ABSTRACT
Equine-assisted therapy is not a separate or distinct type of therapy. Healthcare professionals who provide equine-assisted therapy must still adhere to the same laws, ethics, standards, and boundaries associated with their conventional healthcare practices. This unique amalgamation of a regulated healthcare service and the diversity and spontaneity of the farm milieu brings up important ethical, legal, and practical considerations for providers. This chapter explores clinical practice issues including patient selection, treatment planning, and facility and staff preparedness, and guides readers through activity and session design. Hipptherapy, equine-facilitated psychotherapy, the EAGALA model of equine-assisted psychotherapy, and equine-assisted counseling are discussed as possible treatment approaches.
