AAHEP - Association for Animals, Horticultural & Equine Practitioners

The Accredited Practitioner Register™ (Register) was established to create and maintain professional ethics and standards that prioritise the health and wellbeing of clients and the public, protecting them from harm or injury in the field of Equine Assisted Services and extended in 2025 to include Animal Assisted Services as well as Horticultural Therapy. The Register not only sets standards of practice but also protects public interest by providing a safe process for service users and clients to raise concerns or complaints about services.

The Accredited Practitioner Register Governing Board

The day-to-day management and oversight of the Register is the responsibility of the Accredited Practitioner Register Governing Board, which provides operational direction over the registration process, the Register’s codes, and standards.

The full terms of reference for the Governing Board can be viewed here.

The minutes of the Advisory Board are published online.

The Professional Conduct Review Committee acts on behalf of the Register to ensure fair and consistent treatment of any complaints received about registrants.

Membership

The Governing Board is made up of a minimum of five members. Jennifer Geach and Graeme Green represent AAHEP, with the remaining members being lay members.

Current membership of the Advisory Board can be viewed [here].

Lay members are appointed based on relevant experience, background, and skills in Equine Assisted Services, Animal Assisted Services, Horticultural Therapy as well as professional practice in wellbeing, mental health, counselling, and psychotherapeutic fields.

Application for Lay Membership

Applications for membership of the Governing Board are invited from marketplace practitioners and are considered based on individual competencies, skills, and experience, as positions become available through board growth or retirements.

Each appointment is for a two-year term, with the possibility of reappointment for an additional two years.

The Register is seeking lay members to support post-accreditation growth and development, with a commitment to diverse and inclusive representation from the Equine Assisted Services, Animal Assisted Services and Horticultural Therapy communities. Specific roles will be posted online as they arise. Practitioners interested in board involvement should email [email protected] for more information.