Therapeutic riding programs provide benefits to human participants with disabilities but require rigorous welfare safeguards for the horses used in demanding therapeutic work.
Therapeutic riding horses face specific welfare challenges from the therapeutic context — clients may grip unexpectedly, have unusual movement patterns, or weigh more than recreational riders. Multiple sessions daily without adequate recovery time cause physical and psychological fatigue. Well-run programs include comprehensive horse welfare monitoring, mandatory rest schedules, and clear criteria for removing horses from work. The therapeutic benefit to humans requires genuine commitment to horse welfare.