Our principles
- The horse's welfare and best interests come first in every appointment.
- Members treat every horse with patience, respect and understanding, working calmly and never with force.
- Members work only with the informed consent of the owner or their authorised agent, and explain what a visit involves beforehand.
- Members assess each horse and its environment for safety before starting, and do not proceed where it is unsafe for the horse, the handler or themselves.
- Members recognise signs of pain, fear or distress, stop if a horse becomes unduly distressed, and never continue anything that is causing harm.
- Members do not use restraint, equipment or sedation outside their scope of practice. Sedation is a veterinary act.
- Members respect the horse's dignity and keep the environment calm and low-stress throughout.
- Any suspected abnormality, injury or welfare concern is raised with the owner, who is advised to seek a veterinary referral. Members never diagnose.
- Members act responsibly and within the law where they have a genuine welfare concern.
Any breach of this policy is taken seriously and may lead to review of, and removal from, the Federation register.