Equine-Assisted Therapy Participation Consent Form

Equine-Assisted Therapy Participation Consent Form

Equine-assisted therapy programs combine the therapeutic benefits of working with horses with professional mental health treatment. Whether you run a therapeutic riding center, mental health practice, or specialty equine therapy program, clear participant consent is essential for safety and legal protection.

This equine-assisted therapy consent form template helps therapy providers document participant understanding of program requirements, safety protocols, and therapeutic objectives before beginning sessions. Built with Paperform, this template streamlines your intake process while ensuring you capture all necessary safety acknowledgments and medical information.

Who needs this form?

This consent form is designed for:

• Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) practitioners working with mental health clients
• Therapeutic riding centers offering physical and occupational therapy
• Mental health professionals incorporating horses into treatment plans
• Hippotherapy programs providing physical therapy through horseback riding
• Veterans' programs using equine therapy for PTSD and trauma recovery
• Youth counseling centers offering equine-assisted interventions

What makes this template essential?

Working with horses involves inherent risks that must be clearly communicated to participants. This form covers:

• Safety protocols including helmet requirements and proper attire
• Horse interaction guidelines for approaching, handling, and working around horses
• Dismount and emergency procedures in case of injury or accident
• Therapeutic objectives and treatment expectations
• Medical history relevant to horseback activities
• Liability acknowledgment and assumption of risk
• Photo and video release for program documentation
• Emergency contact information and authorization for treatment

Built for therapy providers, refined for compliance

This template uses conditional logic to adapt questions based on participant type (adult, minor, guardian) and therapy focus (mental health, physical therapy, or both). The clear, compassionate language respects the therapeutic nature of the work while ensuring legal protection.

You can customize the form to match your program's specific protocols, integrate it with Papersign (papersign.com) to collect legally binding eSignatures from participants and guardians, and use Stepper (stepper.io) to automatically create client records in your practice management software or send welcome packets after consent is received.

With Paperform's branded design options, your consent form can reflect your program's values while maintaining the professional standards required for therapeutic practice. Trusted by therapy providers worldwide, this template helps you focus on the transformative work with horses and clients—not paperwork.