Code of Ethics & Values Statement

Code of Ethics

I. Professional Responsibility

  1. Hold paramount the safety and health of people and animals in the performance of professional duties. Exercise the obligation to advise clients, students, employers, employees, bystanders, and appropriate authorities of danger and unavoidable risks.
  2. Maintain honesty, fairness, impartiality, and act with responsibility and integrity. Avoid all conduct or practice that is likely to discredit the profession or deceive the public.
  3. Accept responsibility to maintain and continue one’s professional development and competence.
  4. Offer services only within the scope of one’s practice, competence, education, training, and expertise.
  5. Avoid actions that falsify or misrepresent one’s professional qualifications.
  6. Abide by all country/federal and state/province laws and act, when necessary, as a mandated reporter.
  7. Adhere to the highest standards of practice and ethics of one’s own professional field of mental health and/or education, as well as those of the equine interaction professional organization to which the certification holder belongs.
  8. Abide by this Code of Ethics and all other codes of ethics and standards related to the certification holder’s practice by discussing suspected ethical concerns with the individuals involved and taking appropriate action.

II. Professional Integrity and Accountability

  1. Act in a manner free of bias including, but not limited to, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.
  2. Avoid dual relationships with clients or former clients to avoid the risk of potential exploitation or harm. In situations where dual relationships are unavoidable, the certification holder is responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and sensitive boundaries. Sexual involvement with a client or former client is inappropriate and unethical.
  3. Promote change in the lives of participants only related to the issue(s) the certification holder is charged with, and/or promote general learning and growth. Clients will not be pressed to adopt beliefs and behaviors that reflect the certification holder’s value system rather than their own.
  4. Communicate truthfully about risk factors, expectations, and limitations (either perceived or otherwise) to clients and/or client’s legal guardian(s).
  5. Respect the privacy and confidentiality of all client information in accordance with legal and ethical standards. Information will be shared with staff and/or volunteers only with the permission of the client and/or client’s legal guardian(s).

III. Equine Welfare and Partnership

  1. Acknowledge and respond to the necessity of responsible care for equine partners, recognizing the unique character, psychology, physiology, behavior, and nature of the equine.
  2. Provide safe, clean, and comfortable facilities and equipment for equines, ensuring proper nutrition, healthcare, and social opportunities consistent with their natural needs.
  3. Monitor equine workload, rest, and overall physical and emotional health to prevent overuse or burnout. Adjust or remove equines from sessions when signs of distress, fatigue, or pain may be evident.
  4. Ensure that all equines involved in sessions are properly prepared and well-suited (both physically and emotionally) for the specific populations they serve.
  5. Act as an advocate for the equine’s voice and well-being in all professional interactions.
  6. Encourage awareness within ourselves and others of being congruent with our energy and sensitive to how that affects the equine.
  7. Maintain ongoing engagement in current and emerging research related to equine health, welfare, and care practices.
  8. Establish and carry out a structured retirement plan for each equine partner when they can no longer perform their duties comfortably, ensuring a smooth transition and quality care throughout their retirement.
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Values Statement

The following are the major values endorsed by the Certification Board for Equine Professionals (CBEIP). These values statements outline the responsibilities and standards which those certified by CBEIP are expected to endorse and uphold.

Note: Items are not listed in order of importance – all are equally valued.

Equine Welfare: Horses and humans are interacting in learning and therapeutic programs that facilitate healthy human-animal bonds to improve relationships, mental health and overall wellbeing. It is expected that such interactions will take place in a compassionate way that supports and respects the welfare and safety considerations of both human and horse.

Professional Standards: Those certified should maintain professional standards by staying up to date on most current methods and science through continuing education. It is expected that those endorsed by CEIP continue in good standing within their individual professional role, along with adhering to the CEIP overall Code of Ethics.

Responsibility: The certified equine professional has the obligation to behave in a professional and ethical manner, accountable for their actions and behaviours, at all times. The safety of all involved is part of that responsibility. The certified professional has a duty to give greatest consideration to their clients and equine partners, and to ensure that others also respect those persons and animals.

Integrity: It is expected that all will work to improve internal organizational integrity and empower integrity among our members by:

  1. Always seeking to improve the standards and processes of our certifications.
  2. Providing clear and effective support both during certification preparation and to certified members so that “pre- and post-certified” members continue to become industry leaders who uphold sound ethical standards and excellence in practice.  

Connection: Connection will be enhanced by:

(i) Developing and strengthening a community network within the CEIP that provides all members the ability to be actively connected to the organization (and its mission) and to other individual members.

(ii) Enhancing the network of human and equine/animal interaction services by developing intentional relationships with targeted organizations and institutes that are relevant to educational and mental health services, such as education and mental health associations , universities, and liability insurance companies.