Eligibility for membership of the Register depends on holding appropriate qualifications and/or successful completion of the Certificate of Proficiency, alongside providing the required documentation. In addition, applicants must commit to the ethical care and treatment of animals, as defined [here].

This commitment is taken very seriously, and the Register reserves the right to undertake a pre-registration site visit for applicants where it is deemed necessary and appropriate.

When Site Visits Are Conducted

For individual practitioners, site visits may be arranged if something in the standard application process—such as a review of website or social media presence—suggests the ethical standards of the Register are not being upheld, or if other information comes to light indicating:

• Horses are not being kept in healthy conditions (e.g., poor field conditions, filthy stables)

• Concerns about physical health, such as poor hoof care or visible issues

• Horses are deprived of equine company

• Evidence of horses being made to work while showing signs of ill-health or injury

This list is indicative, not exhaustive.

The Register will also conduct site visits for organisations or “centres” with multiple practitioners seeking registration, where horses are clearly working regularly and on a larger scale.

Where viable, site visits may be conducted virtually, limited to one hour. Virtual visits also form part of the annual membership audit process.

The Register may visit a practitioner’s or organisation’s site at any time where there is a justifiable reason, with at least 48 hours’ notice given.

What the Process Covers

Site visits will assess:

• The physical health of the horses

• Indoor living areas for the horses

• Covered barn areas and/or turnout spaces, and their frequency of use

• Track systems or similar environments where a herd may live full-time

• Feed storage and preparation areas

• Medical diaries or records pertaining to equine care

• Public and private spaces used during interactions

Details of the assessments are available in the site visit framework

 document.