Equine Assisted Therapy Welfare Standards

Horses used in equine assisted therapy programs face specific welfare risks from handling by multiple clients with varying abilities, and standards vary significantly across programs.

Key Facts

Equine assisted therapy has grown rapidly with hundreds of programs operating across North America and Europe
Horses in therapy programs are handled by people with varying physical and emotional regulation abilities
Behavioral signs of stress in therapy horses include pinned ears tail swishing and avoidance behaviors
Accredited programs require behavioral monitoring and retirement plans for horses showing chronic stress

Welfare Considerations

Therapy horses provide documented psychological and physical benefits to human clients but face welfare risks from their unique working context. Handling by people with unpredictable movements emotional dysregulation and varying abilities creates stress that differs from typical riding or handling contexts. Without appropriate monitoring horses may work through chronic stress rather than showing obvious welfare problems. Welfare-centered programs monitor horse behavior systematically and retire animals showing consistent stress indicators.

What You Can Do

Support equine therapy programs with demonstrated welfare monitoring protocols and retirement plans
Advocate for accreditation standards that include animal welfare requirements for therapy programs
Never assume a therapy horse is comfortable simply because it tolerates handling
Donate to organizations providing retirement care for former therapy horses