Choosing or joining an equine-assisted program is easier when you know who does what. Horses are at the heart of the work, but it is people who create safety, learning, and care around every session. This guide explains the main roles you will meet, how they work together, and what you can expect from each one. It is educational only and does not replace medical or mental health advice.
Ready to decide if a program fits your needs? Start with our Decision Guide: Is This for Me?
The Participant and Their Circle
Every program begins with a person and a goal. Participants may be children, teens, adults, or older adults. Some arrive with medical or mental health goals. Others come for confidence, skill building, or connection.
Caregivers, family members, and support workers often play quiet but vital parts. They share history and goals, help with clothing and helmets, and notice changes at home or school. Their observations make progress visible.
Licensed Therapists in Hippotherapy
When the plan involves clinical change using the horse’s movement, you will meet a licensed therapist. This may be a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, or a speech-language pathologist.
The therapist evaluates needs, sets measurable goals, chooses positions and activities, and adapts the horse’s movement to the person’s body and responses. Sessions may include mounted work and ground activities that feed directly into therapy goals.
If you are considering hippotherapy, expect an intake process, ongoing documentation, and collaboration with other providers. Ask how progress will be measured and how updates will be shared.
Mental Health Clinicians in Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy
Some programs integrate horses into psychotherapy. These sessions are led by licensed mental health professionals such as psychologists, clinical social workers, or counselors. Much of the work happens on the ground. The horse’s behavior and presence can help with regulation, trust, boundaries, and processing of difficult experiences.
A mental health clinician plans the therapy, monitors safety and consent, and may partner with an equine specialist who supports horse welfare and session flow.
EDUCATIONAL NOTE: When an article mentions medical or mental health services, it is for education only. Always speak with a licensed clinician about your specific situation.
Therapeutic Riding Instructors
Adaptive or therapeutic riding focuses on riding skills and participation. Instructors teach mounting, steering, balance, and horsemanship while adapting lessons for different bodies and learning styles. They understand tack, posture, and horse choice, and they work closely with volunteers to keep each ride safe and positive.
Good instructors explain why an activity matters. For example, a pattern of circles might build steering and attention while also supporting balance.
Equine-Assisted Learning Facilitators
Equine-assisted learning is non-clinical. Facilitators design activities that build communication, teamwork, leadership, problem solving, and self-awareness. Many sessions are on the ground. A typical activity might ask a small group to lead a horse through a simple course without speaking, then reflect on how they succeeded.
Skilled facilitators balance challenge and success. They set clear boundaries that protect people and horses, then step back so participants can discover what works.
Equine Specialists and Horse Professionals
Horses need their own team. You may meet:
- Equine specialists who read horse body language, fit tack, and shape activities to keep horses comfortable.
- Barn managers and trainers who condition horses for therapy work, build fitness, and refresh responses to cues.
- Veterinarians and farriers who manage health, vaccination, dental care, hoof care, and soundness.
The best programs protect horses from overwork, give them turnout and rest, and limit session length and frequency. A horse that feels safe and well is the foundation of participant safety.
Side Walkers and Horse Leaders
Volunteers often provide hands and eyes that make sessions smooth. A horse leader handles the horse from the ground and follows the instructor or therapist’s cues. Side walkers walk beside a mounted participant to offer steadying support or reminders from the lesson plan. They learn where to place their hands, when to step in, and when to fade support so the rider grows independence.
Volunteers train for these roles. They also practice quiet barn skills such as gate safety, spacing between horses, and calm voice cues.
Intake, Scheduling, and Family Support
Before the first session, someone reads forms, gathers medical clearances when needed, and books evaluations. You may meet an intake coordinator who learns your goals and explains policies. Schedulers and billing staff keep calendars, waitlists, payments, and scholarship programs moving. A family liaison or program assistant may check in after sessions and collect progress notes.
These roles keep the human side of the barn organized so your time with the horse can focus on the plan.
Safety and Risk Management
Quality programs plan for the rare day when things do not go as expected. A safety officer or risk manager maintains emergency procedures, incident reports, and helmet policies. The team practices what to do if a rider loses balance, a horse startles, or weather changes quickly. Clear, calm routines build confidence for everyone.
Program Leadership and Quality Standards
Behind the scenes, program directors and board members set vision and budget, support staff training, and ensure alignment with standards from recognized organizations. Many centers follow guidance from groups such as PATH International or CanTRA for center accreditation and instructor credentials, and from the American Hippotherapy Association for the clinical use of equine movement.
When you visit a center, ask how they train staff and volunteers, how they choose horses for sessions, and how they measure outcomes. Transparency is a sign of a healthy culture.
How the Roles Work Together
On a good day at a good barn, the roles feel seamless. The participant arrives with a simple goal. The intake team confirms any updates. The instructor or clinician outlines the plan. The equine specialist checks the horse’s comfort and tack. Volunteers take their places. The session flows from warm-up to focused tasks to a calm finish. Notes are recorded. Small wins are named out loud so they can be repeated at home or school.
That teamwork is not accidental. It grows from training, respect, and a shared commitment to people and horses.
Want to know which service type fits your goals? Read our Plain-Language Terminology Guide next.
