandin.com Books: Thinking in Pictures, Visual Thinking, The Autistic Brain, and more
🌐 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:
Rupert Isaacson: https://rupertisaacson.com
Equine-Assisted Programs: https://newtrailslearning.com
Rupert Isaacson: https://rupertisaacson.com
Equine-Assisted Programs: https://newtrailslearning.com
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