When ethical conflicts arise, practitioners should address them responsibly. Ethical compliance applies both to service user interactions and professional conduct more broadly.

Benefit

Practitioners must always act in the best interests of those they work with, staying within the limits of their competence, training, and experience. This includes:

• Receiving regular supervision to improve service quality.
• Committing to ongoing professional development.
• Recognising that clients may be dependent on carers or guardians.

Do No Harm

Practitioners must avoid causing harm — physically, emotionally, socially, or otherwise. They must guard against personal, financial, organisational, or political factors that could lead to exploitation or misuse of influence. If unfit to practise, they must not offer services.

In Equine Assisted Services, this principle extends further:

• Maintaining the physical safety of clients at all times.
• Ensuring the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of horses, and monitoring the impact of sessions on them.
• Intervening if a horse shows signs of distress.
• Challenging malpractice or incompetence in others, whether related to clients or horses.

Trust and Integrity

Practitioners must build relationships based on trust, acting with honesty and integrity at all times. They must maintain confidentiality and share information only when appropriate or legally required.

Fairness

Practitioners must ensure fairness and justice for all, avoiding bias and unjust practices. Everyone should have equal access to, and quality of, EFI services.

Fairness also applies to horses — practitioners must not overwork or make unreasonable demands on them, and must respect their age, health, and ability. Horses should be allowed to opt out of interactions where possible.

Respect

People's Rights and Dignity

Respect every individual's dignity, privacy, confidentiality, and autonomy. Gain informed consent from clients or their legal representatives, and clearly communicate service details, safety agreements, and confidentiality terms.

People's Needs and Relationships

Acknowledge the emotional, psychological, social, and familial needs of clients. Involve significant others in decision-making where appropriate.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Follow the Equality Act (2010) and the Register's EDI statement at all times.

Horses' Rights, Welfare, Needs, and Relationships

Respect the horses' welfare both in daily care and during client sessions. Within safe boundaries, give horses agency in the process — allowing them to choose participation and recognising their "voice." This fosters authenticity and meaningful learning.

The Register's Framework for the Ethical Treatment of Horses defines these standards in full.

Self-Respect and Development

Practitioners must apply these ethical principles to themselves, respecting their own needs, knowledge, and growth. This includes:

• Committing to ongoing learning and professional development.
• Engaging in regular supervision.
• Maintaining adequate insurance coverage at all times.