Welfare of Horses Used in Equine-Assisted Therapy

Equine-assisted therapy programmes use horses as therapeutic partners for people with physical, psychological, and developmental conditions, raising welfare questions about the horses involved.

Key Facts

An estimated 3,000 equine-assisted therapy programmes operate in the US, serving tens of thousands of clients annually
PATH International is the primary accreditation body for therapeutic riding programmes in North America
Horses in therapeutic riding programmes are handled by multiple different riders and handlers daily, causing cumulative stress
Sensory processing differences in some clients can produce unpredictable behaviour that creates welfare risk for both horse and rider
Horses working in therapeutic contexts show elevated cortisol at the end of therapy days compared to baseline measures
The best therapeutic riding programmes schedule mandatory rest days, monitor horse behaviour closely, and retire horses showing stress signs

Welfare Considerations

Equine-assisted therapy offers genuine benefits to human clients, but the welfare of the horses involved deserves equal consideration. Therapeutic horses are often older, calm-temperament animals specifically selected for their tolerance, but tolerance should not be mistaken for absence of stress. Daily exposure to unpredictable handling, multiple different riders, and sensory stimulation from clients with movement differences causes measurable welfare costs. High-welfare therapeutic riding programmes treat their horses as professional partners whose welfare is non-negotiable, including scheduling limits on working hours, rest days, and clear retirement protocols.

What You Can Do

Support PATH International accredited therapeutic riding centres that demonstrate strong horse welfare policies
Ask therapeutic riding programmes how they monitor and manage horse welfare and stress
Volunteer support for non-riding horse care at therapeutic programmes to supplement welfare monitoring
Advocate for welfare standards specific to therapeutic horses in equine-assisted services accreditation
Donate to programmes that fund horse retirement and ongoing care for horses who have served in therapy roles