Horses used in therapeutic programs deserve the same welfare standards as any other working horse, and the demands of therapeutic work require careful welfare monitoring.
Equine welfare in therapeutic settings can be compromised by the powerful humanitarian mission of these programs. When horses are seen primarily as tools for human healing, their own welfare needs may be secondary to the demands of the therapeutic program. A horse that is showing behavioral stress signals during a session — pinned ears, tail swishing, tension in the body — is communicating discomfort that should prompt a welfare response, not be managed away for the benefit of the session. Welfare-positive EAT programs train all staff in equine behavioral signals, implement rest rotation schedules, conduct regular welfare assessments, and make genuine provision for horses to retire from therapeutic work when they show sustained signs of stress.