What Are the Names of the Top Equine Therapy Programs in the United States?
Equine therapy has become an increasingly respected and sought-after treatment approach for individuals coping with trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety, and a wide range of behavioral health challenges.
If you’re asking, what are the names of the top equine therapy programs in the United States, you’re not alone. Many families, clinicians, and individuals are looking for programs that pair evidence-based treatment with the healing power of horses.
In this blog, Expert Team Names will explore some of the most highly regarded equine therapy programs in the country, along with the features that make them stand out. We’ll also answer common questions and provide insights to help you or a loved one find the right therapeutic fit.
The Top Equine Therapy Programs in the U.S.
While there are many quality programs across the country, a handful consistently rise to the top due to their clinical excellence, credentialed staff, reputation, and holistic approach to mental health treatment. Here are several of the top-rated equine therapy programs in the United States:
1. The Ranch Tennessee (Nunnelly, TN)
The Ranch Tennessee is well-known for its integrative behavioral health services, particularly for trauma, addiction, and mood disorders. Their equine therapy program is a core part of the experience, blending natural horsemanship principles with clinical treatment plans.
Licensed therapists work directly with clients and horses in real-time, fostering emotional regulation, self-awareness, and deep healing.
2. Sierra Tucson (Tucson, AZ)
Sierra Tucson is a luxury behavioral health facility offering a wide range of therapies, including equine-assisted therapy through its Equine Therapy Lodge. Their model combines relational equine therapy and trauma-informed care, providing individualized treatment plans that support adults struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use.
3. Cirque Lodge (Sundance, UT)
Located in the mountains of Utah, Cirque Lodge offers a world-class setting for recovery. Their equine therapy program is incorporated into the overall addiction treatment model, helping individuals learn to build trust, confidence, and communication skills.
With an emphasis on experiential therapy, Cirque Lodge is often chosen by those seeking private and effective care.
4. Miraval Arizona (Tucson, AZ)
Miraval offers equine experiences that are more wellness-oriented but still rooted in therapeutic principles. Their “Equine Experience” is designed by therapist Wyatt Webb and is aimed at improving emotional awareness and interpersonal boundaries.
It’s particularly beneficial for those seeking personal development or complementary therapies alongside traditional mental health support.
5. Skyterra Wellness (Lake Toxaway, NC)
This wellness retreat includes equine therapy as part of its broader emotional health programming. Skyterra is ideal for adults dealing with stress, burnout, or trauma who prefer a retreat-style atmosphere over a clinical inpatient setting.
Their certified equine specialists focus on mindfulness, trust-building, and personal empowerment.
6. HopeWay (Charlotte, NC)
HopeWay’s equine-assisted psychotherapy is an integrated part of their residential and outpatient programs. Their work with horses complements other evidence-based modalities such as DBT, CBT, and trauma-focused care.
Clients with mood disorders, trauma histories, and co-occurring conditions find their equine program to be especially grounding and transformative.
7. The Meadows (Wickenburg, AZ)
One of the most respected names in trauma treatment, The Meadows offers equine therapy as part of its extensive holistic offerings.
Whether in their inpatient, intensive outpatient, or specialty programs, equine work is utilized to help clients access core emotional issues, regulate their nervous systems, and build connection.
8. Ingrained Recovery (Eastman, GA)
Ingrained Recovery offers a transformative journey to lasting wellness. The Eastman Georgia center specializes in equine-assisted therapy, pairing clients with gentle, intuitive horses to unlock emotional insight, build trust, and strengthen resilience.
Ingrained Recovery’s compassionate team blends evidence-based practices with the healing power of equine partnerships, fostering personal growth in a serene, supportive setting.
9. Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) Network Programs
EAGALA is not a single facility but rather a model practiced across numerous programs nationwide. Their structured, ground-based approach to equine therapy is practiced by credentialed therapists and equine specialists trained in the EAGALA Model.
Clients can search for EAGALA-certified programs in their region, ensuring a consistent, professional approach.
10. Harmony Foundation (Estes Park, CO)
Harmony Foundation, located in the Rocky Mountains, provides addiction treatment with equine therapy as part of its experiential offerings. Their approach encourages self-exploration, relationship repair, and emotional resilience, particularly for individuals healing from substance use and trauma.
