A professional audit framework for riding schools, equestrian centers, training academies, stables, event organizations, and therapy riding centers, based on quality management, health & safety, environmental management, horse welfare, and international equestrian best practices.
ISO 9001 – ISO 45001 – ISO 14001 + International Equestrian Best Practices
The IFEDI™ Equestrian Institutions Audit & Certification Standard evaluates equestrian organizations according to operational excellence, rider safety, horse welfare, environmental responsibility, and continuous improvement.
Inspired by ISO 9001 principles, the audit reviews documentation, management systems, responsibilities, procedures, records, and continuous improvement.
Inspired by ISO 45001 principles, the audit evaluates rider protection, emergency preparedness, instructor competence, PPE, risk controls, and incident management.
Inspired by ISO 14001 principles, the audit checks waste management, manure control, water use, chemical storage, energy practices, drainage, and sustainability.
Focus on clean water, feeding programs, veterinary supervision, workload monitoring, stable quality, hoof care, saddle fitting, and humane treatment.
Reviews daily inspections, pre-riding checks, rider/horse allocation, visitor control, emergency communication, lesson supervision, and fatigue management.
Encourages internal audits, corrective actions, management review, feedback analysis, incident investigations, and improvement plans.
The IFEDI™ Equestrian Audit Checklist is a professional internal assessment tool used to guide institutions through documentation, safety, welfare, operational, environmental, and continuous improvement requirements. It is not published publicly. Institutions receive the checklist after submitting an audit request, allowing IFEDI™ to understand the institution’s scope, activities, and certification objectives before sharing the appropriate audit preparation documents.
The checklist is part of the professional audit preparation process and is shared only with institutions that formally request an IFEDI™ audit service.
It helps institutions assess their readiness across horse welfare, rider safety, documentation, staff competence, environmental practices, infrastructure, and operational controls.
After the audit request is received, IFEDI™ reviews the institution profile and sends the appropriate checklist and preparation guidance.
The checklist is structured to support a serious and evidence-based audit preparation process. It helps the institution review the following areas before the official audit:
The process includes application, institutional profile review, private checklist delivery, self-audit, scoring, gap analysis when required, pre-audit validation, physical audit, certification decision, and surveillance audits.
The institution submits its audit request, legal documents, scope of activities, number of horses, riders/students, staff, existing certifications, accident history, and environmental compliance records.
IFEDI™ reviews the request to understand the institution’s profile, activities, audit scope, certification objectives, and operational context.
After the request is reviewed, the institution receives the IFEDI™ audit preparation checklist and guidance documents to begin the internal preparation process.
The institution conducts an internal self-assessment using the IFEDI™ checklist to evaluate maturity, identify gaps, prepare for certification, and improve readiness.
The self-audit score determines whether the organization is eligible, eligible with minor improvements, conditional, or requires a mandatory accompaniment program.
If not eligible, IFEDI™ provides gap analysis, root cause analysis, risk assessment, action plan, coaching, documentation support, safety implementation, and improvement guidance.
Before the physical audit, IFEDI™ reviews evidence, performs remote verification, validates corrective action closure, and plans the audit.
Includes opening meeting, site inspection, riding session observation, horse welfare inspection, staff interviews, documentation review, emergency drill verification, and closing meeting.
Possible outcomes include Certified, Certified with Observations, Suspended, or Rejected depending on compliance level, findings, and critical non-conformities.
Surveillance audits are conducted every 12 months, renewal audits every 3 years, and special audits may be triggered in case of incident or complaint.
IFEDI™ uses a clear scoring and eligibility system to determine readiness for certification audit and required improvement actions.
| Score | Status | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| 90% – 100% | Excellent | Eligible for Certification Audit |
| 80% – 89% | Good | Eligible with Minor Improvements |
| 70% – 79% | Conditional | Gap Analysis Required |
| Below 70% | Not Eligible | Mandatory Accompaniment Program |
Even with a high score, an organization may become not eligible if critical risks are identified.
Some audit areas have minimum thresholds because they directly affect horse welfare, rider safety, environmental responsibility, documentation, and training quality.
85%
Mandatory minimum requirement.
85%
Mandatory minimum requirement.
70%
Minimum compliance requirement.
70%
Minimum compliance requirement.
75%
Minimum competence requirement.
0 = Non compliant
5 = Best practice
Audit findings are classified based on risk level, impact, repetition, and urgency.
Isolated issue with no immediate safety risk. Requires correction but does not normally block certification.
Systemic failure, repeated issue, or important missing control requiring corrective action and follow-up.
Horse abuse, severe safety danger, environmental disaster risk, illegal operation, or fraudulent records. Critical NC means immediate audit failure.
IFEDI™ auditors are carefully selected to ensure professionalism, credibility, impartiality, and international expertise in the evaluation and certification of equestrian institutions, riding schools, academies, training centers, clubs, horse facilities, and equestrian organizations.
IFEDI™ auditors are qualified according to internationally recognized auditing principles, management system standards, and equestrian operational best practices.
In equestrian-related audits, auditors are expected to understand horse welfare, stable management, rider protection, emergency preparedness, and international equestrian best practices.
IFEDI™ auditors typically possess strong academic backgrounds, advanced professional experience, and expertise in quality, engineering, safety, education, or organizational management.
IFEDI™ Lead Auditors and Senior Lead Auditors may hold internationally recognized certifications and multidisciplinary qualifications supporting credible, impartial, and evidence-based evaluation.
IFEDI™ certification levels help institutions communicate their level of maturity, compliance, and operational excellence.
Basic compliance level for institutions meeting core requirements.
Good management system with structured operational control.
High operational maturity and strong quality practices.
International excellence level for advanced institutions.
After the audit, the organization receives clear documents and recommendations to support certification, improvement, and professional recognition.
Detailed institutional audit report with findings, evidence, strengths, and improvement points.
Clear score by audit section to understand performance and eligibility.
Provided when needed to identify gaps and improvement priorities.
Structured actions to close non-conformities and improve readiness.
Certified, Certified with Observations, Suspended, or Rejected.
Practical guidance for continuous improvement and long-term excellence.
The IFEDI™ audit philosophy is to build safer equestrian institutions, better horse welfare, better rider experience, sustainable operations, international operational excellence, and a continuous improvement culture.
All IFEDI™ auditors operate under strict principles of integrity, confidentiality, professional ethics, impartiality, objectivity, and evidence-based evaluation.
Auditors act with professionalism, responsibility, and respect for the institution being evaluated.
Institutional records, evidence, internal documents, and operational details are treated with professional confidentiality.
Audit decisions are based on evidence, findings, compliance levels, risk evaluation, and professional judgment.
Submit your audit request to begin the process. After reviewing your institution profile, IFEDI™ will provide the appropriate private audit checklist, preparation guidance, and next steps for your audit or certification pathway.
