Equine Therapy
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Turning Point of Tampa has helped thousands find recovery. As an in-network facility, we are able and committed to helping you find the life you deserve.
Equine therapy (also known as equine assisted therapy (EAT) or horse therapy) is an experiential mental health treatment method that uses the connection between people and horses to enhance physical or emotional healing.
At Turning Point of Tampa, we may use different forms of equine therapy depending on client needs.
Whats Equine Therapy, Exactly?
Equine therapy is a form of experiential treatment where structured interaction with horses, grooming, leading, riding, or simply being present with the animal, is guided by a mental health or medical professional to support healing. It is not a stand-alone replacement for clinical treatment. At Turning Point of Tampa, equine therapy works alongside our 12-Step foundation and evidence-based programming as one piece of a broader, structured recovery plan.
What are the different types of equine therapy?
There are several different forms of horse therapy and related mental health treatment. These include:
| Type | Focus | Facilitated By |
|---|---|---|
| Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) | Mental health, substance use, emotional processing | Licensed therapist and equine specialist |
| Hippotherapy | Physical, occupational, and speech rehabilitation | Licensed PT, OT, or speech therapist with certified equine specialist |
| Therapeutic Riding | Confidence, self-esteem, life skills (an Equine-Assisted Activity, not formal therapy) | Certified therapeutic riding instructor |
Equine-assisted Psychotherapy
Equine-assisted psychotherapy focuses on individuals managing mental or substance use disorders, cognitive issues, and other disorders. While still a form of “talk” therapy, EAP allows clients to use multiple senses to process their underlying emotional issues and mental health challenges.
Patients partner and bond with horses to achieve equine-assisted growth, a form of personal advancement that comes in conjunction to the relationship with the horse.
Equine Therapy
Equine assisted therapy differs from therapeutic riding in that it can involve working with horses in a non-riding capacity. Participants may engage in activities such as grooming, feeding, and leading the horse. Equine assisted therapies can help individuals develop a sense of responsibility and empathy towards others, which can be beneficial for those struggling with addiction and mental health.
The outdoor environment and use of animals lend a unique, positive dimension to the experience that is different than traditional therapy. During each session, clients may ride or work with horses while a mental health professional helps the individual process certain emotions and memories.
Participants usually learn all aspects of horse care, including grooming, saddling and riding. Riding horses is an effective an major component of equine therapy programs, but the act of caring for a horse can have its own therapeutic benefits, as participants learn to exercise care over another being.
In doing so, they may overcome their own psychological challenges, which often involve caring for themselves. Equine assisted therapy shows participants that they are capable of looking after another living thing, and thus prepares them to look after themselves via equine assisted learning. For people with eating disorders, substance use disorders, and other psychiatric ailments that threaten their physical wellbeing, equine assisted therapies can be a major step forward.
Hippotherapy
Hippotherapy is a form of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, co-facilitated by a licensed physical, occupational or speech therapist, as well as a certified equine specialist. The name hippotherapy draws on the Latin roots for the words “horse” and “healing.” Hippotherapy may be employed by an occupational therapist helping a client return from a work-related injury, or a speech and language therapist working with a client who is struggling to deal with a speech impediment.
Hippotherapy is designed to help patients with neuromuscular disorders improve balance, coordination and body control. For children with cerebral palsy, hippotherapy with a certified equine therapist has been shown to be beneficial for helping them improve their self-awareness and feeling of unity with their body.
Hippotherapy is best understood as a form of physical therapy, in contrast to equine assisted psychotherapy, which focuses on mental health. It is often used for people with traumatic brain injuries, who may need to re-learn their capabilities through physical therapy sessions with a licensed physical therapist.
Therapeutic Riding
Therapeutic riding is considered an Equine-Assisted Activity, rather than Equine Therapy, therapeutic riding is less formal than equine-assisted psychotherapy or hippotherapy and has proven effective in helping children heal from trauma, as well as improve confidence and self-esteem.
Therapeutic riding involves riding horses under the supervision of a certified therapeutic riding instructor. The therapy focuses on understanding and cooperating with the horse, and is effective for building self esteem and self efficacy in participants.
