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Equine Therapy Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Catapult

Equine Manager

Cary, NC · On-site

About CORRAL CORRAL is a faith-motivated nonprofit that provides adolescent girls in high-risk situations a holistic program of equine therapy and education so they may gain access to a bright future.

Acadia Healthcare

PRN Equine Therapist

Ocklawaha, FL · On-site

$28/hr

Position Overview The Equine Therapist plays a central role in supporting clients through their ... Maintain documentation of therapy services provided to each patient, according to facility and ...

Acadia Healthcare

PRN Equine Therapist

Ocklawaha, FL · On-site

$28/hr

Position Overview The Equine Therapist plays a central role in supporting clients through their ... Maintain documentation of therapy services provided to each patient, according to facility and ...

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Equine Therapy information

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$35.5K

$63.9K

$112K

How much do equine therapy jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for equine therapy in the United States is $63,943.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,000.00 and $69,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is equine therapy?

Equine therapy, also known as equine-assisted therapy or horse therapy, is a form of therapy that involves interactions between patients and horses to promote emotional growth and healing. This therapy can help individuals with physical, emotional, and developmental challenges by improving confidence, communication, and trust. Sessions are often led by licensed therapists and trained equine specialists who guide activities such as grooming, feeding, or riding horses. Equine therapy is used for a variety of conditions, including anxiety, PTSD, autism, and behavioral issues. Research shows that the bond formed with horses can be powerful in facilitating personal growth and emotional well-being.

What is an equine therapy job?

Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) is a form of mental health treatment in which the patient engages with horses and donkeys, providing grooming and training as a means of processing emotions and identifying problematic behavior patterns. Equine therapy is an effective mode of treatment for many people, in which the therapist guides the patient through various activities with the animal to help reinforce positive communication and develop the patient’s assertiveness, self-awareness, and empathy. Many therapy programs also help children and adults develop life skills such as teamwork and collaboration, personal responsibility, leadership, and proactive planning. Certified equine therapy instructors work in therapeutic riding centers, with veterans’ programs, and in conjunction with other therapeutic programs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an equine therapist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Equine Therapist, you need a background in psychology, counseling, or social work, along with specialized training or certification in equine-assisted therapy methods. Familiarity with therapy frameworks, equine behavior, and safety protocols, as well as certifications like EAGALA or PATH Intl., is typically required. Compassion, patience, strong communication, and the ability to build rapport with both clients and horses are crucial soft skills in this role. These skills ensure effective, safe therapeutic interventions that support clients’ mental and emotional well-being through interactions with horses.

What are some common challenges equine therapists face when working with clients and horses?

Equine therapists often encounter challenges such as building trust between clients and horses, especially if clients have little experience with animals or are dealing with emotional trauma. Safety is always a priority, so therapists must continuously assess both the client's and the horse's comfort and behavior. Additionally, maintaining clear communication with other healthcare professionals and adjusting therapy plans to meet each client's unique needs are important aspects of the role. These challenges require patience, strong observation skills, and ongoing collaboration with the therapy team.

What is the difference between Equine Therapy vs Equine-Assisted Activities Specialist?

AspectEquine TherapyEquine-Assisted Activities Specialist
CredentialsLicensed mental health or healthcare professionals with specialized equine therapy trainingTypically requires certification in equine-assisted activities, but not necessarily licensed healthcare credentials
Work EnvironmentTherapy settings, clinics, hospitals, or private practicesEquine facilities, community programs, or recreational settings
Industry UsageUsed in mental health, physical therapy, and rehabilitationFocuses on recreational, educational, or team-building activities involving horses

Equine Therapy involves licensed healthcare professionals providing therapeutic interventions using horses to address mental or physical health issues. In contrast, Equine-Assisted Activities Specialists focus on recreational or educational activities with horses, often without clinical therapy components. Both roles work with horses and share some training, but their primary goals and credentials differ.

What can you do with an equine therapy degree?

An equine therapy degree prepares individuals to work as equine therapy practitioners, using horses to assist clients with mental health, physical, or emotional challenges. Graduates can work in clinics, rehabilitation centers, or private practice, often requiring certification or licensing depending on the region. The role involves skills in animal handling, therapy techniques, and client interaction, with a focus on therapeutic outcomes.

What degree is needed for equine therapy?

Equine therapy practitioners typically hold a bachelor's degree in fields such as psychology, social work, counseling, or equine science. Additional certifications in equine-assisted therapy or mental health are often required or preferred to work effectively with clients. Experience with horses and strong interpersonal skills are also important for this role.
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What states have the most Equine Therapy jobs?

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Equine Therapy jobs near you
Infographic showing various Equine Therapy job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% As Needed, 59% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $63,943 per year, or $30.7 per hour.

