Neither a tool nor a therapist. So, what is the role of the horse?

When we talk about Equine-Assisted Services , one question frequently arises:

So, what is the horse's role in this process?

Is he a therapist?

Is it a work tool?

Is it a tool used by professionals?

At first glance, these may seem like just different ways of naming the animal. But the words we choose reveal a great deal about how we understand our relationship with the horse and how we interact with him.

When we call the horse a "tool," we are assigning it a specific role. When we call it a "therapist" or "co-therapist," we are assigning it another.

And when we use the term "equine intervention ," we express a different understanding, built upon the evolution of science, ethics, and knowledge about animal behavior and welfare.

More than a discussion about nomenclature, this is a reflection on how we perceive the horse and what its role actually is in Equine-Assisted Services.

Far beyond a simple choice of words.

The words we use help shape how we think.

When we call a horse a "tool," "instrument," or "therapeutic resource," we run the risk of reducing a living being to a mere object of labor.

Tools are inanimate objects.

They can be replaced.

They feel no pain.

They show no emotions.

They don't need rest, training, or well-being.

Horses are the exact opposite.

They are sentient beings , capable of perceiving their environment, responding to stimuli, establishing social relationships, and expressing signs of comfort, discomfort, fear, pain, and stress.

Recognizing this condition is the first step towards truly ethical conduct.

This can be a challenge for many professionals who have been swallowed up by a logic of practice that is very common nowadays. You may have already witnessed a scene like this: the professional arrives at the equestrian center, uses the horse for their intervention, returns it, and leaves, in an almost mechanistic process.

But the horse is not the therapist either.

While we shouldn't treat horses as objects, we also need to avoid a very common mistake: assigning the animal tasks that belong to the professional.

Expressions like "therapy horse , " "co-therapist," or even "four-legged angel" often stem from the affection and admiration that many people develop for horses.

Although well-intentioned, these expressions do not accurately represent the role of the animal within Equine-Assisted Services.

The horse does not plan an intervention.

It does not establish therapeutic objectives.

He doesn't choose teaching strategies.

It does not conduct evaluations.

He doesn't even make clinical decisions.

These responsibilities belong exclusively to the qualified professional, who acts within their training, technical competence, and the standards established by their professional council.

When we attribute human intentions or actions to horses, we risk romanticizing their role and failing to perceive them as animals with needs and behaviors specific to their species, which can have significant consequences that jeopardize their well-being.

So, what is the role of the equine?

The equine occupies a unique place.

It is not an object.

It is also not responsible for performing human functions.

He is a living, sentient partner and an active participant in the experience .

Their presence, behavior, and movement make possible an interaction that no equipment could reproduce.

In some areas, its three-dimensional movement offers fundamental stimuli for interventions focused on rehabilitation, for example.

In others, their sensitivity to human responses fosters learning processes, skills development, self-regulation, communication, and personal growth.

In all cases, the animal participates in the intervention while preserving what it has always been: an equine.

It is precisely this authenticity that makes this partnership so valuable.

Why do we use the term "intervention equine"?

It is precisely because of this understanding that we have adopted the term intervention equine (Fine et al, 2024).

This terminology acknowledges that the animal plays a fundamental role in the experience, without assigning it responsibilities that do not belong to it and without reducing it to the status of an object.

It represents a more ethical, scientific, and respectful view of the relationship between people and horses.

At the same time, it reinforces the technical responsibility of professionals and highlights the need to ensure adequate conditions for handling, training, selection, rest, and well-being for each horse participating in Equine Assisted Services.

And you, how do you see this issue?

Share your thoughts in the comments. Exchanging experiences and different perspectives strengthens our community and contributes to the growth of Equine-Assisted Services.

Fine, A. H., Mueller, M., Ng, Z., Chastain Griffin, T., & Tedeschi, P. (Eds.). (2024). Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice (6th ed.). Academic Press.