The Equine Assisted Services (EAS) sector in the UK is flourishing, offering therapeutic and life-enhancing services that use horses to support physical, psychological, and educational needs. However, as the sector grows, it has faced a significant gap in formal regulation and standardization, which led to the creation of the Equine Assisted Services Partnership (EASP). The EASP aims to unify service providers and offer reliable standards and information for clients and supporters of these services.
A central feature of the EASP’s approach is the Human Equine Interaction Register (HEIR), a resource that lists practitioners and organizations that meet established quality standards. Since 2021, EASP has worked closely with the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) to incorporate dedicated equine welfare guidelines into these standards. All registered EAS practitioners must adhere to these guidelines as part of their certification, providing assurance to grantmakers and service users about the quality and safety of their offerings.
This year, EASP has reaffirmed its commitment to setting high standards in the EAS sector, focusing on the welfare of equine partners and providing a safe, positive experience for both participants and horses. Moving forward, EASP’s partnership with NEWC will be instrumental as they work to establish themselves as the voice of the EAS sector, advocating for practitioners’ needs and engaging with policymakers to promote best practices.
For more information, visit easp.co.uk.
