How to Get Equine Therapy Funded in Your NDIS Plan

You may already feel that equine-assisted therapy could help you or someone you care for. The harder part is knowing how to explain that need to the NDIA without becoming overwhelmed by reports, budgets and unfamiliar terms.

A common question is: Will the NDIS pay for equine therapy?

It may, but funding is not automatic. The support must be structured equine-assisted therapy delivered by a qualified health professional. It must also relate to your disability, align with your NDIS plan, represent value for money and meet the applicable pricing requirements.

The most important thing to understand is that NDIS funding follows your disability-related needs and goals. It does not follow the name of a particular service.

That means your request should clearly show:

• What difficulty you experience because of your disability
• Which NDIS goal you are working towards
• How the therapy may help you build or maintain functional skills
• Why a qualified professional recommends this approach
• How your progress will be reviewed

Before working through the steps below, you may also find it helpful to read Is Equine Therapy Covered by the NDIS?. It explains the difference between potentially fundable equine-assisted therapy and general horse-based activities.

 

Step 1: How to Get Equine Therapy on the NDIS by Linking It to a Goal

Your first step is to connect the therapy to a goal in your NDIS plan.

The goal does not necessarily need to say “equine-assisted therapy”. In most cases, it is better for the goal to describe the outcome you want to work towards rather than one specific service.

For example, a participant’s goals may include:

• Improving communication and social interaction
• Building emotional regulation strategies
• Becoming more confident in unfamiliar environments
• Developing functional or daily-living skills
• Increasing independence in the community
• Managing disability-related anxiety
• Building coordination, attention or body awareness

A goal might say:

“I want to build strategies to manage my emotions so I can feel more confident participating in everyday activities.”

Another example could be:

“I want to improve my communication and social skills so I can build relationships and take part in my community.”

The therapist’s recommendation would then explain how equine-assisted therapy may help the participant work towards that broader goal.

Avoid relying only on statements such as “I enjoy being around horses” or “the sessions make me feel good”. These experiences can still matter, but the NDIA will need to understand the connection to your disability and functional needs.

NDIS supports must help participants work towards their goals and meet the reasonable and necessary criteria. The NDIA considers the information and evidence provided before deciding which supports can be funded.

 

Step 2: NDIS Equine Therapy Funding and the Right Budget

Equine-assisted therapy will generally need to fit within an appropriate therapy budget.

For many participants, this may be within Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living, provided they have funding available in this category and the service meets the NDIS requirements for therapy.

The NDIS describes Improved Daily Living as funding for supports such as assessments, training and therapies that help build living skills, independence and community participation.

The NDIS animal-assisted therapy guidance also says participants may be able to use their therapeutic support funding when animal-assisted therapy meets the relevant criteria.

Before booking, check:

• Whether your plan includes Improved Daily Living funding
• Whether the funding is flexible or stated for a particular support
• How much funding remains
• Whether the proposed therapy supports your plan goals
• Which support item the provider intends to use
• Whether the fee meets the applicable pricing requirements

Capacity Building categories are generally stated. This means funding assigned to one Capacity Building category cannot automatically be moved into another category.

Does your plan management type matter?

Your management type affects which providers you can use and how invoices are paid.

Self-managed funding

You or your plan nominee manage payments and records. You can usually choose either registered or unregistered providers.

Plan-managed funding

Your plan manager processes invoices and keeps payment records. You can also usually choose registered or unregistered providers.

NDIA-managed funding

The provider must be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

Being self-managed or plan-managed offers more provider choice, but it does not make every service fundable. The therapy must still be an NDIS support, align with your plan and be delivered by an appropriately qualified professional.

 

Step 3: Build Evidence for Your Equine Therapy NDIS Plan

A clear report can help the NDIA understand why the therapy is being recommended.

The report should usually come from a treating health professional or allied health practitioner who understands your disability, functional needs and goals.

Depending on your circumstances, helpful evidence may explain:

• How your disability affects everyday life
• The goals you are working towards
• The therapy being recommended
• Why the approach is suitable for your needs
• The professional who will deliver it
• The intended outcomes
• The proposed frequency and duration
• How progress will be measured
• Other supports or approaches that have been considered
• Why the recommendation represents value for money

The report should focus on functional outcomes rather than simply describing the activity.

For example, instead of saying:

“Equine-assisted therapy would be enjoyable and calming.”

A stronger explanation may be:

“Structured sessions delivered by a qualified psychologist are recommended to help the participant develop emotional regulation strategies related to their disability. Progress will be reviewed against their ability to apply these strategies in everyday settings.”

