How do I recognize when a therapeutic riding horse is showing signs of stress or burnout?

Recognizing the early signs of stress and burnout in a therapeutic riding horse is a critical welfare and safety responsibility, because a horse that is mentally depleted, physically uncomfortable, or emotionally disengaged from its work will eventually show that state in behavioral changes that affect session safety. The horses that do therapeutic riding work are often exceptionally tolerant animals who do not display stress through dramatic behaviors, which means their early stress signals are often subtle and easily missed. Changes in the horse's behavior during the routine activities that precede sessions — reluctance to be caught, tension during grooming or tacking, ear pinning when the girth is tightened, resistance to being led to the mounting area — are among the earliest and most reliable indicators of developing stress. A horse that has previously been cooperative and willing during these activities and begins to show resistance or reluctance is communicating something that warrants attention rather than correction. During sessions, a horse that is beginning to show stress may display increasingly frequent stress signals — tail wringing, ear pinning, frequent head tossing, shortened stride, or resistance to direction — that were previously absent or infrequent. Comparing the horse's current session behavior to its baseline behavior over time, through observation notes or video review, reveals developing trends that single-session observation might miss. A program that genuinely values its horses' welfare will establish clear protocols for removing horses from session work when stress indicators appear, providing rest and veterinary or behavioral consultation as appropriate, and returning horses to work only when those indicators have resolved.