Animal-Assisted Therapy: Riding, Dog Therapy and Coverage

Animal-assisted therapy combines touch and connection with a trained animal — a horse, a dog, and sometimes other animals — within a structured therapeutic process. The two most common forms in Israel are therapeutic riding (hippotherapy) and dog-assisted therapy, and they're used with different populations: children with disabilities, adults after neurological injury, and people coping with trauma or anxiety. Because this field combines physical rehabilitation with emotional support, its coverage question touches the health basket, shaban, and separate welfare frameworks alike — so it's worth understanding the map before you start. Families looking for an enriching, calming addition to an existing treatment routine, not only a response to a crisis, are also increasingly turning to this field.

Therapeutic riding and dog therapy — what they involve

Therapeutic riding (also called hippotherapy) uses the horse's movement and the connection with the animal to practice balance, body control, emotional regulation and communication, and in Israel it's offered mainly at dedicated centers and within rehabilitation frameworks. Dog-assisted therapy incorporates a trained dog into a therapeutic process with a child or adult, and is used in contexts such as autism spectrum disorders, trauma, anxiety, and rehabilitation after injury or hospitalization. In both cases, it's a structured treatment with goals defined in advance as part of a treatment plan — not just "time with an animal". Israel has no general statutory license for animal-assisted therapy practitioners, so there's no single official "license" to check; what actually matters for reimbursement is the therapist's base-profession license where applicable (for example a psychologist, social worker, or occupational therapist who also does animal-assisted work), together with recognized training in the field and recognition of the specific treatment and therapist by the funding body. It's important to distinguish this kind of structured therapeutic framework from leisure activity with animals: even if the latter is pleasant and beneficial, it usually doesn't qualify for reimbursement.

Who usually funds it

Funding for animal-assisted therapy is more scattered than for most other treatments covered on this site: sometimes it comes from welfare or special education budgets for children with disabilities, sometimes from the kupot's rehabilitation frameworks after a neurological event, and sometimes from mental health coverage in shaban or private insurance as a supportive treatment alongside psychotherapy. The public basket usually doesn't include therapeutic riding or dog therapy as a stand-alone, blanket entitlement for every insured person, so in most cases it's a specific eligibility based on diagnosis, age or framework (for example child development or rehabilitation). So the first step isn't to check "is this covered" in general, but which framework is relevant to your specific situation, and to check there. Some centers also work in partnership with non-profits or public bodies that help with partial funding for specific populations, such as children with disabilities or trauma survivors — so it's worth asking the specific center whether such an option exists, even if it isn't explicitly listed in your policy. Combining several partial funding sources — kupah, shaban and outside support — is sometimes what makes ongoing treatment financially sustainable over time.

What to check before you start

• Which framework fits your situation — special education, rehabilitation, mental health shaban, or a private service rider — and what the eligibility terms are there.
• Whether a referral or prior assessment from a doctor, psychologist or paramedical professional is required.
• Whether the center or therapist needs to be recognized by the funding body (kupah, insurer or government office).
• What the maximum number of sessions set is, and what your share of the cost is.
• What approvals and documents are needed to submit a request or reimbursement claim.

It's also worth remembering the field isn't uniform: one center may operate under a welfare framework, and another under a health framework — so it's worth checking directly with the specific center which body funds it and how to apply for participation.

What an actual therapy session looks like

A therapy session with a horse or a dog is usually built around goals defined in advance together with the therapist, and sometimes also with a referring doctor or psychologist. In therapeutic riding, the session may include preparing the horse, balance and movement exercises on horseback, and sometimes work from the ground as well. In dog-assisted therapy, the session can include structured play, touch and calming exercises, and sometimes tasks aimed at strengthening self-confidence and communication. The length of the process varies considerably depending on the goal and the patient's condition, so it's hard to give a general estimate — the lead therapist is the one who can build a personalized plan and timeline.

Questions worth asking before you start

Beyond the funding question, it's also worth checking practical aspects: whether the center is accessible in terms of distance and the frequency of visits required, whether there are prior health requirements (for example, allergy or animal-sensitivity checks), and what progress can realistically be expected within a reasonable timeframe. It's also worth asking the center whether it works in cooperation with other professionals (a physiotherapist, a psychologist) to make sure the treatment fits into the patient's overall care plan rather than operating in isolation.

Safety and accessibility considerations

When animals are involved, safety is a central consideration alongside insurance coverage. Recognized centers maintain clear safety procedures, match the animal to the specific patient (size, temperament, experience), and have a licensed professional present throughout the session. It's worth asking the center about the liability insurance it holds, and about its procedures in case of an unexpected event. In terms of physical accessibility, not every center is adapted for people with mobility disabilities, so it's worth checking in advance whether there are ramps, mounting aids for riding a horse, or other adaptations the specific patient needs. For children, many parents also check the framework in advance in terms of group size, therapist-to-patient ratio, and how individualized the treatment is. For adults, similar considerations apply, with the added question of availability at hours that suit someone who is still working or in an active rehabilitation process. Gathering all these questions into a single conversation with the center, before starting treatment, saves time and prevents misunderstandings later on. It's also worth asking the center for an example of a typical treatment plan structure, to get a realistic picture of the pace of progress and the expected number of sessions.

Alongside other complementary treatments

Animal-assisted therapy is sometimes used alongside art therapy or music therapy as part of a broader treatment plan for a child or adult, and sometimes alongside conventional mental health treatment. If several types of treatment are relevant to your case, it's worth checking with the referring body or lead therapist which of them fall under the same funding framework, so you can plan priorities and budget in advance. The clearer the overall picture is in advance, the easier it is to move forward with confidence and without financial surprises along the way, and to focus on what really matters — the therapeutic process itself.

How Ravit can help

The answers relevant to you are in the policy itself. Send Ravit your policy documents on WhatsApp, ask in plain language, and get an answer based on your policy with a reference to the relevant clause — and when there’s no certainty, Ravit says so honestly instead of guessing.

The information in this article is general only and does not constitute medical, insurance, legal, or pension advice, and is not a substitute for reading your policy terms or consulting a licensed professional. Coverage, amounts, and conditions vary between policies and change over time — always verify against your own specific policy and an authorized professional.