Horses Help to Heal Physical and Mental Diseases

Horses are such majestic and lovely animals. The relationship between humans and horses has been close throughout history, but recently this has gone beyond riding horses for fun or using them for work. Equine Assisted Services, sometimes called horse therapy, is a health trend where caring and interacting with horses is used to heal physical and mental illness.

Equine Assisted Services is now an umbrella term which encompasses a whole range of treatments, involving activities and interactions with horses to promote better human wellbeing.

Equine-assisted therapy is a structured form of therapy in which a licensed mental health professional works with trained horses to support emotional well-being and personal development. It is designed to help individuals better understand their emotions, behavior, and responses to stress.

Horse therapy includes many activities, from feeling the horse’s movement, which can help children with muscle disorders like cerebral palsy, to simply grooming the horse, which can help calm anxiety. Grooming a horse means cleaning and brushing the horse’s coat of hair.

Various animals can be used in therapy, but horses are particularly suitable as they’re very sensitive to human emotions. Being in contact with them affects the limbic area of the brain, dealing with stress. Horses help people work through mental, emotional and physical challenges.

Horses really are special animals. They sense human feelings like fear or sadness through breath, heart rate and movement, and respond with gentleness and calm. This makes them perfect animal therapists. Horses are highly sensitive to human body language and emotional states. Because they respond honestly and without judgment, their reactions can help participants become more aware of how they feel and how they communicate with others.

Sessions usually take place on the ground rather than riding. Participants may groom, lead, or work alongside a horse. Horses are calm, observant animals that respond to consistency, clarity, and emotional balance. Learning to interact effectively with a horse can help individuals practice skills that are useful in daily life, such as patience, focus, and self-control.

Horse therapy does not cure diseases, but it can support treatment and improve symptoms for certain psychological, emotional, developmental, and physical conditions when used alongside professional care.

Mental health and emotional conditions

Equine-assisted therapy is most commonly used to help with:

Anxiety disorders

Depression

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Trauma and grief

Stress-related disorders

Emotional regulation difficulties

Neurodevelopmental and behavioral conditions

It may also support individuals with:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Learning and behavioral challenges

Social communication difficulties

Neurological and physical conditions

When combined with physical or occupational therapy (often through therapeutic riding or hippotherapy), it may help people with:

Cerebral palsy

Multiple sclerosis

Stroke recovery

Traumatic brain injury

Balance, coordination, and muscle control difficulties