AHPR Calls for Registration for all Equine Practitioners

An organisation has highlighted the importance of all qualified animal health practitioners belonging to a register following an increase in unqualified therapists offering treatment

The Animal Health Professions’ Register (AHPR) is urging the industry to devise a universal register that all qualified animal health practitioners must belong to in order to practise. This issue was raised by qualified animal health paraprofessionals after becoming aware of therapy centres and individuals prescribing treatments or remedial exercise programmes for animals without holding appropriate qualifications, experience, nor having a veterinary referral to carry out such treatments.

The musculoskeletal therapy disciplines covered include animal or veterinary physiotherapy, chiropractic and manipulation, animal sports therapy and massage, and animal hydrotherapy.  Any treatment should be carried out by a qualified professional, following a veterinary referral, and with veterinary permission or the knowledge of the consulting vet.

Qualified practitioners and vets share the same worries about the impact of unqualified treatments on patient safety and welfare as well as that of the owners who are paying for treatment by an unqualified person. At the very least these treatments may be ineffective and therefore a waste of money. At worst, they may be detrimental to health, wellbeing and welfare.

Sarah Keith is an AHPR board member and herself holds an MSc in veterinary physiotherapy from Harper Adams University. Sarah said: “There are examples of practitioners in both small animal and equine therapy, performing veterinary physiotherapy treatments or prescribing remedial exercise programmes without holding the appropriate qualifications nor having a veterinary referral.  We feel it is not appropriate for someone to offer any kind of remedial exercise unless they have the appropriate qualifications.

Sarah adds that at present, the title “veterinary physiotherapist” isn’t protected in law, and so anyone is able to use this, or a variation of it, to refer to themselves regardless of their qualifications.

At present there is no legal requirement for a person to be on one of the two voluntary registers, be this AHPR or Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP), and it’s believed across the industry that belonging to either shows a great deal of accountability from registrants who want to see industry standards raised.

It should be noted that the same can be applied to other equestrian professionals who may provide services without needing to hold specific qualifications such as for barefoot trimming and remedial work, or equine dentists.

At LiveryList, we strongly advise to request the credentials and insurance of any third-party services being provided at your yard, either arranged by yourself, or by your livery clients. This ensures that anyone treating to attending to equines on a yard hold the necessary qualifications, where necessary, and the correct level of experience and professional insurance to prevent the likelihood of such services leading to any problems down the line such as further damage or injury to equines. Ideally all yard owners should be asking for copies of qualifications and insurances for anyone carrying out such services, for their own peace of mind.

For more information about the Animal Health Professions’ Register visit: www.ahpr.org.uk