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The Horse Boy

Rupert Isaacson (Actor), Temple Grandin (Actor), Michel Orion Scott (Director) Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
4.0 out of 5 stars 194 ratings
IMDb7.2/10.0
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Genre Special Interests
Format Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC, Widescreen, Anamorphic
Contributor Michel Orion Scott, Rupert Isaacson, Temple Grandin, Kristin Neff
Language English
Runtime 1 hour and 33 minutes
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Product Description

Product Description

An intensely personal yet epic spiritual journey, the Horse Boy follows one Texas couple and their autistic son as they trek on horseback through Outer Mongolia in an attempt to find healing for him. When two-year-old Rowan was diagnosed with autism, Rupert Isaacson, a writer and former horse trainer, and his wife Kristin Neff, a psychology professor, sought the best possible medical care, but traditional therapies had little effect. Then they discovered that Rowan has a profound affinity for animals - particularly horses - and the family set off on a quest that would change their lives forever. Directed by Michel Orion Scott, the Horse Boy is part travel adventure, part insight into shamanic healing and part intimate look at the autistic mind. In telling one family's extraordinary story, the film gives voice to the thousands who display amazing courage and creativity everyday in the battle against this mysterious and heartbreaking epidemic. The filmic companion to Isaacson's best-selling book of the same name, and a festival favorite, this ravishing documentary odyssey gives insight into how, in life's darkest moments, one can find the gateway to joy and wonder.

Review

An extraordinary journey of the heart and spirit, and a stirring testament to parenthood. --Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times

A lyrical and stirring meditation on the mystery of autism. --Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

A deeply personal, highly subjective and inarguably thought-provoking story of one family's quest for a certain kind of peace. --Jeannette Catsoulis, The New York Times

Product details

  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.72 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ HRBY401
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Michel Orion Scott
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC, Widescreen, Anamorphic
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 33 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ April 20, 2010
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Rupert Isaacson, Temple Grandin, Kristin Neff
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Zeitgeist Films
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00346UX5E
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 194 ratings

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
194 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this documentary heartwarming and inspiring, showing how hope and strength of mind can achieve great things. Moreover, the film serves as an eye-opener, with one customer noting it's an excellent documentary on a real family. Additionally, customers appreciate the profound love between parents, the interesting scenery, and the healing power of horses, with one review specifically mentioning an equine therapy program.

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Story qualityMovie qualityDocumentary qualityFamily bondHealing powerScenery
66 customers mention "Story quality"66 positive0 negative

Customers find the movie's story inspiring and heartwarming, showing how hope and mental strength can achieve great things, with one customer noting it captures an amazing journey.

"...I recommend this amazing story to anyone who has or works with children, no matter if they are "normal" or have "challenges", and to..." Read more

"...It captures an amazing journey." Read more

"...Acceptance & release were key themes in the film. Inspiring & hopeful! ***** I gave it 5*." Read more

"It was a very moving movie! Working with autistic children in the past, I now have an even greater respect for their parents and them!" Read more

52 customers mention "Movie quality"52 positive0 negative

Customers find the movie beautiful and well done, describing it as over-the-top amazing.

"Great movie and I really wanted to see it and am glad I got to watch it!..." Read more

"Excellent movie. Definitely worth watching. It's my husband's favorite movie...." Read more

"...A beautiful movie..." Read more

"It's a good movie. it's like a 60 minute type movie. I was a little disappointed because I thought there would be more inactive with the horse...." Read more

27 customers mention "Documentary quality"27 positive0 negative

Customers praise the documentary's quality, describing it as an eye-opener that provides valuable insights.

"This was a heartwarming, wonderful documentary, but not sappy. It really gave me an insight into understanding Autism...." Read more

"...I think the video was well done and very informative to anyone watching...." Read more

"...So this movie was a big eye opener for us!..." Read more

"...read and watched each, the book made me understand and appreciate the documentary more deeply and the DVD brought the words of the book more "..." Read more

9 customers mention "Family bond"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the family bond in the movie, with several noting the profound love between the parents, and one customer highlighting how it resonates with any parent.

"...I consider this book/movie an inspiration to all parents and as an illuminating revelation on the excessive judgment that some humans pass on others..." Read more

"This family is inspiring...." Read more

"This DVD does a nice job of relating the relationship between parents and children with disabilities and how far some are willing to go for their..." Read more

"I was deeply touched by the parents, their son, the teaching of the Shaman of Tibet & their spirituality & depth. I..." Read more

7 customers mention "Healing power"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the movie's healing power positive, with one mentioning its equine therapy program and another noting its tranquility-inducing qualities.

"This is a beautiful human interest story which is both uplifting and informative...." Read more

"...and ways of passing through anger and frustration to healing and tranquility...." Read more

"...Thrilled they now have equine therapy program, which was grown out of the dad's idea to ride in Mongolia and visit the Shamans." Read more

"...account of a family dealing with autism and discovering the healing power of horses...." Read more

4 customers mention "Scenery"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the scenery of the movie.

