Equine Therapy Glossary

A clinical service in which a licensed professional includes animals within their treatment. Listed for reference; it sits outside non-clinical equine-assisted activities.

A voluntary review in which an outside body measures a program operations, safety, and horse care against published standards.

Individualized riding instruction that supports participation, skill-building, and inclusion. Not a clinical service.

A professional trained to teach riding in a supportive, adaptive format, distinct from clinical providers.

An organization that educates licensed clinicians who use equine movement in treatment.

The body that certifies licensed clinicians in hippotherapy; the certifying counterpart associated with AHA.

The cues a rider gives a horse — leg, seat, hands, voice, and focus — to ask for direction or pace.

Using both sides of the body together during movement or tasks, often practiced through turns, reaching, and balance work.

Headgear used to guide a horse; the bridle holds a bit in the horse mouth. Many therapeutic settings choose gentle or bitless options.

Clear expectations that keep people and horses safe, comfortable, and respectful of each other space.

Canada national body for therapeutic riding, offering instructor certification and center accreditation.

Using a skill learned at the barn — communication, focus, patience — in another part of life.

Low rails set on the ground for a horse to step or walk over, used to encourage rhythm, balance, and attention.

Common arena landmarks. The centerline runs down the arena length; the rail is the outer track along the fence or wall.

The strap that secures a saddle around the horse barrel. "Cinch" is the western term and "girth" the English one.

A healthcare professional working within their legal scope of practice. The term helps separate clinical services from non-clinical programs.

A shared settling of energy between two beings, such as a calm human presence helping a horse relax.

A PATH International credential for instructors who teach adaptive riding.

A signal — by voice, rein, leg, or body — that asks the horse for a particular response.

A short reflection after an activity to talk through what happened and what it offers.

Gradual, welfare-minded exposure that helps a horse grow comfortable with sights, sounds, or handling.

Getting off a horse safely. Some programs also rehearse assisted or emergency dismounts.

Non-clinical, educational activities that use interaction with horses to support communication, teamwork, and personal growth.

A clinical service led by a licensed mental health professional that includes horse interaction within therapy. Listed for reference.

An umbrella term for services involving horses, spanning adaptive riding, learning programs, horsemanship, and clinical care.

In mental-health and learning programs, a horse expert who manages the horse and its welfare alongside a licensed professional. PATH International credentials this role as the Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning.

A catalog of defined horse behaviors used to read and support equine well-being.

An approach that weighs research, professional experience, and a participant needs together. Often cited in program standards.

A professional who trims hooves and fits shoes, providing the routine hoof care every working horse needs.

Arena patterns used for steering practice, focus, and coordination.

A horse personal space. Understanding it helps people move safely and communicate clearly.

The horse natural movement patterns. Many adaptive lessons focus on the walk for its steady, comfortable rhythm.

Brushing and cleaning the horse. In programs it builds gentle touch, routine, and connection.

Activities done on the ground — leading, grooming, observing — that build horsemanship and communication.

Bringing the horse to a stop; "whoa" is the common voice cue to halt.

Equipment used to guide and handle horses from the ground.

The unit for measuring a horse height. One hand equals four inches, measured at the withers.

A safety-certified equestrian helmet, commonly required during mounted activities.

The way horses relate to one another through spacing, roles, and relationships.

A global association supporting education and dialogue across equine-assisted services.

A clinical treatment strategy in which a licensed physical, occupational, or speech therapist uses the horse movement within a plan of care. Listed here to distinguish it from non-clinical programs.

A horse physical and emotional well-being — rest, a fair workload, clear communication, and the freedom to show discomfort.

Leading or working a horse from the ground rather than riding it.

Clear agreement to take part after understanding the expectations and details of a program.

Guiding a horse while walking beside or ahead of it, using a rope clipped to the halter.

Working a horse in a controlled circle on a long line, often for training or warm-up and practiced carefully around new riders.

The center axis of the body, referenced in riding for balance and posture.

Equipment and methods that help riders get on a horse safely and comfortably.

Training approaches built on horse communication and pressure-and-release rather than force.

The horse left (near) and right (off) sides. Horses are traditionally led and mounted from the near side.

Any indicator used to track progress, such as smoother steering or greater independence.

An enclosed outdoor area, and the time a horse spends loose there to move, graze, and rest.

An association that publishes standards and certifies adaptive riding instructors and centers.

A document outlining goals, session structure, and check-in points for a non-clinical program.

Rising and sitting in rhythm with the trot to smooth out its bounce.

A situation that may call for adjustments to keep an activity comfortable or safe.

A core communication principle — apply a light cue, then soften it the moment the horse responds.

Awareness of where the body is in space, which riders often build while sitting on a moving horse.

Settling into a steady, workable state of attention, often supported by pace, rhythm, and routine.

Straps the rider uses to communicate with the horse head and neck.

Center-wide procedures that support safety, such as equipment checks and clear emergency plans.

A padded cloth placed between the horse back and the saddle to cushion and protect.

The activities a professional or instructor is trained and qualified to perform.

A program process for learning a new participant goals, needs, and comfort level.

A person belief in their own ability to take part and succeed.

Adjustments for participants sensitive to sound, touch, or movement — quiet times, breaks, and predictable routines.

A trained helper who walks beside a mounted rider for support and steadiness.

A sudden startle or shy away from something. Programs favor steady horses less prone to spooking.

Foot supports that hang from the saddle. Therapeutic programs may use adapted or safety stirrups.

A condition agreed in advance that pauses or ends an activity if the horse or participant seems uncomfortable.

A wide strap with handles used in some mounted activities in place of a saddle.

A general word for the equipment used in riding and groundwork.

An adapted form of carriage driving focused on participation and skill-building. Non-mounted.

Non-mounted programs centered on horse care and groundwork that build skills, responsibility, and confidence.

Changes in speed or direction, such as walk to halt or halt to walk.

Choreographed movement or poses performed on a moving horse, adapted as needed in some programs.

Balance-related sensation. A rider receives gentle vestibular input while sitting on a walking horse.

A trained helper who supports sessions by leading horses, side-walking, grooming, or handling barn tasks.

Adjusting weight in the saddle or on the ground, important for balance and communication.

Observable signs from a horse that suggest comfort or stress.

The ridge between the shoulder blades and the high point of the back, where a horse height is measured.

A groundwork movement in which the horse steps away from light, clear pressure.