The therapist may use various techniques, such as relaxation exercises or guided imagery, to help the participant manage their emotions and develop coping skills. Therapeutic riding can help individuals with substance use disorders improve their physical fitness and develop a sense of self-confidence and independence.
Therapeutic horseback riding is incorporated at summer camps for victims of abuse and human trafficking, and horse riding is often used as a way of teaching life skills and treating children who have been exposed to these painful experiences.
We invite you to learn more about the different types of equine therapy that we offer at Turning Point of Tampa by scheduling a free consultation with our team. Turning Point of Tampa does not keep horses on their property but works closely with an agency nearby that specializes in this unique and effective form of mental health treatment.
How Does Equine Therapy Work?
In a typical session, a licensed therapist and a certified equine specialist guide the client through structured activities with a horse, which may include grooming, leading, or riding, while the therapist observes how the client responds emotionally and physically. Because horses react honestly to body language, tone, and energy, the horse’s reactions become a mirror the therapist and client can use to talk through fear, trust, anger, or avoidance in real time.
A session generally moves through a few consistent stages:
- Introduction and safety briefing: the equine specialist reviews ground rules and the client is introduced to the horse.
- Structured activity: grooming, leading, or riding tasks designed to surface specific emotional responses.
- Observation and reflection: the therapist notes the client’s behavior and the horse’s reaction, then guides a conversation around what came up.
- Integration: the client connects the experience back to patterns in their recovery, relationships, or trauma history.
This structure is what separates equine therapy from simply spending time around animals. The clinical conversation that happens during and after the activity is where the therapeutic work occurs.
What Are the Benefits of Equine Assisted Therapy?
The benefits of equine assisted therapy center on the trust, self-awareness, and emotional regulation that come from direct, honest interaction with a large animal that responds only to what a person actually communicates, not what they say they feel. Clients in recovery often describe this as the first time in a long while they’ve felt truly present.
Reported benefits include:
- Improved self-esteem and sense of personal accountability
- Reduced anxiety and improved mood
- Stronger communication skills and nonverbal awareness
- Greater capacity for trust and healthy relationship-building
- A practical outlet for structure, routine, and responsibility
- A non-judgmental space to process shame, guilt, or trauma
Equine Assisted Therapy for Substance Abuse
The use of equine assisted psychotherapy for substance abuse treatment is not new. In fact, equine therapy has been used for centuries as a form of treatment for various physical and mental health conditions. The unique relationship between humans and horses and the associated health benefits have been observed and utilized by healers and therapists throughout history. Today, equine therapy is gaining recognition as a powerful tool for substance abuse treatment.
Equine therapy is a form of animal-assisted therapy, which has been found to be effective in treating various mental health conditions. Horses are used in equine therapy because of their sensitivity to human emotions and their ability to mirror human behavior.
Horses are highly attuned to the emotions of those around them and can pick up on subtle changes in mood, behavior, and mental health, which is one way in which equine therapy supports growth in participant’s self awareness and emotional regulation. Equine assisted therapy sessions and equestrian therapy sessions depend on the emotional connection between participants and their horses.
How Equine Therapy Supports Addiction Treatment
Equine therapy can be a highly effective complement to substance use and addiction treatment, though it works best as part of a full clinical program rather than on its own. Studies have shown that equine therapy can improve participants’ self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve their overall quality of life. Equine therapy can also help participants develop better communication skills and improve their ability to form healthy relationships.
Equine assisted therapy is often used alongside clinical addiction treatment, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication-assisted treatment. Equine therapy can be particularly helpful for individuals who have struggled with traditional forms of treatment or who are resistant to other mental health treatment. Equine therapy provides a non-judgmental environment in which participants can explore their emotions and develop new coping skills in the company of a mental health professional.
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy for Adolescents
Equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) can also be an effective form of treatment for adolescents and young adults struggling with substance use disorder. Adolescents may be resistant to traditional forms of therapy and may be more likely to engage in equine facilitated therapy because it is a fun and engaging activity.
Equine therapy can also help adolescents develop important life skills, such as responsibility, communication, and empathy. Equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) can help patients learn to treat their therapy horse the way they want to be treated, and extend that understanding to others in the therapeutic process.
