AAHEP - Association for Animals, Horticultural & Equine Practitioners

The Accredited Practitioner Register recognises a range of professional Equine Assisted Services. These are practices where qualified professionals incorporate horses into therapy, learning, or personal development activities to enhance physical health, mental well-being, and life skills.

Practices on the Register may be:

• Clinical therapies delivered by medical or allied health professionals

• Mental health or counselling services incorporating horses

• Learning or personal development programs

All practitioners must provide proof of qualifications and training when registering. Activities are conducted ethically and safely, with the well-being of both horses and participants at the core.

Hippotherapy is a medical treatment that uses purposeful horse movement to activate sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems.

• Primarily ridden therapy.

• The horse’s walking motion mimics the human pelvis, improving balance, posture, and coordination.

• Delivered by physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists as part of a broader treatment plan.

Therapeutic Riding involves teaching horsemanship and riding skills to children or adults with special needs.

• Offers educational, recreational, and therapeutic value.

• May progress toward independent or competitive riding.

• In the UK, often delivered under Riding for the Disabled (RDA).

Equine Facilitated OT promotes health and well-being through the partnership of therapist, horse, and equine environment.

• Requires additional OT training to cover domains such as:

  • Hippotherapy

  • Riding for therapy or learning

  • Equestrian sports

  • Groundwork and environmental activities

• Combines therapeutic and experiential learning for functional outcomes.

• The Register expects that anyone applying or practicing Equine Assisted or Facilitated Occupational Therapy to initially hold a confirmed membership with the UK Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). 

Practitioners provide therapeutic services such as counselling for mental health support.

• Horse interactions enhance therapy, creating meaningful clinical outcomes.

• Typically one-to-one and ground-based.

• Focused on improving emotional well-being and mental health.

For more information on what to expect during a session, please see the Short Guide to Equine Facilitated Interaction Sessions.