Equine-assisted therapy can have amazing benefits for developmental disabilities and has been gaining more popularity in recent years.

Let’s start with a very brief history…

In Ancient Greece, horses were used to treat people with emotional and psychological problems. They also used horses to help those with physical disabilities and injuries.

Today, there are many different forms of equine-assisted therapy used to treat a wide range of diagnoses including PTSD, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and autism

What is equine-assisted therapy?

Equine-assisted therapy, also known as equine therapy, as an industry is a form of therapy that involves working with horses to help individuals with disabilities and mental health issues. It can help build strength, balance, and coordination. Equine-assisted therapy can also help kids develop better emotional regulation, higher self-confidence, and more independence.

The types of equine-assisted services include:

Therapeutic Riding (Adaptive Riding): The most common form of equine-assisted therapy and probably what most people think of when they think of it. Therapeutic riding uses specially trained horses, along with staff trained in occupational therapy, physical therapy, or speech therapy. Riding and caring for horses can improve your child’s endurance, dexterity, and self-confidence. Therapeutic riding can be helpful for people who need physical or occupational therapy. It can also be beneficial for someone with emotional or cognitive disabilities. It’s also great for nonverbal kids.
Recreation, Education, Sport (also Adaptive Riding): This does not require a therapist to be involved. Your child will learn to actually ride and care for horses in an inclusive, safe environment. Your child will be part of a team, learn skills for life, socialize, and more. Unlike the other options on this list, lessons are ongoing and may lead to competitive opportunities for life. Sometimes, if there is no other physical therapist available, insurance will cover part or all of the lessons.
Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP): EAP involves working with the horse without riding them. A licensed mental healthcare provider will partner with a credentialed equine professional to help a person work towards their therapy goals, usually related to behavioral or emotional difficulties. Activities in EAP normally include grooming, leading, and other interactions with the horse. It can help issues with anxiety or depression.
Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL): EAL uses horses to teach life skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. It can be used to address specific problems such as anxiety, depression, and trauma. It is often used in conjunction with other therapies and treatments. Common EAL activities include grooming and caring for the horses, leading the horse through obstacle courses, and spending time with horses.
Hippotherapy: This type of therapy combines the methods of occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy with horses and is commonly recommended for children with autism. This type of therapy involves using the movement of the horse to improve motor skills, balance, and coordination. It uses the horse’s movement to provide a therapeutic effect on the rider’s body. For example, as the horse walks or trots, it will activate the rider’s muscles, joints, and nervous system. This can help improve the rider’s balance, coordination, and muscle tone. For those with sensory processing disorders, the sensory input provided by the horse’s movement can help improve the rider’s sensory integration and processing.

What does a session of equine-assisted therapy look like?

A session of equine-assisted therapy will vary from child to child, depending on their age, experience, goals, and the specific type of equine-assisted therapy being used.

How long does equine-assisted therapy last?

Sessions are usually held weekly or bi-weekly and will usually last for about an hour. The number of sessions needed will vary depending on your child’s specific needs. While some children may see improvement in just a few sessions, most equine-assisted therapy programs recommend a minimum of 8-12 sessions in order to see improvement.

How do I know if equine-assisted therapy is right for my child?

Equine-assisted therapy can be beneficial for all ages and can even be used in family and group therapy sessions.

Equine-assisted therapy can be especially beneficial for children who struggle with:

Balance and coordination
Muscle strength
Sensory processing
Verbal communication
Emotional engagement
Following directions

Your child's physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech therapist might suggest equine-assisted therapy as part of your child’s therapeutic plan. You can also suggest equine-assisted therapy to your child's therapist or search independently for equine therapy near you.

What are the benefits of equine-assisted therapy for children with autism?

Equine-assisted therapy can help autistic children build physical, social, and emotional skills. It can be an enjoyable experience that motivates your child to engage with the horse and the therapist while also stimulating healthy movement.

