The Welfare of Horses Used in Therapeutic Riding

Therapeutic riding programs benefit humans but require welfare safeguards to prevent horse exploitation.

Key Facts

Equine-assisted therapy is used with people with disabilities, trauma, and mental health conditions
Therapy horses typically work 3-5 days per week with multiple sessions daily
Behavioral signs of stress in therapy horses are sometimes misinterpreted as cooperation
PATH International accreditation requires welfare standards for therapy programs

Welfare Considerations

Equine-assisted therapy provides genuine human benefits — people with disabilities, trauma histories, and mental health challenges show meaningful improvement through therapeutic riding programs. However, the horses involved in these programs are working animals with their own welfare needs. Therapy horses may show stress signals — pinned ears, tension, and evasive behavior — that are misread as cooperation or that are not addressed because the horses welfare is considered secondary to the human benefit. PATH International accreditation provides some welfare standards, but vigilant behavioral monitoring is essential in all programs.

What You Can Do

Support therapy riding programs with PATH International or equivalent accreditation
Learn to recognize stress signals in horses working in therapeutic settings
Advocate for welfare monitoring requirements in all equine therapy programs
Ensure therapy horses receive adequate rest, turnout, and veterinary monitoring