Rupert Isaacson's son Rowan was diagnosed with autism when he was two and a half.
The little boy found it difficult to relate to other people, had regular and violent tantrums - often many times a day - and couldn't be toilet trained.
Rupert and his wife were facing a lifetime of hands-on caring.
Then two years ago, when their son was five, Rupert and his wife took a drastic step: they travelled to Mongolia to see whether the traditional healers or shamans there could offer help to Rowan.
Horses are at the centre of Mongolian culture and Rowan had already shown an affinity with them.
As Rupert explained, this affinity first came to light on a walk near their home in Texas
Listen Listen to the interview
Duration: 8 minutes 26 seconds
First broadcast 5 March 2009
The Horse Boy: A Father's Quest To Heal His Son - info on the book, the film and the foundation