Equine-assisted therapy offers genuine benefits for human participants, but therapy horses face unique welfare pressures that require dedicated attention and robust welfare protocols.
Therapy horses work in inherently unpredictable environments with clients who may behave erratically, loudly, or make sudden movements. Without careful welfare monitoring, horses can experience chronic stress that compromises both their wellbeing and the therapeutic relationship. Best-practice programs rotate horses, provide adequate rest and turnout, monitor behavioral stress indicators systematically, and retire horses when welfare indicators decline. The growing demand for equine therapy must be matched by genuine welfare commitment.