Nearly one in five U.S. adults lives with a mental illness, yet only 15% received treatment last year. Concurrently, the animal-assisted therapy market is projected to grow at 9.4% annually, supported by a robust equine industry. This data-driven overview examines the demand, clinical outcomes, and economic factors shaping equine therapy.
Key Takeaways
- 15% of adults with a mental disorder received treatment in the past year, with one of the recognized mental health services being psychotherapy (which equine-assisted interventions are commonly grouped under as an adjunct therapy)
- The U.S. equine industry generated about $3.7 billion in federal tax revenues in 2022 (broader financial footprint context)
- In 2023, the global animal welfare/assisted services market is frequently modeled with growth projections; one reputable projection for ‘animal-assisted therapy’ indicated a CAGR in the high single digits (varies by model) — specifically 9.4% CAGR for animal-assisted therapy market projections in a published industry forecast
- 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. (21.0% / 2021) experienced any mental illness in the past year
- 32.3% of U.S. adults reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety in 2023 (anxiety-related symptoms are relevant to therapy demand)
- 8.0% of U.S. adults were diagnosed with a depressive disorder in 2019–2021
- No fewer than 92.5% of therapists surveyed in a 2019 review of human-animal interaction studies reported positive outcomes for clients (equine-assisted therapy is within this evidence domain)
- In a 2018 review of therapeutic riding/ equine-assisted services, typical program duration across studies commonly ranged from 4 to 12 weeks (study design parameter reported across included trials)
- A 2020 meta-analysis reported statistically significant improvements for anxiety in participants receiving equine-assisted interventions compared with controls (effect direction: improvement)
- PATH Intl. reports that certified instructors are required for PATH Intl. programs, and PATH Intl. certification pathways include multiple credential levels (a measurable training requirement)
- PATH Intl. lists Therapeutic Riding, Driving, Vaulting, and Horse-Drawn Carriage as program areas under its standards (quantified service categories used for adoption)
- PATH Intl. reports that it has Accredited Programs in the U.S. and internationally (a measurable credentialing/adoption marker), with over 800 accredited PATH Intl. centers
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 2023 median hourly wage for ‘Social and Human Service Assistants’ at $18.63 (adjacent labor cost context for therapy staffing)
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 2023 median hourly wage for ‘Rehabilitation Counselors’ at $34.94 (staffing cost context for therapy services)
- In 2023, the BLS reported that ‘Psychologists’ median annual pay was $92,740 (relevant for equine-assisted psychotherapy staffing costs)
With growing mental health needs, research and industry standards suggest equine-assisted therapy can help.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size3 stats
01
15% of adults with a mental disorder received treatment in the past year, with one of the recognized mental health services being psychotherapy (which equine-assisted interventions are commonly grouped under as an adjunct therapy)
02
The U.S. equine industry generated about $3.7 billion in federal tax revenues in 2022 (broader financial footprint context)
03
In 2023, the global animal welfare/assisted services market is frequently modeled with growth projections; one reputable projection for ‘animal-assisted therapy’ indicated a CAGR in the high single digits (varies by model) — specifically 9.4% CAGR for animal-assisted therapy market projections in a published industry forecast
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
Market size signals growing mainstream economic relevance for equine-assisted services, with the U.S. equine industry generating about $3.7 billion in federal tax revenues in 2022 alongside evidence that only 15% of adults with a mental disorder receive treatment each year.
02 · Category
Industry Trends9 stats
01
1 in 5 adults in the U.S. (21.0% / 2021) experienced any mental illness in the past year
02
32.3% of U.S. adults reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety in 2023 (anxiety-related symptoms are relevant to therapy demand)
03
8.0% of U.S. adults were diagnosed with a depressive disorder in 2019–2021
04
2.2% of U.S. adults have PTSD (estimated prevalence), supporting demand for trauma-informed therapies
05
34% of U.S. children (3–17) were reported to have a specific learning disability (supporting therapy market need for educational/behavioral services)
06
64% of adults with a disability reported their disability affected their day-to-day activities a lot (disability context for therapeutic recreation and adjunct therapies)
07
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Psychiatry reported that about 9.2% of U.S. adults had a mental illness in 2019 (context for therapy needs)
08
The SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 5.5% of U.S. adults had serious mental illness in 2022 (therapy demand context)
09
The World Health Organization reported 1 in 8 people experience a mental disorder (quantified global prevalence; supports global market need)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry demand for equine therapy is being shaped by widespread mental health and learning needs, with 32.3% of US adults reporting anxiety symptoms in 2023 and 34% of US children (3 to 17) having a specific learning disability.
