Horses used in therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities face unique welfare demands. Standards and monitoring ensure that welfare needs are not sacrificed for therapeutic benefits.
Therapeutic horses experience unique welfare demands including unpredictable handling, extended working hours and exposure to participants who may not have refined riding skills. These demands make welfare monitoring especially important. Validated welfare assessment protocols, clear working limits, daily rest requirements and proactive retirement planning protect the horses that contribute so much to therapeutic programmes. The welfare of the horse must be an equal priority to the therapeutic benefit delivered.