Equine Assisted Therapy: Welfare Considerations

Equine-assisted therapy programs benefit human participants, but the welfare of the horses involved requires careful attention. Best practice programs prioritize horse wellbeing alongside therapeutic outcomes.

Key Facts

Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) uses horses in therapeutic, educational, and psychosocial interventions
Hippotherapy uses the horse's movement to improve neurological and physical function in human participants
Horses in therapy programs experience repeated, varied interactions with often unpredictable human behavior
Stress indicators in therapy horses include elevated cortisol, avoidance behavior, and ear position changes
Research shows many therapy horses exhibit chronic low-grade stress from their work
Welfare-conscious programs limit session frequency, monitor horse behavior, and provide adequate rest
Some horses appear to genuinely engage positively with therapy work — individual variation is significant

Welfare Considerations

Equine-assisted therapy occupies an ethically complex space: the human therapeutic benefits are well-documented, but the welfare of horses providing the therapy is frequently subordinated to program needs. Horses that cannot refuse participation, that work excessive hours, or that show persistent stress signals are being exploited rather than collaborating. Welfare-positive EAT programs treat horse welfare as foundational — not incidental — to program design. This means careful behavioral observation before and after sessions, horse agency in approach and retreat, limits on session frequency and duration, appropriate rest, retirement before welfare declines, and selection of horses with temperaments suited to the work. Programs that take horse welfare seriously produce better therapeutic outcomes, too: a stressed horse is not a therapeutic partner.

What You Can Do

Evaluate EAT programs by their horse welfare protocols before participating or referring others
Ask programs about session frequency limits, welfare monitoring, and retirement policies for horses
Support professional development for EAT practitioners in equine welfare assessment
Advocate for accreditation standards that include robust horse welfare requirements
Follow research on therapy horse welfare indicators and share findings with practitioners
Support organizations developing and promoting welfare-positive equine-assisted practice guidelines