Building a Culture of Equine Well-Being – With Melissa Connor of Renew TRC

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Equine Assisted World with Rupert Isaacson

Rupert Isaacson

42 episodes

3 days ago

Here on Equine Assisted World. We look at the cutting edge and the best practices currently being developed and, established in the equine assisted field. This can be psychological, this can be neuropsych, this can be physical, this can be all of the conditions that human beings have that these lovely equines, these beautiful horses that we work with, help us with. Your Host is New York Times bestselling author Rupert Isaacson. Long time human rights activist, Rupert helped a group of Bushmen in the Kalahari fight for their ancestral lands. He's probably best known for his autism advocacy work following the publication of his bestselling book "The Horse Boy" and "The Long Ride Home" where he tells the story of finding healing for his autistic son. Subsequently he founded New Trails Learning Systems an approach for addressing neuro-psychiatric conditions through horses, movement and nature. The methods are now used around the world in therapeutic riding program, therapy offices and schools for special needs and neuro-typical children. You can find details of all our programs and shows on www.RupertIsaacson.com.

All content for Equine Assisted World with Rupert Isaacson is the property of Rupert Isaacson and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Building a Culture of Equine Well-Being – With Melissa Connor of Renew TRC | Ep 33 Equine Assisted World

Equine Assisted World with Rupert Isaacson

1 hour 48 minutes

3 months ago

Building a Culture of Equine Well-Being – With Melissa Connor of Renew TRC | Ep 33 Equine Assisted World

In this inspiring episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Melissa Connor, Executive Director of Renew Therapeutic Riding Center in Holland, Michigan. Recorded just weeks after Rupert visited the center, this conversation highlights what it takes to create a truly horse-centered therapeutic program—where equine well-being is as prioritized as human healing.

Melissa shares her decades-long journey through the equine-assisted services field, how she shaped a program with excellence in horse care, and the practical systems Renew uses to maintain a thriving herd of 22 horses. From rider conditioning and pasture management to financial sustainability and healthy organizational culture, Melissa offers a rare, transparent view into what truly ethical equine-assisted work looks like behind the scenes.

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:

Creating a Culture of Equine Well-Being (Starts at 01:00)

Why therapeutic horses deserve the same quality of care as competition horses
How listening to horses and honoring their vocation sets the foundation
The importance of movement, friendship, and forage (the three F’s)

Evolving Out of the "Donated Horse" Mentality (Starts at 09:00)

Melissa’s early experiences with horses in Virginia
Why therapeutic programs shouldn’t accept broken-down or unsuitable horses
How to reframe our value system when it comes to horses in service

Setting Standards for Horse Acceptance & Retirement (Starts at 20:00)

How Renew handles free leases and vet care caps
Why written agreements and ongoing owner relationships are critical
What happens when retirement is needed—but the owner steps back

Toplines, Thriving, and Conditioning (Starts at 29:00)

Rupert’s reaction to seeing three glowing, fit therapy horses
The conditioning system at Renew: riding, groundwork, and professional lessons
Why not all conditioning needs to involve riding—and how Teke work will integrate

Time Management & Staff Structure (Starts at 37:00)

How Renew blocks out weekly time for horse conditioning
Using shared digital logs and notes to communicate across staff
Why excellence in horsemanship is a hiring priority

Finding Skilled Riders for Conditioning (Starts at 41:00)

Where and how Renew recruits advanced, balanced riders
Why setting the bar high helps attract the right people
Building a team of instructors with both equestrian and teaching skills

Turning Horses Out—Even in Michigan Winters (Starts at 47:00)

How Renew designed their pastures and shelter for 24/7 turnout
The mental and physical benefits of herd life and freedom to move
Managing blankets, individualized care, and daily wellness checks

Funding a High-Standard Therapeutic Program (Starts at 56:00)

Renew’s journey from a small leased parcel to a built-from-scratch facility
Strategies that work: storytelling, Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary clubs
Why inviting donors to the farm changes everything

Community Culture, Conflict & Longevity (Starts at 1:10:00)

How Renew fosters staff cohesion, continued education, and joy at work
Melissa’s perspective on conflict resolution and non-toxic leadership
Building systems that ensure sustainability beyond one leader

The Future of Equine Assisted Services (Starts at 1:33:00)

Why mentorship is urgently needed in our fast-growing field
Recruiting not just horse people, but professionals in governance and finance
Melissa’s dream: long-term impact and positive life change with every ride

🌟 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

Rupert’s reaction to seeing perfect toplines on therapy horses (29:00)
Why “the barns are for humans, not horses” (07:00)
Melissa’s powerful response to someone offering broken equipment (14:00)
The reality of owners not reclaiming their horses after years in service (22:00)
One donor’s lunch meeting that became the start of Renew’s land purchase (1:05:00)

🤝 Connect with Melissa Connor & Renew TRC:
Website: https://renewtrc.org
Facebook: https://facebook.com/renewtrc
Instagram: https://instagram.com/renewtrc

🌐 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:
Rupert Isaacson: https://rupertisaacson.com
Equine-Assisted Programs: https://newtrailslearning.com

📲 Follow Us:
Long Ride Home Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

New Trails Learning Systems Website: https://ntls.co Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

🧺 Affiliate Disclosure: Some links may be affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show!