This wording does not guarantee funding. It simply gives the NDIA clearer information about the need, professional approach and expected outcome.

Current NDIS guidance says reports may include the therapeutic approach, frequency and duration of supports, the participant’s goals, intended outcomes and evidence of progress. Reports can also recommend supports that may be needed in the future.

 

Step 4: Choose a Qualified Equine-Assisted Therapy Provider

The provider you choose matters.

Under NDIS guidance, animal-assisted therapy must be planned and delivered by a trained and qualified health professional. The animal is used as a tool within professional therapy rather than being the therapy itself.

Ask the provider about:

• Their recognised allied health profession
• Their professional registration or accreditation
• Their experience supporting people with needs similar to yours
• Their approach to goal setting and treatment planning
• How they measure and report progress
• Their professional indemnity and public liability insurance
• Their NDIS registration, where required
• The support item that will appear on invoices
• The full cost of sessions, reports, travel and cancellations

A professional may be an occupational therapist, psychologist, counsellor or another appropriately qualified practitioner, depending on the participant’s needs and the therapy being delivered.

Qualifications related to horses can support safe practice, but they do not replace the health qualifications needed to provide therapy.

For a practical checklist, read Questions to Ask an Equine Therapy Provider Before You Book.

 

Step 5: Talk to Your Support Coordinator

Trying to interpret your plan alone can feel stressful, especially when you are worried about using the wrong budget or choosing an unsuitable provider.

A support coordinator can help you:

• Understand your available budgets
• Connect the therapy to your goals
• Review the provider’s qualifications
• Check the proposed support item and pricing
• Gather reports and supporting information
• Prepare for a plan reassessment
• Ask the NDIA for clarification where needed

The NDIS describes a support coordinator as someone who helps participants understand and use their plans, choose providers and build confidence managing their supports.

At Selective Support, our focus is helping participants and families understand their options, make informed decisions and feel more confident using their plans.

We cannot guarantee that the NDIA will fund a particular support. We can, however, help you identify the right questions, review the information available and prepare a clearer request.

 

How to Raise Equine Therapy at Your Next Plan Review

A plan reassessment is an opportunity to explain what support you need and why your current funding may not fully meet your disability-related needs.

Before the meeting, gather:

• Your current NDIS goals
• A recommendation from your treating professional
• An assessment of your functional needs
• The proposed provider’s qualifications
• A service proposal or quotation
• The recommended frequency and duration
• Information about expected outcomes
• Evidence from any previous therapies or supports

During the discussion, focus on your needs and intended outcomes.

You might say:

“Because of my disability, I experience difficulty with [functional impact]. My goal is to [plan goal]. My treating professional recommends equine-assisted therapy delivered by a qualified [profession] to help me develop [specific skills].”

You can then explain how often the therapy is recommended, how progress will be measured and why the approach may be suitable.

The NDIA advises participants to provide new information and evidence when preparing for a plan reassessment. This can include assessments or reports showing how current services are supporting their goals and recommendations for supports they may need in the future.

When a participant’s needs have changed or their current plan no longer meets those needs, a plan reassessment may be considered. A support coordinator or recovery coach can also help the participant prepare.

 

NDIS Equine Therapy Funding FAQs

1. Which NDIS budget pays for equine therapy?

It may be funded through Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living when you have suitable therapy funding and the support meets NDIS criteria. Check the exact budget and any stated restrictions in your plan.

2. Do I need a report or assessment?

The NDIA may require evidence showing why the therapy relates to your disability and goals. A report from a treating health professional can clearly explain your needs, the recommendation and the expected outcomes.

3. Can I use self-managed funds?

You may be able to use self-managed funding when the therapy is an NDIS support and aligns with your plan. You can usually use a registered or unregistered provider, but the person delivering therapy must still hold appropriate professional qualifications.

4. What if equine-assisted therapy is not in my current plan?

Speak with your support coordinator or my NDIS contact. You may need to gather evidence and raise the request during a plan reassessment, particularly if your current funding does not meet your disability-related needs.

 

Take the Next Step With Greater Clarity

You do not need to have every form, budget and support item worked out before asking for help.

Start with the outcome you want to achieve. Then connect that outcome to your NDIS goals, gather professional evidence and check that the provider and available funding are suitable.

You can also explore our information about NDIS equine therapy in Melbourne before discussing your options with your support team.

Want help mapping equine therapy to your plan goals? Book a free chat.