About ACPEA

Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Equine Activities (ACPEA) is a self-governing network who are active in providing education and support for its members.

Our Mission

The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Equine Activities is a professional body which is proactive in empowering its members by facilitating learning and development opportunities, supporting innovation and sharing best practice.

We provide high quality evidence-based physiotherapy, working with equines to assist in the treatment and intervention for people affected by illness, injury and disability.

A young girl riding a horse, reaching out to grab a plush toy held by a woman wearing a mask and riding helmet. They are outdoors, with a wooden fence and houses in the background.

Call for Research Collaborators

We are in the early stages of developing a research proposal for submission to the Scoliosis Support & Research (SSR) Research Grants Programme.

The proposed study aims to investigate the relationship between scoliosis, rider biomechanics and weight distribution on the horse, with the longer-term goal of improving understanding of horse–rider interaction and informing future assessment and rehabilitation strategies.

We are currently bringing together a multidisciplinary team and would welcome expressions of interest from ACPEA members who may be interested in contributing to the development of the project.

In particular, we would be keen to hear from physiotherapists with experience or expertise in:

  • Clinical management of scoliosis

  • Rider biomechanics and equestrian performance

  • Research design and methodology

  • Grant writing

  • Statistics and data analysis

  • Academic or university research collaborations

To strengthen the proposed research we would welcome collaboration with a university research department to provide support with research governance, ethics and grant development. If you have experience of working within a university setting or would be interested in exploring a collaborative role, we would be delighted to hear from you.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop a clinically relevant research project within equine assissted physiotherapy, and we would welcome anyone who feels they could contribute their expertise during the planning and application stages.

The role of the Executive Committee is to support members in their training and professional development, to promote ACPEA Physiotherapists both in the UK and Internationally.