‘Now is the time’: hopes new standards will benefit ‘unregulated’ equine therapy industry
The Equine Assisted Services Partnership has launched a new scope of practice requirement and professional standards for its members.
The development of new professional standards for equine-assisted therapy providers has been described as an “important moment” for the industry.
In 2022 H&H reported the launch of the Human Equine Interaction Register (HEIR); a voluntary pilot register formed by a working party that included organisations such as HorseBack UK, the Riding for the Disabled Association, and Hartpury College, to help provide governance to therapy providers.
Following the pilot, The Equine Assisted Services Partnership (EASP) – a community interest company – was established in 2024 to move the work forward and establish a membership body for UK equine-assisted therapy providers, now with 100 members.
Last month EASP launched a new scope of practice requirement and professional standards that therapy providers must meet to become a member and be listed on the HEIR. This includes setting out the services they provide, how those services are delivered and the people they serve – as well as evidence of good equine welfare and the effect of the therapy on the equine partner.
“Our stated aim was to be a standards-based, membership-led organisation and the standards launched cements that approach,” Anna Collins, EASP membership and marketing co-ordinator told H&H.
“Over the years there have been many heated debates about who does what and whose model is best. Now, through collaboration, there is agreement and consistency. We hope that this will evolve into a common understanding about the different terms that are used such as equine-assisted therapy, learning, physical therapies and other interventions.”
RDA UK chief executive and EASP director Michael Bishop said: “RDA UK is proud to be part of EASP, working with partners to strengthen and champion the sector, and plays a significant role through its national network of RDA groups and centres.
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“The introduction of these new standards is an important moment, helping to strengthen recognition, credibility and professionalism, and ensuring individuals and organisations meet clear standards for safe and effective practice. As equine-assisted services gain wider understanding and acceptance, the standards provide a benchmark for quality as the sector continues to grow and establish itself as a trusted field of practice.”
HorseWorld is an EASP member and chief executive Jo Coombs told H&H she is "really pleased” to see the scope of practice and professional standards. The charity was among those to feed into the development of these.
“We are working in an area that’s currently unregulated; it would take one safeguarding issue for the whole equine-assisted industry to come under pressure and that would be disastrous,” she said.
“The other thing is that we want everything we do to genuinely have an impact and to prove it does. That’s why standards should be set so high.
“In HorseWorld’s case, we are an equine-assisted learning provider rather than therapy; so the education-based standards are quite high and that puts a barrier to stop organisations from cropping up and just start practising without the training and experience needed.”
In May HorseWorld spoke out on the Government’s education white paper, setting out reforms to schools and plans to support young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND; news, 7 May). At the time Ms Coombs discussed the need for the equine-assisted learning industry to be “championed” for the impact it can have on children.
“One of the key things that came out of the white paper was the need to recognise that alternative learning providers can complement mainstream education,” she said.
“That’s why I’m very supportive of EASP’s work because SEND education is under the spotlight and we have to get the standards for equine-assisted learning right, and now is the time.”
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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.