Rant Alert!
Why It Matters to Check Qualifications in Equine-Assisted Services -and why those of us doing it right are tired of cleaning up the mess 😳
Equine-assisted services can be transformative—improving confidence, emotional regulation, boundaries, communication, and overall wellbeing. But like any professional field involving vulnerable people and large animals, it must be grounded in competence, ethics, and safety.
That’s why checking a provider’s qualifications, experience, insurance, and safeguarding standards is not optional it’s essential.
It’s also important to be aware that not all Equine assisted services and qualifications are the same.
For example, someone qualified to provide Equine assisted Learning sessions may not be qualified in Therapeutic Horse-riding - and vice versa.
1. Horses Are Not Props . They Are Powerful, Sensitive Animals
Working safely with horses requires significant hands-on skill. A properly trained equine-assisted professional understands herd behaviour, body language, risk management, welfare law, and how to maintain a safe learning environment.
Unqualified operators may not recognise early warning signs, or be aware of the contradictions putting clients and horses at risk.
2. Clients Deserve Evidence-Based, Ethical Support
Good equine-assisted work is not guesswork. It’s grounded in psychology, coaching principles, learning theory, and ethical frameworks.
Professionals invest heavily in training, accreditation, ongoing CPD, supervision, first aid, and safeguarding.
If someone cannot clearly articulate their training pathway, code of ethics, and insurance cover, that’s a big red flag.
3. Insurance and Professional Standards Protect Everyone
Anyone offering sessions (paid or not) must have:
👍 Accreditation in the service they are offering
👍 Public Liability Insurance
👍Professional Indemnity Insurance
👍 Equine-specific coverage
👍 Safeguarding training and Garda vetting (where relevant)
👍 Clear risk assessments and welfare policies
These aren’t bureaucratic boxes to tick. They are the safety net for clients, horses, and the reputation of the entire sector.
4. A Frustrating Reality: Those Doing It Right and with Integrity Often Pick Up the Pieces
Across Ireland (and beyond), qualified, accredited equine-assisted service providers regularly encounter clients who arrive saying:
😏 It was just a pony ride
😏 I tried this somewhere else and it felt unsafe.
😒The person working with us didn’t know much about horses.
😏 There were no consent forms or safety checks.”
😳 They said it was therapy, but the provider had no qualifications.
Ethical providers—those of us who invest thousands of hours and thousands of euros into training, insurance, facilities, welfare standards, CPD, and supervision—feel a growing sense of frustration.
We work with integrity, follow best practice, and prioritise safety… and yet they often find ourselves trying to repair trust that someone else has damaged.
5. The Sector Deserves Better
Equine-assisted services change lives when done professionally.
But the work is only as safe as the ethics and competence of the person facilitating it.
So before booking a session—for yourself, your child, or your organisation—ask these simple questions:
❓What qualifications do you hold, and who accredited them?
❓Are you insured to deliver equine-assisted work specifically?
❓How many years of hands-on experience do you have with horses?
❓ What safeguarding and first-aid training do you and your helpers have?
❓Can I see your risk assessments and welfare policies?
❓How do you maintain professional boundaries?
❓Do you work with supervision or ongoing CPD?
Professional providers will welcome these questions.
Those who are evasive are already telling you everything you need to know.
In Summary
The integrity of equine-assisted services depends on rigorous standards.
Qualified providers train hard, invest heavily, and hold ourselves accountable.
We deserve recognition—and clients deserve the safety and professionalism that comes with choosing people who do things the right way.
Because when the work is done with competence, care, and respect—for the client and the horse—the results are extraordinary. 😊
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Rant Alert!
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