Equine Manager

Catapult

Cary, NC • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Re-posted 20 days ago

Job description

At Catapult, we are supporting our member, CORRAL, in their search for an Equine Manager at their Cary, NC Farm. This is a full-time, onsite role, and will be required to work on Saturdays.
About CORRAL
CORRAL is a faith-motivated nonprofit that provides adolescent girls in high-risk situations a holistic program of equine therapy and education so they may gain access to a bright future. Our participants may be "high-risk" due to socioeconomic status, trauma such as neglect, abuse, or, more frequently, a combination of these situations. CORRAL is intended as a long-term intervention for the participants, requiring a minimum of one year's commitment from each girl upon enrollment. Our staff provides intensely personal and high contact programming that includes only the uppermost standards of literacy and academic tutoring, vocational training, and equine-assisted therapy programs.
Description of Role
CORRAL is looking for an experienced, full-time Equine Manager who is passionate about working with historically marginalized and underserved youth by building healthy relationships with CORRAL horses that are trained in natural horsemanship. The Equine Manager is responsible for horse care and training to meet the needs of the program participants in riding and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy sessions. The Equine Manager supports the diverse participants of CORRAL Riding Academy and is committed to lessening the stigma surrounding mental health issues in BIPOC youth; creating equitable spaces for youth to be seen, heard, challenged, and understood is a must. Additionally, the Equine Manager will lead the Equine and Facilities Volunteer Teams to provide a safe barn, arena, and fields for the horses and programming.
Programming Hours are Tuesday-Thursday 11am until 7pm and on Friday and Saturday 9am until 5pm. A typical work week is Tuesday through Saturday. Summer Hours may shift to Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm. Approximately 40% of these hours involve direct service hours and being outside in varying weather conditions. This role is responsible for the health and well-being of our equine herd, so emergency attention outside of programming hours will be necessary periodically. IMPORTANT: Please do not apply if you are not available to work on Saturdays.
This position will report directly to the Program Director. The CORRAL team is big on collaboration, so you must have the ability to demonstrate positive team interactions with other staff members. Outcomes and documentation are important, so you are able to complete the paperwork and analyses that help CORRAL hone its programs.
Key Outcomes
  • Equine line items will be within budget
  • All horses will hit targeted body score, depending on health needs
  • All horses will have individualized training plans based on time in the program and desired training level
  • All girls will have individualized lesson plans that has them passing skills each week, culminating in advancing one riding level every 12 months

Responsibilities
Lead Instructor/Equine Specialist
  • Leads equine component of the Riding Academy
    • Coordinates with the Programming Team to monitor the progress of each participant; designs equine lesson plans to meet riding and therapeutic needs; creates the daily/weekly equine schedule for the program
    • Prepares lesson plans daily for each rider to meet program goals
  • Plans horse-related activities on and off the farm including horse shows
  • Coach volunteers to participate in sessions and produce program deliverables

Champion Management
  • Ensures champions understand the "why" of CORRAL
  • Promotes teamwork and collaboration among CORRAL instructors
    • Assist volunteer instructors with horse and rider challenges and concerns
    • Provides training for Equine Volunteers
    • Coaches volunteers to ensure that they are thoroughly prepared for sessions
  • Leads the Equine Team which:
    • Maintains barn, tack, feed, horse related supplies, and equipment
    • Oversees the feeding schedule
    • Addresses care routines of horses (deworm, vaccine, feet)
    • Procure necessary items for herd health
  • Coordinates with staff and volunteer to complete farm work through Community workdays
  • Onboards and promotes an inclusive environment for volunteers
  • Update Salesforce with interactions with champions as needed

Herd Management
  • Manages the health and well-being of the herd (wellness, soundness, nutrition, forage)
    • Establishes and maintains daily/weekly/monthly care routines for horses
    • Handles routine and emergency vet occurrences and resulting ongoing treatment plan(s)
    • Organize and maintain tack, feed, horse-related supplies, and equipment
    • Plans and arranges the training of CORRAL horses
  • Handles all equine related donations
  • Trains horse volunteers for the horses feeding, training, and care of CORRAL horses

Farm Management
  • Oversees the management of the barn, farm, and pastures
  • Maintains the cleanliness, organization, safety, and working conditions of all CORRAL horse facilities Coordinates with staff to utilize the Volunteers, girls, interns, and working students to address needs for facilities
  • Performs weekly farm walk-throughs
    • Barn, barn area, and arena: make sure the barn is organized and items out of place are put away, check the tack room, check supplies, and make the space orderly
    • Pastures: check for down fences, posts, wires, or unsafe conditions; assess forage for rotation, seeding, fertilizing, completing soil samples, and other pasture management needs

Minimum Qualifications
  • Experience in Natural Horsemanship
  • Advanced or professional riding experience in any discipline
  • At least an Associate's Degree in a Human Services related field, or at least one (1) year of Human Service experience working with CORRAL's population
  • High level of organizational skills
  • Experience with farm, barn, and pasture management
  • Excellent social and personal skills
  • Ability to stand for prolonged periods of time, fitness level to work with multiple horses daily and work outside

Preferred Qualifications
  • Training & Certificate in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
  • Experience in starting horses
  • Experience teaching riding lessons

Salary/Benefits
This is a direct, on the ground, full-time salaried role. CORRAL offers a competitive benefits package including employer contributions to health, vision, and dental benefit plans; the ability to contribute to a Flexible Spending Account (FSA); and employer-paid life insurance, long-term disability coverage, and an employee assistance program, available after 60 days. CORRAL observes 13 paid Holidays per year and offers a competitive PTO policy.
Diversity Statement
CORRAL aims to serve girls in the highest risk situations in our community. Among those risk factors is the pervasive influence of systemic racism and discrimination. As members of a marginalized population, these youth are statistically more likely to have negative health, academic and economic outcomes. Understanding this context, CORRAL bears the same responsibility to heal the trauma our girls have experienced due to systemic racism and other forms of exclusion just as much as more commonly understood forms of trauma i.e., physical or emotional abuse.
EOE

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