Equine Assisted Therapy for Clients with Trauma-Related Mental Health Conditions
Equine therapy can be a meaningful support for individuals who have experienced trauma or who live with PTSD, because horses respond to presence and body language rather than words, which can make it easier to build trust without having to verbalize the trauma directly. Horses are particularly sensitive to the emotions of those around them, and they can provide a sense of comfort and safety to individuals engaging in equestrian therapy who have experienced trauma.
Does Equine Therapy Help With PTSD?
Equine therapy with a trained equine therapist can help individuals with PTSD build a sense of control over their emotional responses and strengthen their ability to manage anxiety and stress, often by practicing regulation skills in real time with the horse rather than in the abstract. The emotional connection involved in horseback riding and equine assisted therapy can help participants shift their focus outward, toward another living being, which can interrupt the hypervigilance and isolation that often accompany PTSD. Equine assisted therapy work has shown that it can improve quality of life for these patients, and it’s a component we consider when a client’s trauma history calls for it.
Does Equine Therapy Help With Trauma More Broadly?
Yes. Beyond a PTSD diagnosis specifically, equine therapy gives trauma survivors a low-pressure way to rebuild trust, practice boundary-setting, and notice their own nervous system responses, all skills that are difficult to access through conversation alone. Because the horse reacts to the client’s actual emotional state rather than the version they present verbally, trauma that has been difficult to name in traditional talk therapy can surface and be processed in a session.
Can Equine Therapy Help With Depression?
Equine therapy can support individuals experiencing depression by offering structure, physical activity, and a sense of purpose that can be hard to access during a depressive episode. The responsibility of caring for a horse, showing up for a scheduled session, grooming, feeding, leading, gives clients a concrete task to complete when motivation is low, and the companionship of the animal can ease the isolation that often deepens depression. It is used as a complement to clinical depression treatment, not a replacement for it.
Patients who have undergone medical treatment and physical therapy for medical ailments may feel like they have exhausted their options. It may seem difficult to suggest that “horse acts” could be a solution, but the evidence shows that equine assisted therapy programs can be an effective complement to rehabilitation nursing and that horseback riding therapy can break patients out of plateaus in their growth and self awareness.
Equine Assisted Therapy for Veterans
Equine assisted therapy for veterans is often used to address combat-related trauma, PTSD, and the hypervigilance many service members carry home, because the nonverbal communication at the center of horse work can reach experiences that are hard to put into words. Veterans frequently describe feeling an unspoken understanding with the horse that mirrors the trust and nonverbal communication built among a unit. For veterans working through substance use tied to combat trauma, this can open a door that talk therapy alone sometimes can’t.
Therapeutic Riding for Others
Equine assisted therapy is not just beneficial for individuals struggling with addiction or mental health issues. It can also be helpful for individuals who simply want to improve their overall well-being.
Connection With Nature
Equine therapy and therapeutic riding can help individuals develop a sense of connection with nature and develop a greater appreciation for the environment. It can also be a fun and rewarding way to stay active and improve physical fitness.
One of the key benefits of equine assisted therapy is that the therapy focuses on providing a unique and non-judgmental environment for individuals to explore their emotions and develop new coping skills. Horses are non-judgmental animals who do not hold grudges or make assumptions about individuals based on their past in the therapeutic process.
Shame And Guilt
This can be particularly beneficial for individuals who have experienced shame or guilt related to their past actions. Equine play therapy can help individuals learn to forgive themselves and move forward with their recovery.
A therapeutic horseback riding experience can help a client break through a plateau they have encountered with their treatment team and provide new therapeutic value in a situation where other interventions have failed.
The Importance of Professionals
Equine assisted therapy is a relatively low-risk form of treatment, with few reported adverse effects. However, it is important for individuals to work with trained horse therapy experts and horse handlers to ensure their safety during equine assisted therapy sessions (as well as any other mental health treatment).
It is also important for individuals to disclose any allergies or medical conditions that may affect their participation in equine assisted therapy. An allergy to horses or environmental elements can be a serious impediment to horse therapy.
PATH International
PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) is an international group that teaches communication skills, talk therapy, and other elements of equine facilitated psychotherapy to people who wish to engage in this evolving school of practical medicine.
