Equine Therapy Animal Welfare Evidence

Equine-assisted therapy uses horses in therapeutic programmes, with welfare implications for the horses involved that require careful management and ethical oversight.

Key Facts

Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) programmes operate across the UK, US, and Europe for mental health and physical rehabilitation
Research on EAT effectiveness is mixed, with some high-quality studies showing benefits for PTSD, autism, and depression
Therapy horses are at risk of stress, learned helplessness, and physical overuse without welfare monitoring
Behavioural signs of stress in therapy horses include yawning, lip licking, and avoidance behaviour
Most EAT programmes lack standardised welfare monitoring protocols for participating horses
The PATH International accreditation scheme includes some horse welfare requirements
Rotation of horses and individual welfare monitoring are considered minimum standards by welfare advocates

Welfare Considerations

Therapy horses provide genuine therapeutic value to people but are at risk of welfare compromise through inadequate rest, inappropriate matching to clients, or insufficient behavioural monitoring. The welfare of participating horses must be actively monitored and prioritised, not assumed. Ethical EAT programmes treat horse welfare as equal in importance to client outcomes.

What You Can Do

Choose equine therapy programmes with transparent horse welfare monitoring policies
Ask about horse rotation, rest days, and individual welfare assessment when selecting an EAT programme
Support welfare standards development for equine-assisted therapy through relevant professional bodies
Advocate for PATH or equivalent accreditation to strengthen horse welfare requirements
Educate EAT practitioners about stress behaviours in horses and appropriate responses