Horse Welfare in Therapeutic Riding Programs

Therapeutic riding programs provide significant benefits to human participants but must carefully manage horse welfare to ensure equines in these roles are not experiencing chronic stress or physical overload.

Key Facts

Approximately 900 therapeutic riding programs operate in the US serving 60,000+ participants
Horses in therapeutic programs carry diverse riders including those with physical and cognitive differences
The varied and unpredictable movements of some participants can be challenging for horses
Equine-assisted activities have expanded beyond riding to ground-based interactions
Program horses are typically older and experienced but may accumulate physical and psychological wear
NARHA/PATH certification programs include horse welfare standards in their accreditation

Welfare Considerations

Therapeutic riding horses face specific welfare challenges from the diverse demands of this work: unpredictable movements, varied weights, repetitive patterns that can be monotonous, and the physical demands of sessions with multiple different riders daily. Horses who show stress signals during sessions may be pushed through discomfort in well-intentioned programs that fail to prioritize equine welfare alongside human benefit. Regular monitoring, appropriate rest, veterinary care, and retirement policies are essential to ethical therapeutic programs.

What You Can Do

Support PATH/NARHA accredited therapeutic riding programs with strong horse welfare standards
Ask therapeutic programs about their horse welfare monitoring, rest protocols, and retirement plans
Observe horse body language during sessions and raise welfare concerns with program management
Donate to programs that maintain high standards for horse selection, care, and welfare
Advocate for equine welfare requirements in therapeutic riding program accreditation