Companion Animal Welfare

Equine Therapy Welfare Standards

Therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities create welfare obligations for the horses used, requiring robust standards to prevent overwork, stress, and physical harm.

Key Facts

Horses in therapy programs may work with multiple riders daily
Repetitive work with inexperienced riders can cause physical and psychological stress
Signs of stress in therapy horses include pinned ears, resistance, and stereotypies
Rest days, varied work, and turnout are essential for therapy horse welfare
Accreditation schemes for equine therapy centres include horse welfare standards

Welfare Considerations

The therapeutic benefits provided to humans through equine-assisted activities create direct obligations to the horses providing that benefit. Therapy horses that show stress signals are communicating welfare needs that require a response, not suppression through training to mask discomfort.

What You Can Do

Choose accredited equine therapy centres with strong horse welfare standards
Learn to recognise stress signals in horses used for therapy
Support programmes that prioritise therapy horse welfare alongside client benefit