I have heard that some Therapy Centres do use Horses and ponies to help heal.
The place I was at used to offer Riding once a week for 4 hours, they had an Old Police horse a Hannoveraner, and a Schleswiger Kaltblut (like a small Shire) both very soft natured and ideal for therapy
So I am not going to say I liked the bareback riding, I know how you f*ckers tick :p but well yeah it was one of the nicer days none the less.