What Makes a Great Equine Therapy Program?
Understanding what are the names of the top equine therapy programs in the United States is only part of the journey. It’s equally important to know what to look for when evaluating a program. High-quality equine therapy programs typically include the following:
Licensed and Experienced Staff
Effective equine therapy must be facilitated by licensed therapists who specialize in behavioral health. Many programs also use equine specialists trained in models like EAGALA or PATH International.
Integration with Clinical Treatment
Equine therapy should not stand alone—it must be embedded within a larger treatment model that includes therapy modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), EMDR, and trauma-informed care.
Clear Treatment Goals
Whether the focus is on emotional regulation, communication, trauma resolution, or addiction recovery, good programs set clear goals for their equine sessions. This ensures therapeutic outcomes are measurable and meaningful.
Ethical Care for Horses
Reputable equine therapy programs treat their horses with compassion and respect. Horses are not tools—they are sentient partners in the healing process. Look for programs that prioritize the mental and physical health of their horses just as much as their human clients.
Who Benefits Most from Equine Therapy?
Equine therapy is versatile and beneficial for a wide range of individuals. It’s particularly effective for those dealing with:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Substance use disorders
- Depression and anxiety
- Attachment and relationship issues
- Grief and loss
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Behavioral issues in adolescents
In particular, veterans, first responders, and trauma survivors often find equine therapy to be a transformative part of their healing process.
How Do Horses Help Heal Emotional Wounds?
Understanding the healing power of horses helps explain why equine therapy has become so prominent in behavioral health. Horses are highly intuitive animals that respond to human emotions in real-time.
Because they are prey animals, they rely on body language, energy, and emotional cues to navigate their environment. This makes them incredibly sensitive to the emotional states of the people working with them.
In a therapeutic setting, this means horses act like mirrors—reflecting back the feelings a person may not be fully aware of. A horse may respond to anxiety by becoming distant or agitated, prompting the individual to pause, regulate, and engage differently.
These interactions create space for clients to practice emotional self-regulation, assertiveness, boundary-setting, and non-verbal communication in a safe and grounded environment.
Can Couples Attend Equine Therapy Together?
Yes, some programs offer an equine program that accept couples together, although this is less common than individual formats. These programs are particularly valuable for couples in recovery from addiction or trauma, as the shared work with horses can reveal communication dynamics, trust issues, and patterns that need healing.
Working with horses together allows couples to develop empathy, patience, and deeper relational insight in a non-verbal, embodied way. If you’re looking for couples-specific equine therapy, it’s important to contact programs directly to confirm they offer it, as many are primarily designed for individuals or group therapy formats.
Common Questions About Equine Therapy Programs
Is Equine Therapy Covered by Insurance?
While equine therapy is a powerful modality, it is not always reimbursed by insurance directly. However, if the therapy is part of a broader residential or outpatient treatment program, the overall services may be covered under mental health benefits. It’s best to contact your provider and the program directly to determine eligibility.
Is Riding Involved in Equine Therapy?
Not always. Many equine therapy sessions are ground-based, meaning clients do not ride the horses. The focus is on building connection through grooming, leading, and observing behavior. Groundwork is often considered safer and more accessible, particularly for clients with trauma.
How Long Do Equine Therapy Programs Last?
Duration varies widely depending on the program type. Residential programs may include equine therapy as a weekly or bi-weekly part of a 30–90-day stay. Outpatient and retreat-style programs might offer equine sessions over the course of several weeks or months.
Are There Age Limits?
Equine therapy can be adapted for children, adolescents, adults, and seniors. Some programs specialize in youth mental health, while others are geared toward adults or specific populations such as veterans or women in recovery.
Start Your Journey to Recovery with Equine Therapy
If you’re exploring what are the names of the top equine therapy programs in the United States, the list above provides a starting point rooted in clinical quality and reputational trust. The right program for you or your loved one will depend on personal goals, diagnosis, preferences, and readiness to engage in healing.
Equine therapy offers a profound, non-verbal path to growth that combines the best of nature, neuroscience, and compassionate care. Whether you are seeking trauma resolution, addiction recovery, emotional regulation, or relationship repair, the horse-human connection may offer the very transformation you’re looking for.
