04/21/2026
Is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) risky?
Safety looks different for every individual. Many clients who seek therapy do not feel safe in their own bodies. Some struggle to notice early signs of anxiety or overwhelm, only becoming aware once they’ve reached a panic attack or a meltdown. At Skye Therapy, one of our primary goals is to help both children and adults reconnect with their bodies in a safe, supportive environment alongside horses.
Horses play a powerful role in this process. As highly attuned prey animals, they are deeply aware of their own bodies and the energy of those around them. This sensitivity can help clients build awareness, regulation, and connection.
That said, working with horses does carry inherent risks. Horses are large (often around 1,000 pounds) and can be unpredictable. While incidents are rare, something as simple as a horse shifting its weight can result in a foot being stepped on if the client is close to the horse. At Skye Therapy, we take several precautions to minimize risk:
• Clients are required to wear proper footwear for protection
• Sessions are facilitated by highly trained, horse-experienced staff (2+years with horses)
• Our team is skilled at reading equine behavior and recognizing early warning signs of stress or movement
• We actively guide and position clients to maintain safe interactions
In over 15 years of full-time practice, we have not experienced any injuries—only minor, momentary incidents such as a stepped-on foot (stings for a few minutes).
While equine-assisted work does carry more risk than working with smaller animals, we believe the therapeutic benefits are profound. Horses offer a unique and powerful pathway to healing that cannot be replicated in traditional settings. With proper training, awareness, and safety protocols in place, EAP can be a safe and deeply transformative experience.
