Equine therapy is a broad term for many types of therapy involving horses, ranging from occupational, speech, and physical therapy to mental health. These therapies can be accomplished on the ground through interactions with the horse, such as grooming, leading, and skill-building activities, or while riding.

​​Growing research shows that equine therapy can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and strengthen communication, confidence, and self-esteem. In one study, PTSD clinical scores were suggested to decrease by 22.6% after equine therapy (Provan et al., 2024).