"...I had read the book and this was the actually journey.The scenery was amazing.." Read more

"...For me, the most beautiful scene was towards the end of the film when you can see the amazingly talented shaman, Ghoste, actually manipulating the..." Read more

"nice story with a lot of interesting scenery and display of parental love." Read more

"interesting view" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Donnalee Ruth Forbes
    5.0 out of 5 stars mystics
    Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    warm hearted story of a journey of discovery where mysticism can be part of our everyday lives
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  • wwknits
    5.0 out of 5 stars It was like they were looking at the tail or ears ...
    Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I identify with much of what the parents and their precious son went through in this incredible, moving film. I cried through much of it. We too fought for our daughter for decades. This film brought back so many of the struggles we went through to find answers for our daughter with epilepsy and high functioning Ausperger's. And trying to help her know and believe in herself while she grew up being shunned and "different." I am so grateful we listened to the advice and multiple diagnoses of our many neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, endocrinologists, and social workers AND took what was helpful and left the rest behind. The specialists were unable to examine our daughter as a whole. Nor with curiosity. They each had their own myopic view of her, insulated in their limited fields of expertise. It was like they were looking at the tail or ears or tusks or hide or belly of an elephant and not the entire animal. The consensus was that, although they all said she was highly gifted in math and other areas, she should be institutionalized. I am so grateful we followed our copious research and listened to our gut. And I am humbled by our daughter's unique spirit and courage in the face of shunning, humiliation, and endless scrutiny, examinations, and hospitalizations. She's not a survivor of all this, she is a thriver. She lives an independent life with a loving man and possesses wisdom, humor, and compassion beyond comprehension. I want to be like her when I grow up.
    22 people found this helpful
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  • Etzhugger
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not quite exploiting his son but...
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I would have given it a five until I found out how freaking much money, movie and book commitments he got in advance. Yes the story is fascinating and the challenges with his son very real but he also made a LOT of money on this. Not quite exploitation of a disabled person but still makes me feel uneasy. Parts of the book and movie are literally word for word. He wrote it once but was able to use the exact same material twice.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Review for LIU Independant Study Course
    Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    As an educator, I am always looking for materials to share with my staff to increase their knowledge and understanding of the different disabilities of the children we provide programming for. The Horse Boy was a wonderful portrait that showed exactly how far parents will go to try to help their child with a disability--in this case, autism.

    Prior to starting a family, Rupert Isaacson and his wife Kristin Neff had traveled extensively. They were delighted to settle down and welcomed Rowan into the world. Isaacson was a former horse trainer and Kristin was a Psychology Professor. At age two, Rowan is diagnosed with autism. Rupert and Kristin sought out every avenue they could to try to help Rowan. He demonstrated rages that could last for hours, slept very little and did not respond to any of the therapies they could find. Rupert's experinces prior to Rowan's birth had given him a broad wealth of knowledge. He knew that animals could be comforting to children with disabilities and got Rowan on a horse. At first it was difficult but eventually Rowan was calmed by riding. Riding became one of the only times Rowan seemed truly calm and at ease within himself.

    Rupert was desperate to help his son and brought up the idea to Kristin of taking Rowan to the shamans in Mongolia. He believed that the shamans held healing powers that could help his son and his autism. So, as a family, they set out to ride horses through Mongolia to visit various shamans in seach of a cure for Rowan.

    The trip proves to be very difficult for Rowan who likes his stability and predictable life. The van that they use for part of the travel becomes Rowan's "home away from home" and he refuses to ride the horses. It is only when they are to go to the last shaman that they must ride the horse and Rupert works with Rowan until they can ride. The ultimate outcome of the trip is not what the parents were hoping for although there were some positive changes in Rowan. During the trip he is toilet trained, gains more language and becomes more social with other children.

    I think the film has several aspects that are important to take into consideration:
    1. Parents want to help their child with autism and may often "try" things that most other people consider outrageous or ineffective. If you are not in the position of a parent with an autistic child, it is difficult to say what you would do. Many of the therapies that are considered as alternative or not backed by medical professionals may be considered as "out there or just plain crazy." However, the parent of a child with autism knows there is no magic pill or therapy that will cure their child so they try whatever is at their disposal to try to help their child.
    2. Since this is a documentary, the footage of Rowan and his tantrums is real. For many of the staff that I had view the video, it was the first time they saw a child at home and realized that the tantrums we see at school are the same at home. For others, it was the first time they saw a full blown tantrum and were stunned at what the parents had to do to keep Rowan safe while he tantrumed.
    3. The use of animals, especially horses, has been a long time therapy for people with disabilities. Seeing Rowan happy, smiling and calm riding the horse was very heart warming.