Why horse therapy instead of another animal therapy?

Many different animals can be used for therapy. We’ve all heard of therapy dogs and emotional support animals, but horses have unique traits that make them a top choice for animal-assisted therapies. For example:

Horses are non-judgemental. While therapists do their best to offer a safe non-judgemental space for their patients it can still be hard for a person to openly share their thoughts and feelings. A horse has no bias and is never judgemental. The horse will only react to a person’s behavior and emotions.
Horses provide feedback and mirroring. Horses are great observers and very sensitive to human movement and emotion. They can even mirror a person’s behavior and emotions. This can convey a sense of understanding and connection. It can also help a person recognize and regulate their own emotions and behavior while building a better sense of self-awareness.

Is equine-assisted therapy evidence based?

Yes! Research into equine-assisted therapy for autism is in its early stages, but results are promising. One study showed that after only 12 weeks autistic children that rode horses as part of therapy showed improvements in social skills.² Another study confirmed that equine interaction is highly effective at enhancing an autistic child’s social and communication skills.³

Research has shown that hippotherapy can help children with autism:⁴

Develop better motor control
Maintain strong posture
Participate in daily activities
Understand interpersonal communication

Many studies also support hippotherapy’s effectiveness in building motor and social skills for children with other developmental challenges, such as cerebral palsy.⁵

Is equine-assisted therapy safe?

Even with all the benefits attached to equine-assisted therapy, you’re probably wondering, “is it safe?” Whether you have experience working around horses and other animals or not you may be wondering, “is my child safe with such a large animal?” And the answer is yes.

Although there is always some degree of risk involved when working with animals, the horses, the therapists, the riding instructors, and the horse trainers working for reputable equine-assisted therapy programs have gone through years of training.

To help minimize the risk you’ll want to make sure you choose an accredited program, that is properly insured, and that your child wears the proper protective gear, such as a helmet.

Are there any downsides to equine-assisted therapy?

For the most part, equine-assisted therapy is a safe, fun, and effective form of therapy for many people. However, there are a few downsides you may want to consider including:

Insurance: Not all insurance will cover equine-assisted therapy, but we talk more about that a little later.
Cost: If your insurance doesn’t cover your child’s sessions, equine therapy can be expensive.
Access: Depending on where you live, especially if you live in a large city, there may not be an equine-assisted therapy facility nearby.
Child’s personal fear: If your child has a fear of animals, especially large animals, this may not be the right therapy for them.
Allergies: Some children may be allergic to horses or the horses’ environment such as barn dust or hay.

Will my insurance cover equine-assisted therapy?

Maybe. Whether or not your insurance will cover your child’s equine-assisted therapy will depend on many different things including your insurance, the type of therapy your child will receive (hippotherapy, therapeutic riding, etc…), and whether or not a specialist-prescribed equine-assisted therapy as part of your child’s overall treatment plan.

Some insurance plans will cover equine-assisted therapy if it is prescribed by your child’s pediatrician or a licensed mental health professional as part of a treatment plan. However, your insurance may have limits on the amount of therapy your child can receive and may require documentation proving that the therapy is a medical necessity.

If you are interested in equine-assisted therapy but aren’t sure whether or not your insurance will cover it, we recommend you contact your insurance provider directly. Also, if your insurance does not cover equine-assisted therapy, many equine-assisted therapy providers offer financial assistance programs or services on a sliding scale to help make the therapy more affordable and accessible.

How do I find a great equine therapist?

If you’re interested in equine-assisted therapy for your child, talk to your physical, occupational, or speech/language therapist. You can also check out our directory to learn more about equine therapy providers and other specialists near you.

For recreation, education, sport programs, check with Certified Horsemanship Association for IRD and/or Standard certified Instructors and for Accredited Programs or sites.

“Horses change lives. They give our young people confidence and self-esteem. They provide peace and tranquility to troubled souls, they give us hope.” — Toni Robinson

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