Inspired by the Greek goddess of caring and kindness, the ATHENA® Herd Foundation is our commitment to a life lived in harmony with nature—a place for people and animals to learn, heal, and be heard.
ATHENA® is more than just the training and education brand of AAHEP; it's the result of a journey—ATHENA® builds the practitioner, AAHEP holds the profession—a heartfelt quest for a more harmonious way of life for people and animals alike. Our story is one of transformation, inspired by nature, built on a foundation of kindness and the highest of standards and best practice.
It all began in 2014 with our founders, Jennifer and Brent. A growing sense of disillusionment with the well-being of their horses on traditional livery yards sparked a desire for change. They knew there had to be an alternative—a way of life that would not only improve the health and happiness of their horses but also enrich their own lives and the lives of all their animals. This was a search for true sanctuary.
Their quest led them to a 16th-century farmhouse nestled in Paddock Wood, Kent. With its commutable distance to London, it offered a practical escape, but it was the land that captured their hearts. Seventeen acres of established hedgerows, mature trees, natural water sources, and native wildflowers offered a wealth of natural benefits. It was the perfect canvas on which to build their dream: a peaceful, tranquil lifestyle where they could spend quality time as a family, surrounded by nature and animals living in harmony.
It was here, amidst the quiet beauty of the Kentish countryside, that the philosophy of ATHENA® truly took root. The name was chosen to honour the Greek goddess Athena, a powerful symbol of caring, wisdom, and kindness—values that sit at the core of our mission. In a moment of beautiful serendipity, shortly after moving to the farm, they welcomed two new horses, both from a mare coincidentally named Athena. It felt like a sign, affirming their path forward.
This "back to basics" approach became our guiding principle. We began to explore how people and animals could not just coexist, but truly thrive together in partnership with the natural environment. Today, ATHENA® the training and education brand of the Association for Animals, Horticultural & Equine Practitioners CIC (AAHEP) proudly holds the Registered Trademark for ATHENA® in the UK, EU, and Australia, a mark of our unique and principled training approach.
What started as a personal journey quickly grew into something much larger. The success and resonance of the ATHENA® philosophy led to exponential growth, and in 2021, the ATHENA® Herd Foundation CIC was officially launched.
This evolution allowed us to expand our mission and formalise our work:
ATHENA® the brand that builds practitioners has been, and always will be, a labour of love. It has evolved by observing, listening, and learning from every member—both human and equine—that has been part of our story. We remain committed to our founding vision: to be a natural place to learn and be heard.
As the ATHENA® Herd Foundation grew, so did our responsibilities. What began as a philosophy for harmonious living evolved into something much larger—a recognised body and independent voice championing safe, ethical and evidence-informed practice giving the public confidence.
In 2025, we took an important step forward by establishing the Association for Animals, Horticultural & Equine Practitioners (AAHEP) as our formal regulatory identity. This change reflects our expanded role as the UK's first organisation to achieve Professional Standards Authority (PSA) accreditation for maintaining a register of practitioners in Animal Assisted Therapy, Equine Assisted Services, and Horticultural Therapy.
Why the change?
The separation allows us to clearly distinguish between two vital but different functions:
AAHEP serves as the independent regulatory body—setting professional standards, maintaining the accredited practitioner register, protecting the public, and ensuring practitioners meet rigorous requirements for education, training, and ethical practice.
ATHENA® continues as a trading name of AAHEP, delivering what we've always done best: deliver externally accredited training programmes, community-based equine assisted services, and our work with local charities and those who need support most.
This structure ensures that professional regulation remains independent from training delivery—a requirement for maintaining public trust and our PSA accreditation.
Our values haven't changed. Our commitment to kindness, nature, and the wellbeing of people and animals remains at the heart of everything we do. We've simply grown into an Association that can better serve both the public and the practitioners who share our vision.
Community Impact: We deepened our commitment to social benefit by developing community-funded projects. We actively partner with local charities and community interest groups, securing funding to make our therapeutic work accessible to those who need it most.
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