About a month ago Rowan requested that introduce cooking lessons to his academics.We of course readily agreed seeing these lessons as yet another opportunity to have fun together whilst learning.
We pretty soon realized, however, that we could make Rowan’s cooking lessons about so much more than simply cooking…
Due to the international nature of the Horse Boy we often have working students staying with us from other countries. We therefore decided to theme our cooking lessons based around the nationalities of the working students who happen to be staying with us at any particular time. Each week our working students take it in turns to teach Rowan (and me so as to take the pressure off – very important when autism is involved) how to cook a dish associated with his or her country. And as we learn how to cook crepes with our French volunteer Emilie or meatballs with our Swedish volunteer Frida we also learn all about the country that they came from.
The highlight of our cooking so far though has to be the week that Rupert taught us both 
how to cook live lobster. Rowan has had a fascination with lobster for almost a year now and loves to visit the lobster tank at our local supermarket. He was delighted to be allowed to purchase two of these lobsters to take home and even attempted to try a bit of lobster once it was cooked, a first for him. He was a little nervous of the lobster’s claws and so kept his distance once the rubber bands holding them together had been removed. He now proudly tells anyone he meets that he ‘survived the live lobster with 10 fingers and 10 toes.’
Recently we have started putting together what we refer to as ‘Rowan’s AMAZING Cook Book.’ This is a homemade book of all the recipes we have cooked so far along with pictures of us cooking them.
If anyone has any suggestions of recipes they think we should try please let us know.
It is sheer delight to keep up with Rowan via the website! I have had the extreme pleasure of working with a number of kids “on the spectrum” as they say, and I laughed and cried all the while I listened to “The Horse Boy” on CD. Hearing Rupert recount Rowan’s triumphs and “try-overs”, as well as strides forward and steps back made me feel like part of the family. The no-holds-barred-honesty of how it feels to parent a child who is different will surely let hundreds of parents let loose sighs of relief that they are not the only ones to have these feelings; ALL parents; not just parents of atypical kids. I am so proud of the work you are doing! One of the most wonderful experiences I’ve ever had was to volunteer at the first riding stable in the U.S. for children with “handicaps” as they called them at the time. Watching kids who couldn’t walk ride tall and kids who couldn’t speak become verbal was a gift from the horses and something I will never forget. Thank you for all that you are doing. I look forward to staying postd on Rowan’s success. (P.S. In my classroom, flatulence is OUR favorite topic and never fails to set off torrents of giggles!)
Dear Kristin, Ruppert and Rowen,
My name is Shari MacKay from Rochester, New York. I saw your wonderful movie “The Horse Boy” in the fall ’2009 at the Dryden Theatre (inside the George Eastman House Mansion). It was only showing for one day. I cried through most of the film because my son Ian was diagnosed with autism and apraxia on June 5, 2007. I had my own “baseball bat to the face” moment. More like a gutted dear with my eyes wide open and soul exposed. I happened, by chance, to be sitting next to the clinical psychologist/pediatrician who diagnosed Ian in 2007. We were both amazed at your journey and what lenghs you went to to heal Rowan. When I got home I asked my husband – “what’s the possibility of going to Mongolia?” I knew what that answer was already – not likely. Ian loves horses and my mother was recuing them at the time. Unfortunately he’s very allergic. We did find that Ian connected with music and dance. My husband was on the road for ten years as a gutarist and I owned a dance studio for “typical” and a few “special needs” children. After Ian was diagnosed and I became ill – I had to close the studio. A few years go by (and Ian’s five surgeries later) God and the Universe guided me to Ethan Borg (accupuncturist) in Rochester. He does not use needles and doesn’t even touch you. Ian doesn’t even go into his office – he’s treated long distance and it’s working. Ian is starting to speak!!! I need a knee replacement (I’m only 46) and I’m able to dance again with his treatments. Long story short – I was looking at the Qi Infusion oils that Ethan has created (ethanborg.com and http://www.qiinfusions.com). It is organic sunflower oil infused with Qi: “According to classical theory, energy has a very specific anatomical structure. Every person and every animal’s energy follows a precisely defined anatomy that is very different from modern ideas of anatomy. If the wrong Element of the Five Elements is in the wrong location within this energy anatomy, this leads to symptoms of illness and disease – especially if there is a large quantity of this errant Element. When imbalancaes in the Five Elements are addressed so that the wrong Elements in the wrong locations are transformed into the correct Elements, then the symptoms of disease lessen or compeletely resolve. Simply put, Qi Infusions are designed to return specific locations of energy back to their balanced energy state.” – Ethan Borg. Long Story shorter…I’ve been drawn to the “Ghost” qi oil but I was afraid to use it on Ian. Yesterday I was speaking to my spiritual friend Marusia regarding the Ghost Qi. After I got off the phone I then started thinking about your documentary – “The Horse Boy” (which I saw in 2009) and then remembering the Shaman with reindeer people. I scanned through the book to find his name – “Ghoste”. I burst into tears because I believe I have found yet another piece of the puzzle to help with Ian’s healing. Then I remembered Kristin’s story of her grandmother with mental illness and what the Shaman said about her spirit and Rowan. My grandmother had mental illness (shock treatment in the 1940′s for depression). I was never allowed to see her. I did see her the year before she passed and was with her after her passing before the undertaker arrived. That being said – her spirit may have attached itself to Ian. I believe in spiritual “hitch hikers”. Yesterday my husband and friends kept hearing me say “this is it – I know there is a connection.” When I get the ball I always run with it. For some bizarre reason I had the urge to share this with you all. One last thing. When I arrived home after viewing “The Horse boy” movie in October 2009 – I emailed you Ruppert. The following morning my husband Christopher said – “you got a reply from the horse boy”. I said – “computer generated thank you”. Christopher said – “no, Ruppert responded himself”. I was so touched to get an email from you. I felt very honored. Thank you. You did invite us to the ranch but we haven’t had the time or to visit. Ian has had numerous surgeries and is now doing beautifully. Ian is doing well because of Ethan Borg and Qi Infusion – whom I believe God has chosen to be our own “Shaman”. I pray God and the Universe will make a visit happen in the near future. I would love to meet you all. I really want Ian to meet Rowan. Congratulations on your International Horse Boy Foundation – BRAVO!
Be Blessed,
Shari A. MacKay
Well Jenny – there are always your brownies………….wasnt there even a facebook appreciation group for them?!