Equine-assisted therapy sessions are calm, structured, and centered on safety for people and horses. While details vary by program and goals, the flow below will help you picture what to expect on your first visit.
Ready to see if this fits your needs? Start with our Decision Guide: Is This for Me?
Before You Arrive
Most centers ask for an intake form and, when indicated, medical or mental health clearance. You will share goals in plain language, for example sitting taller, taking fuller breaths, or staying on task longer. Staff confirm clothing and helmet sizing, review medications that affect balance or heat tolerance, and plan the horse and team that fit your needs.
Bring closed-toe shoes with a small heel if riding, long pants that allow movement, layers for weather, and water. If you use assistive devices, let the team know so mounting and dismounting can be planned comfortably and safely.
Arrival and Welcome
You are greeted by the instructor or clinician, a horse leader, and side walkers if you will ride. The equine specialist checks the horse for comfort, fit of tack, and relaxed body language. You review the plan for the day in simple terms.
New participants often begin with a quiet barn tour, a few minutes of meeting the horse from the ground, and a safety talk about spacing, voices, and where to stand.
Mounting, or Beginning on the Ground
Mounting uses a ramp or block that protects your joints and the horse’s back. The team explains each step and waits for your yes before moving forward.
Some sessions start on the ground and remain unmounted. This is common in equine-facilitated psychotherapy and equine-assisted learning, and also appears in hippotherapy and therapeutic riding when a goal is easier to build from the ground first.
Settling Into Rhythm
The first minutes set the tone. At the walk, you and the horse find a shared rhythm that feels smooth and steady. Your pelvis begins to follow the horse’s three-dimensional movement, and your trunk organizes itself to stay centered. If the session is on the ground, the rhythm shows up as pacing, breath, and simple patterns such as leading the horse a few steps and pausing together.
The team watches for comfort, posture, breath, and attention, and makes small adjustments early so the rest of the session can build on a good foundation.
Working Toward Your Goal
The middle of the session is where focused work happens. The approach depends on the service type.
- Hippotherapy: A licensed therapist uses the horse’s movement as a tool for a clinical goal. You might face forward to support trunk control, turn to side sitting to wake up one side of the body, or reach across midline while the horse walks a circle. Tasks like counting or saying short phrases can link breath and voice to the rhythm of movement. The therapist adjusts the horse’s stride or arena pattern to make the challenge just right.
- Therapeutic riding: The instructor teaches riding skills while adapting for your body and learning style. You may practice steering to letter markers, riding simple figures, changing pace within the walk, and mounting and dismounting with growing independence. Skills build gradually, and confidence grows as you do more on your own.
- Equine-assisted learning: Activities build communication, teamwork, and problem solving. A small group might lead a horse through a simple course without speaking, then reflect on what worked. The facilitator guides the process and keeps people and horses safe, while leaving room for discovery.
- Equine-facilitated psychotherapy: A licensed mental health clinician uses horse interaction to work on regulation, boundaries, and processing experiences. Tasks are often on the ground and can include noticing body signals, practicing calm approaches, and matching your breath to the horse’s pacing. Some programs include mounted work when goals and safety allow.
Across all approaches, you will see a pattern of brief challenge, short pause, then another try. The session holds a conversation between your body and the horse, and the team shapes that conversation so it stays safe, clear, and purposeful.
Checking In Throughout
Good sessions feel collaborative. You are asked what you notice, what feels easy, and what feels hard. The team watches for signs of fatigue or discomfort in you and in the horse, for example a slumped posture or a tightened tail, and they scale the challenge up or down.
Small changes make a big difference, such as moving a hand position, adding a visual target, or choosing a larger circle to smooth the gait.
Cooling Down and Dismount
The pace slows near the end. If mounted, you return to a relaxed walk and simple straight lines. If on the ground, you might practice a final lead and pause with the horse breathing quietly beside you.
Dismounting is done with clear steps and support. Many centers include a moment of thanks to the horse, a simple grooming stroke, or a treat given by staff to reinforce calm routines.
Review and Home Carryover
Right after the session, the instructor or clinician summarizes what went well and names one or two ideas to try at home or school. Examples include a seated balance practice, a short breathing routine, a cue that helps with attention, or a way to set up a chair for better posture.
If you are in hippotherapy or equine-facilitated psychotherapy, you can expect notes that track goals and progress, and periodic rechecks that update the plan.
How Long, How Often, and Who Attends
Most sessions run thirty to sixty minutes. Many programs meet once a week during active seasons, with breaks for weather or horse rest.
Caregivers are often welcome to watch, and their observations between sessions help the team understand real-world changes. Volunteers receive training for their roles and are supervised closely.
Safety and Horse Welfare You Should See
Helmets are worn when mounted, spacing between horses is generous, and voices remain calm. Mounting and dismounting are unhurried. Horses look relaxed, with soft eyes and easy breathing. If anything feels uncertain, staff explain the plan and adjust. These routines protect everyone and make the movement you receive smoother and more useful.
What It Can Feel Like
New riders often say the walk feels like being carried in a smooth wave. After a few minutes, breathing finds a steady beat and attention settles. Small wins show up as sitting taller for a little longer, turning the head without losing balance, or beginning a task with fewer prompts. Ground sessions feel deliberate and respectful. You will notice clear boundaries that make it easier to focus and to try something new.
Want a checklist to bring to your first visit? Download our simple Program Vetting Checklist and arrive feeling prepared.