    I think the video was well done and very informative to anyone watching. The parents were honest in their portrayal of their son and the trials and tribulations they went through on a daily basis with him. The choice to go to the shamans is one that I had never heard before but with a very strong spiritual belief, I think it was something they believed in and thought it was worth a try. I did feel it was a very big trip to take with a child who demonstrated such behavioral issues and that these parents were very brave. At times my heart went out to them and I expected them to just turn back and go home. Rupert and Kristin showed unbelievable strength, dedication and caring for a little boy who just could not understand or interact with the world around him.

    I would recommend this video to anyone interested in children with autism!!

    Maureen Ryan, Principal
    6 people found this helpful
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  • EagleSpirit
    5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular Movie!!! A must see!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is a wonderful movie with a fabulous storyline! My grandson is Autistic. He is currently 15 years old. He just got his incontinence under control last year. Seriously... here he was a 13-14 year old going poo 💩 in his pants every day. We could be at a restaurant and all of a sudden we begin to smell it. Even at his age... he couldn’t tell us that he had to go. Or to excuse himself from the table to go to the bathroom. Sometimes it would be bad enough that we’d have to leave the restaurant. So this movie was a big eye opener for us! Extra... Temple Grandin, a well known Autistic lady who managed to argue and push her way through school.. proving herself along the way. Temple achieved a PhD in Animal Science. Her story can be see on streaming video called “Temple Grandin” staring Claire Danes as Temple. So if you have an Autistic person in your midst these are two quite excellent movies that are must sees!! Blessings for a Harmonious Future!
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Carolina Kat
    1.0 out of 5 stars Punishment
    Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Two people accustomed to traveling and leading an exciting life get strapped with a special needs child who responds well to horses. Instead of staying home and buying him a horse, they put him through the trauma of traveling to the back of behind to use hokey-pokey and drive the evil spirits away. This isn't extraordinary means to help their child, rather it comes across as people who have a knee jerk reaction and rather than address the problem in the readily available (and working) way by providing horse therapy; they put their unfortunate child through a terrible ordeal to gratify their need for adventure - and they document it.

    It looks like child abuse to me. Way too many scenes of a distressed child. I'm always amazed at people who throw out modernity at the first sign of a crisis and head out to visit the witch doctor. Sometimes you can have a mind so open that your brains fall out.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • kipkoo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on May 3, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Moving and inspiring. Have your kleenex box ready!
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  • Lynn Serafinn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Such an Important Message
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    A friend of mine lent me this DVD because I had an interest in Mongolian shamanism. However, when I started to watch the film, I discovered it was really about autism. What's interesting is that I don't think my friend was aware that both my daughter and grandson are autistic. Because of my personal interest in the subject, I was already familiar with the work of Temple Grandin (also in the film) as she often spoke about her special communication ability with animals. So of course, once I realised what this documentary was actually about, I was genuinely curious to see how it would progress.

    What I liked so much about "The Horse Boy" is the balanced way in which the subject was presented: the "real" emotions, grief, self-doubt of the parents; the suffering and frustration of the child; the compassion and gentleness of the shamans. But what I liked even more was how the film made an important statement about how our modern society is the only one to marginalise those of less typical perception, such as autism. The points that some of the speakers made near the end of the film about the connection between shamans and modern psychotherapists were particularly insightful.

    This film is fascinating, moving and extremely important. I cried practically all the way through it, in recognition, empathy, pathos and joy. Such a special film. I can't say I've ever seen anything remotely like it, ever.

    Bottom line is this: I don't usually bother buying DVDs once I've watched them, but in this case, I've made an exception. I've just ordered it and I intend to show it to many others.
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  • Amazon Kunde
    5.0 out of 5 stars The best!
    Reviewed in Germany on January 4, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Wonderful documentary!
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    Amazon Kunde
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    The best!

    Reviewed in Germany on January 4, 2020
    Wonderful documentary!
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  • Tula
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Horse Boy- DVD - A joy to watch.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    'The Horse Boy' is a wonderful, positive film - particularly if you have already read the book. I feel you need to read the book and view the film to get a complete picture of this family's amazing journey to heal their son. I sent my copy of the DVD to a friend of mine, who has a young autistic son and she found the film very uplifting. It made her laugh and cry and gave her hope that her child could also benefit from going on a similar spiritual journey. I am sure that this film will encourage other parents of autistic children to find their own way of 'healing' the more difficult and stressful aspects of autism.
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  • Veringer
    1.0 out of 5 stars Achtung! DVD ist in Europa nicht zu gebrauchen! Region 1 (USA!)
    Reviewed in Germany on December 22, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    So sehr ich mich auf diesen Film gefreut hatte (ich hatte das Buch bereits gelesen), desto größer war meine Enttäuschung, als ich den Film heute ansehen wollte: mein DVD-Spieler weigerte den Dienst.
    Eine Prüfung der Hülle ergab, dass ich eine DVD für Region 1 (USA) gekauft habe. Leider stand darüber nichts in der Produktbeschreibung.
    Ich weiß nicht, ob ich den Film noch zurückgeben kann, da es sich ja um einen Drittverkäufer handelt.
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