The Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International AISBL

What The Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International AISBL does

The Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International AISBL (HETI) is a Belgium-domiciled international non-profit association (AISBL) founded with its flagship journal in 1994 and currently operating with a 6-employee staff and a volunteer leadership structure. Its mission is to facilitate worldwide collaboration between organizations and individuals whose objectives are philanthropic, scientific, and educational in the field of Equine-Assisted Services (EAS), spanning therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, equine-assisted psychotherapy, equine-assisted learning, and adaptive riding. HETI serves a global membership spanning 40+ countries, coordinated through regional networks in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, and the Balkan Region, plus country-specific forums such as the HETI(UK) Forum.

HETI's core product surface is content- and community-oriented rather than technology-oriented. The HETI Journal: International Research and Practice has been published annually since 1994 with double-blind peer review, covering original research, reviews, clinical cases, and theory/practice papers on EAS. The organization also operates the HETI Store (an e-commerce storefront for journals, books, webinars, and merchandise), the Global Gallop online magazine, a Member Directory with an interactive global map, educational webinars priced at €20 each, and a livestream platform called HETI Live. Standard-setting assets include ethical guidelines, EAS sector maps/terminology, and a national standards repository. The annual International Congress and International EAS Day (29 July) serve as flagship community events.

The business model is a membership-based association model with diversified micro-transactions. Member benefits include free journal access; non-members purchase individual journal articles (€0–€10), webinars (€20 each), and journal hard copies (€25). The HETI Store serves as the e-commerce distribution channel, and a Development Fund supports mission-based funding. The organization also accepts donations. HETI has no proprietary technology stack, no AI/ML capabilities, no funding rounds, and no parent company; it is member-governed under an Executive Committee and Wisdom Board, with Alexandra Stergiou serving as Vice President since June 2021 and as Editor-in-Chief of the HETI Journal.

Name

The Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International AISBL

Legal name

The Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International AISBL

Website

https://hetifederation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HETI Federation is a Belgium-domiciled international non-profit association (AISBL) that facilitates worldwide collaboration in Equine-Assisted Services, serving EAS practitioners, organizations, and researchers across 40+ countries through its peer-reviewed journal, member directory, regional networks, conferences, and standards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association / Equine-Assisted Services Federation

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• Equine-assisted services
• Therapeutic riding
• Professional federation
• Membership association
• Animal-assisted therapy

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

HETI Federation is an international non-profit membership association that facilitates worldwide collaboration among individuals and organizations in the Equine-Assisted Services (EAS) field. Its core offerings include the peer-reviewed HETI Journal, educational webinars, an e-commerce store for publications, regional practitioner networks, ethical guidelines, and the annual International Congress event. The federation operates across more than 40 countries and serves both individual practitioners (therapeutic riding instructors, hippotherapy therapists, equine-assisted psychotherapy practitioners) and EAS organizations/centers.

Product overview

HETI Federation operates as a membership-based international organization offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services for the Equine-Assisted Services (EAS) field. The core offerings include the HETI Journal (annual peer-reviewed publication), the HETI Store (e-commerce platform for publications, books, webinars, and merchandise), educational webinars, Global Gallop magazine, and a member directory with interactive global map. Supporting services include international congress events, International EAS Day celebrations, regional networks and forums (Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, Balkan Region), ethical guidelines, terminology resources, national standards documentation, and membership plans providing access to all resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HETI Journal: International Research and Practice: Official annual peer-reviewed journal of HETI Federation publishing original articles, reviews, study protocols, clinical cases, and theory and practice on Equine Assisted Services since 1994.
• HETI Networks
• International EAS Day
• Global Gallop
• HETI Live
• European Equine Assisted Therapy Network (EEATN)
• HETI Store

Products and services

• HETI Journal: International Research and Practice Official annual peer-reviewed journal of HETI Federation publishing original articles, reviews, study protocols, clinical cases, and theory and practice papers on Equine-Assisted Services. Available free to HETI members; non-members can purchase individual articles or hard copies via the HETI Store. Volume 24 (2025) and Volume 25 (2026) are available.
• HETI Store E-commerce storefront at store.hetifederation.org offering EAS books, publications, webinars, journals, and merchandise for Equine-Assisted Services professionals and members. Individual articles are priced from €0.00 to €10.00, webinars at €20.00 each, and hard copies of the HETI Journal from €25.00.
• HETI Webinars Educational webinars designed to share a rich tapestry of EAS practices and perspectives from experts worldwide, covering topics such as EAS in wartime, benefits of equine-assisted services, research outcomes, and therapeutic techniques. Priced at €20.00 per webinar.
• Global Gallop Magazine HETI's online publication featuring exciting updates and stories from members worldwide.
• Membership Plans Individual and organizational membership options providing access to the HETI Journal, webinars, resources, networking opportunities, and member directory access. Membership benefits include free journal access and inclusion in the global member community.
• International Congress Annual international congress event bringing together EAS professionals, researchers, and organizations for collaboration and knowledge exchange.
• International EAS Day
• Ethical Guidelines Document providing a moral compass for professional practice and for the welfare of equines in Equine-Assisted Services.

Quantifiable outcome

• The HETI Journal publishes annually with double-blind peer review, covering topics such as therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, mental health, equine-assisted learning, education and training, and risk and safety.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO): Global umbrella for organizations involved in human-animal interaction, including animal-assisted therapy. Overlaps with HETI at the international federation level and shares individual and organizational members (e.g., TheKidsFellows is an IAHAIO member).
• Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF): US-based foundation funding EAS research and co-hosting the 2026 HHRF/HETI/CZU Prague symposium. Operates in the same research and standards space as HETI and competes for academic visibility, journal contributions, and research-aligned donations.
• PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship): The largest US-based national association for therapeutic horsemanship and equine-assisted services, operating certification, education, and an annual conference. Directly comparable as both are membership-driven professional federations focused on EAS practitioner standards, education, and credentialing.
• Equine International: US-based nonprofit focused on equine behavior, welfare, and equine-human interactions; Emily Kieson, HETI Journal Associate Editor, is its Executive Director. Compares on research, education, and outreach missions within the EAS ecosystem and shares editorial personnel.
• European Equine Assisted Therapy Network (EEATN): European network established in April 2019 under HETI's auspices to connect therapists across countries and support national association development. Functions as both a HETI sub-brand and a regional peer in the international EAS association landscape.

Regional players

• Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA UK): UK national charity providing therapy, education, and learning opportunities through horses. Comparable in mission, member-base overlap, and federation-like structure, but operates primarily within the UK and also delivers direct EAS services.

Others

• International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA): Global federation of national horse racing authorities, providing a directly comparable international federation structure within the broader equine industry. Distinct in mission (racing governance vs. therapy), but informative as a model for international equine-sector association operations.
• World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT): International federation representing occupational therapy associations worldwide. Comparable as the umbrella professional federation model — governance, congresses, and standards work — that HETI replicates at smaller scale within the niche of Equine-Assisted Services.

Emerging players

• American Hippotherapy Association: US-based organization promoting hippotherapy as a treatment tool. Overlaps with HETI on hippotherapy practitioner standards and educational content, but is narrowly focused on the hippotherapy sub-discipline rather than the broader EAS category.
• International Society for Equitation Science (ISES): Global nonprofit advancing equitation science through research and education. Overlaps with HETI on equine behavior and welfare research, and shares editorial relationships (e.g., HETI Journal Associate Editor Inês Pereira de Figueiredo is an ISES academic member).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hetifederation
• Facebookfacebook.com/HETIFederation
• Instagraminstagram.com/hetifederation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heti-federation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International AISBL