Equine Therapy Evidence Base: Welfare and Efficacy Together

Equine-assisted therapy programs claim welfare benefits for human participants, but evidence varies and horse welfare must be central to program evaluation alongside human outcomes.

Key Facts

Over 50 peer-reviewed studies have examined equine-assisted therapy for various conditions with mixed evidence quality
Hippotherapy (PT/OT using horse movement) has stronger evidence than more loosely defined equine-assisted psychotherapy
Horse welfare is rarely measured in outcome studies; most focus only on human participant outcomes
Effective programs show lower horse cortisol levels and fewer stress behaviors when matched appropriately to clients
Accreditation bodies including PATH International include some horse welfare requirements but they remain limited

Welfare Considerations

Equine therapy's credibility as a welfare-ethical practice requires honest evaluation of both human therapeutic outcomes and horse welfare. Programs that demonstrate genuine human benefit while monitoring and protecting horse welfare represent ethical practice. Programs that use anecdotal human benefit claims to justify inadequate horse welfare oversight fail both their horse and human participants. The growing popularity of equine therapy creates both an opportunity and an obligation to develop rigorous, dual-outcome standards that make horse welfare a non-negotiable condition of program operation.

What You Can Do

When evaluating equine therapy programs, ask specifically about horse welfare monitoring protocols
Support PATH International accreditation efforts that strengthen horse welfare requirements
Donate to research that measures both horse and human outcomes in equine therapy programs
Advocate for equine therapy standards that require regular horse behavior assessment and rotation
Choose equine therapy programs that transparently demonstrate their horse welfare practices