Therapeutic riding programs provide significant human benefits, but the welfare of horses used in these programs requires careful ongoing assessment.
Therapeutic riding programs exist at the intersection of human therapeutic benefit and equine welfare obligation. The horses in these programs provide remarkable outcomes for riders with disabilities, but the work they perform is physically and psychologically demanding. Carrying unbalanced riders, managing unpredictable movements, and working multiple sessions daily can cause physical and behavioral signs of stress in horses whose signals are insufficiently monitored. Programs with strong welfare cultures conduct regular behavioral and physical assessments, provide adequate rest, and retire horses from therapeutic work when assessment indicates they are no longer coping well.