Choosing Life: Farming, Disability & Healing Through Nature – Henrich Berkhoff

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Live Free Ride Free with Rupert Isaacson

Rupert Isaacson

40 episodes

6 days ago

Welcome to Live Free Ride Free, where we talk to people who have lived self-actualized lives on their own terms, and find out how they got there, what they do, how we can get there, what we can learn from them. How to live our best lives, find our own definition of success, and most importantly, find joy. 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

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Choosing Life: Farming, Disability & Healing Through Nature – Henrich Berkhoff | EP 39

Live Free Ride Free with Rupert Isaacson

1 hour 41 minutes

3 weeks ago

Choosing Life: Farming, Disability & Healing Through Nature – Henrich Berkhoff | EP 39

In this deeply moving episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson welcomes Henrich Berkhoff, farmer, father, politician, and founder of child-protection and education initiatives in Germany.

From facing a devastating prenatal diagnosis to creating one of Germany’s first Green Care Farms, Henrich shares how his son’s birth with spina bifida transformed his family’s life—igniting a mission to integrate nature, farming, and inclusion into education and policy.

A lifelong advocate for children’s rights and special education, Henrich speaks about building community (“the tribe comes to you”), turning crisis into growth, and working with government leaders to make nature-based learning and therapy part of the public system.

✨ “We can do more with our human power than we ever think.” – Henrich Berkhoff
✨ “If you follow your feeling, you stay outside.” – Henrich Berkhoff

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How Henrich’s son’s diagnosis reshaped his life and purpose ([00:08:00])
The choice between termination and life—and what love decided ([00:10:00])
How crisis builds community: “the tribe comes to you” ([00:24:00])
Turning disability into advocacy for inclusive schools ([00:31:00])
Why farming taught him political courage ([00:41:00])
How ancient instincts meet modern overload ([00:48:00])
Rewilding and the role of agriculture in healing ([01:00:00])
How Green Care Farms connect nature, therapy, and education ([01:03:00])
Why nature is medicine for the mind ([01:11:00])
Gratitude to the special-needs children who teach us meaning ([01:37:00])

🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

[00:01:00] Henrich appears from the forest, explaining why he always feels at home in nature.
[00:08:00] The moment he and his wife learn their unborn son has spina bifida.
[00:10:55] Choosing life despite medical advice to terminate.
[00:23:50] How community formed around their decision.
[00:31:10] Creating the first inclusive local school for children with disabilities.
[00:41:00] Why being a farmer trains you to be an advocate.
[00:46:00] How hunting sharpened his sense of responsibility and balance with nature.
[01:03:00] Founding the Green Care Farm and discovering science behind happiness in nature.
[01:20:00] Reframing education: movement = learning.
[01:37:20] “Disabled people give us the answers to our questions.”

📚 Projects, Programs & People Mentioned:

Henrich Berkhoff – Farmer, politician, and founder of the Child Protection Association (Münster region, Germany) https://greencarefarm.de
Gitti Berkhoff – Nurse, equine-therapist, and co-founder of the Green Care Farm - Podcast on Equine Assisted World with Rupert: https://equineassistedworld.com
Julian Berkhoff – Their son, born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus
Movement Method and Horse Boy Method – Developed by Rupert Isaacson & NTLS
Green Care Farm – Integrating therapy, inclusion, and sustainable farming https://greencarefarm.de
David Doyle – Irish autism advocate and movement-in-nature pioneer
CDU (Christian Democratic Union) – German political party
Technical University of Munich (TUM) – Research on learning through movement
Concepts: Rewilding | Inclusion | Nature as Medicine | Education Reform | Community Healing

🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:

Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

📲 Follow Us

Long Ride Home:
Website: https://longridehome.com
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

📚 Books & Resources:

Rupert Isaacson – The Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home, The Healing Land: https://longridehome.com/books
Henrich & Gitti Berkhoff – Green Care Farm Germany
NTLS Programs – Movement Method | Horse Boy Method | Takhin Equine Integration

📊 Affiliate Disclosure:

Links to books and programs may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps us keep sharing these stories.