Practitioners who work with the therapeutic team at PATH International are accredited to provide equine psychotherapy services, as well as occupational therapy and other related therapies, when operating in conjunction with a licensed therapist in their domain.
American Hippotherapy Association
Hippotherapy also requires an equipped treatment team that is trained in the safety elements of therapeutic riding as well as the associated elements of equine assisted learning for patients with cerebral palsy, eating disorders, and other conditions requiring mental health services. The American Hippotherapy Association is a professional association that provides accreditation to practitioners in this field.
How do I know if equine therapy is right for me?
Even if they have never worked with horses before, equine therapy is often a good fit for clients in recovery, speech therapy, or occupational therapy who are seeking an outlet for their focus and motivation. Many of the basic skills needed to care for horses in equine assisted learning are best learned through repetition, providing a helpful structure and sense of responsibility for individuals in recovery.
Equine therapy, therapeutic riding, and equine assisted therapy are all effective forms of treatment for substance use disorder and addiction. These forms of therapy can improve participants’ emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being, while also helping them develop important life skills through equine assisted growth.
Equine assisted therapy is a unique and non-judgmental form of treatment that can be particularly helpful for individuals who have struggled with traditional forms of therapy.
Equine assisted therapy provides a safe and supportive environment in which individuals can explore their emotions and develop new coping skills. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder or addiction, consider exploring the benefits of equine assisted therapy.
What should I expect from equine therapy?
Equine therapy sessions differ depending on the needs, background, and experience level of the participants. All sessions will incorporate elements of behavioral therapy alongside the care and handling of horses.
All equine assisted therapy programs will have different areas of emphasis, but you can find one suited to you by seeking a referral from an agency that is centered on your particular needs.
Turning Point of Tampa can help patients with substance use disorder and eating disorders as well as dual-diagnosis disorders connect with equine therapy programs from licensed practitioners that are equipped to address their unique needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
No prior riding experience is needed. Much of equine assisted therapy involves ground-based work like grooming, leading, and feeding rather than riding, so clients of any experience level can participate.
Turning Point of Tampa does not keep horses on its campus. We work closely with a nearby agency that specializes in equine assisted therapy so clients can access this form of treatment as part of a coordinated recovery plan.
Coverage varies by plan and by how equine therapy is incorporated into a client’s broader treatment program. Our team can help clients understand what their specific insurance plan covers.
Yes. At Turning Point of Tampa, equine therapy is used as a complement to, not a substitute for, our 12-Step foundation and evidence-based clinical programming, giving clients another avenue to process what comes up in their core treatment work.
Supporting Articles
Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Learn how Turning Point of Tampa addresses mental health and substance use disorders together under one roof.
Eating Disorder Treatment: Explore how our team treats eating disorders alongside substance use and trauma history.
The Resolve Program for Veterans: Learn how our specialized veterans program addresses combat trauma, PTSD, and substance use.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy: Discover another evidence-based trauma therapy offered alongside equine therapy at Turning Point of Tampa.
Group Counseling and the 12-Step Foundation: See how community-based healing forms the keystone of treatment at Turning Point of Tampa.
Why Patients Choose Turning Point of Tampa
Turning Point of Tampa has been family-owned since 1987, and our approach to therapies like equine therapy reflects almost four decades of the same commitment: pairing time-tested 12-Step principles with evidence-based clinical care. We are Joint Commission accredited and ASAM certified, and our medical team is led by Dr. Hardeep Singh, a Tampa Magazine Top Doctor, Board Certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, and a Fellow of ASAM.
Because we offer the complete continuum of care on a single Tampa campus, from medical detox through residential, day treatment, IOP, and recovery residences, equine therapy and other experiential supports are woven into a client’s broader plan rather than offered as a disconnected add-on. Clients working through addiction, eating disorders, or dual diagnosis benefit from a treatment team that understands how these conditions intersect, and that integrates therapies like equine work accordingly.
Our commitment doesn’t end at discharge. Clients have access to free weekly support groups for life, and families are welcome at our free weekly family groups, whether their loved one is currently in treatment or completed a program years ago.
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