Therapeutic riding is an emerging field in which horses are used as a tool for physical therapy, emotional growth and learning.
Many riders experience a connection to the horse that few sports can create.
For those riders who cannot walk, the horse is their vehicle of transport. Not only does this help raise their self-esteem but it also teaches them essential skills. It improves balance, creates trust and creates a friendship between rider and horse. The American Equestrian Alliance has developed special liability insurance and referral support programs in collaboration with many of the therapeutic riding associations offering these services. The benefits of horseback riding are as numerous as the types of disabilities and conditions served.