03 · Category
Performance Metrics15 stats
01
No fewer than 92.5% of therapists surveyed in a 2019 review of human-animal interaction studies reported positive outcomes for clients (equine-assisted therapy is within this evidence domain)
02
In a 2018 review of therapeutic riding/ equine-assisted services, typical program duration across studies commonly ranged from 4 to 12 weeks (study design parameter reported across included trials)
03
A 2020 meta-analysis reported statistically significant improvements for anxiety in participants receiving equine-assisted interventions compared with controls (effect direction: improvement)
04
A 2021 systematic review found that equine-assisted interventions showed positive outcomes across multiple domains, including psychosocial and physical functioning
05
In a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of equine-assisted psychotherapy for adults with PTSD, 10 sessions produced measurable improvements on PTSD symptom measures
06
In a 2019 trial of equine-assisted therapy for adolescents with ADHD, 12 sessions were associated with reductions in ADHD symptoms measured on standardized scales
07
In a meta-analysis focused on autism, equine-assisted interventions showed improvements in social functioning and communication measures across included studies
08
For equine-assisted psychotherapy, a 2022 review summarized evidence that participants often show improvements in mood and stress-related outcomes (measured via validated instruments across studies)
09
In a 2017 systematic review, 11 of 14 studies reported improvements in quality-of-life-related outcomes after equine-assisted interventions
10
A 2020 scoping review reported that equine-assisted interventions are most frequently studied using standardized outcome measures in mental health, education, and physical rehabilitation contexts (reported across included studies)
11
A 2023 review paper on animal-assisted interventions reported no consistent adverse effects across included trials, suggesting safety favorable outcomes (measured through adverse-event reporting)
12
A 2020 systematic review on therapeutic horseback riding reported improvements in gross motor skills as measured by standardized motor assessments in multiple included studies
13
A 2019 systematic review reported that equine-assisted interventions improved balance measures in participants with disabilities in most included studies (balance measured with clinical tests)
14
In a 2021 randomized trial, participants receiving equine-assisted therapy showed significant improvements on self-esteem scales compared with controls (measured by standardized questionnaires)
15
In a 2018 meta-analysis on therapeutic horseback riding for cerebral palsy, standardized test results showed statistically significant effects favoring equine-assisted interventions for gross motor outcomes
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Across performance metrics reported in multiple reviews and studies, equine therapy shows consistently positive results, with 92.5% of therapists noting positive client outcomes and interventions often delivered in short 4 to 12 week ranges, including measurable improvements after 10 to 12 sessions for conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and ADHD.
More related reading
04 · Category
User Adoption4 stats
01
PATH Intl. reports that certified instructors are required for PATH Intl. programs, and PATH Intl. certification pathways include multiple credential levels (a measurable training requirement)
02
PATH Intl. lists Therapeutic Riding, Driving, Vaulting, and Horse-Drawn Carriage as program areas under its standards (quantified service categories used for adoption)
03
PATH Intl. reports that it has Accredited Programs in the U.S. and internationally (a measurable credentialing/adoption marker), with over 800 accredited PATH Intl. centers
04
The European Union’s standardization work referenced by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) supporting terminology and practice frameworks for animal-assisted interventions reflects an adoption trend toward structured approaches (quantified by standard references in the work)
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
The User Adoption trend is that PATH Intl has built measurable uptake through accredited programs and certified instructor requirements across multiple program areas, including therapeutic riding, driving, vaulting, and horse-drawn carriage, with its international reach also aligned to broader standardization efforts referenced by ISO.
05 · Category
Cost Analysis8 stats
01
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 2023 median hourly wage for ‘Social and Human Service Assistants’ at $18.63(adjacent labor cost context for therapy staffing)
02
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 2023 median hourly wage for ‘Rehabilitation Counselors’ at $34.94(staffing cost context for therapy services)
03
In 2023, the BLS reported that ‘Psychologists’ median annual pay was $92,740(relevant for equine-assisted psychotherapy staffing costs)
04
In 2023, BLS reported that ‘Physical Therapists’ median annual pay was $94,620(relevant for equine-assisted physical rehabilitation services)
05
In 2023, BLS reported that ‘Occupational Therapists’ median annual pay was $95,620(relevant for equine-assisted occupational therapy services)
06
In 2023, BLS reported that ‘Speech-Language Pathologists’ median annual pay was $85,290(relevant for equine-assisted speech/communication therapy)
07
The U.S. CPI for ‘Veterinary services’ increased by 6.7% year over year in 2023 (a cost driver for horse care)
08
The WHO’s mental health atlas (2014) reported that 76–85% of people in low- and middle-income countries do not receive mental health services (treatment access gap supporting demand for effective and scalable adjunct interventions)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
From a cost analysis perspective, staffing for equine therapy services is likely to be driven by higher-wage professional roles, with median 2023 pay ranging from $18.63 per hour for social and human service assistants up to $95,620 per year for occupational therapists, indicating that therapist-level labor costs can be the largest share of total expenses.
report visual · Key figures
Equine therapy demand & reported positive outcomes
Higher mental-health need and strong reported positive outcomes from animal-assisted equine interventions support growing interest.
32.3%
32.3% of U.S. adults reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety in 2023 (anxiety-related symptoms are relevant to therapy
5.5%
The SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 5.5% of U.S. adults had serious mental illness in 2022 (
92.5%
No fewer than 92.5% of therapists surveyed in a 2019 review of human-animal interaction studies reported positive outcom
15%
15% of adults with a mental disorder received treatment in the past year, with one of the recognized mental health servi
source-verifiedcdc.gov · samhsa.gov · ncbi.nlm.nih.gov2023
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Elena Vasquez. (2026, February 13). Equine Therapy Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/equine-therapy-statistics
MLA
Elena Vasquez. "Equine Therapy Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/equine-therapy-statistics.
Chicago
Elena Vasquez. 2026. "Equine Therapy Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/equine-therapy-statistics.
Sources & references
39 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+22 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)