The Association for Animals, Horticultural & Equine Practitioners (AAHEP) is the first and currently only UK National Register accrediting practitioners working across animal-assisted, horticultural, and equine-assisted and/or facilitated activities.
The Accredited Practitioner Register was originally established under the Athena Herd Foundation CIC.
In 2025, the Accredited Practitioner Register was formally transferred to AAHEP to clearly separate the professional standards and practitioner regulation functions from Athena's training and education activities.
AAHEP is a UK wide national professional association contributing to national standards by representing, supporting, promoting, and giving voice to the growing community across animal and nature-based practitioners.
AAHEP believes in the profound connection between people, animals and the environment. Our members bring these elements together through professional, ethical and evidence-informed practice to support emotional health, resilience, learning, and recovery.
AAHEP exists to:
AAHEP is a formally recognised Association registered with Companies House in the UK, established to represent and uphold the collective interests of practitioners.
This structure provides independence transparency, accountability, public safety and confidence — aligning with the expectations placed on professional membership bodies and trade organisations.
Integrity – We hold ourselves and our members to the highest professional and ethical standards.
Connection – We honour the interdependence of people, animals, and nature.
Growth – We believe in lifelong learning and reflective practice.
Community – We work collaboratively to strengthen our profession and its public understanding.
To be the recognised voice for UK based practitioners working with animals, horticulture & equines — shaping a future where nature-based practices are valued, understood, and accessible to all who need them.
The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) oversees professional regulators and accredited registers across the UK.
The PSA’s Accredited Registers Programme was established by the UK Government to ensure that organisations holding practitioner registers meet high standards of governance, quality assurance, and public protection — even when those professions are
not subject to statutory regulation.
Being part of the Accredited Registers Programme means the register operates under robust, independently assessed standards. These include areas such as governance, complaints handling, education and training, and ethical frameworks — ensuring that the public can have confidence in practitioners listed on the register.
AAHEP’s Accredited Practitioner Register (originally established under the Athena Herd Foundation CIC) has been developed in line with these PSA standards.
