Subjects you will study as a future Equine Podiotherapist:

Distal Limb studies: Lecturer: Professor Robert Bowker.   Distal limb functional anatomy; Advanced structural morphologies of the equine hoof & distal limb;

Osteoporosis;  The sensory receptors role in hoof function & the distal limb;  Growth & development of the foal hoof;   Radiographic examination of hoof; Feral horses;  Locomotion in the domestic horse; Navicular syndrome; Hoof pathologies; Biomechanics of the distal limb and joints; Doppler ultrasound studies and flow through the foot-variations with surface growth of the hoof wall;  Adaptive capabilities of the hoof wall; The frog as a neurosensory organ; Sensory control of the foot: importance to the horse;  Bad posture and its rehabilitation;  Ground surfaces as they affect the hoof; Rumours, myths and truths about the foot.

 

Practical Hoof Care & Theory: Lecturer Andrew Bowe:  Triming strategies; Trimming for rehabilitation. Trimming variations for specific pathological problems. Trimming dysfunctional hooves - overcoming gross deformities. The domestic bare hoof trimming for specific environmental conditions. Rehabilitative Hoof Care Practices.  Care and treatment strategies for total rehabilitation. Overcoming the physiological effects of horse shoeing. Hoof deformation process & reversal techniques. Advanced rehabilitation for founder & navicular cases.

Equine Biology:  Lecturer Duncan McLaughlin: Modules include: Cells and Tissue, the Skin, The Skeletal System, the Muscular System, the Nervous System, the Circulatory System, the Respiratory System, the Lymphatic System, the Digestive System, the Urinary System, the Endocrine System, the Nervous System.. Veterinary aspects:

Veterinary Aspects:  Lecturer Dr. Mark Curtiss:  The disease processes & pathologies involved in serious hoof pathologies. Assessing lameness techniques. The role of the professional hoof care provider in relation to Veterinary Legislation - where the boundaries are. Understanding radiographs, Musculo-skeletal adaptations due to hoof issues identifying lameness & movement variations, altered biomechanics & gait adaptations from hoof dysfunction. Over-view of Veterinary Chiropractic manipulations & other therapies in relation to rehabilitation.

Biomechanics & the musculo-skeletal system: Lecturer Renee Pearson: The secondary issues that arise from long term hoof issues; equine locomotion -  whats normal whats not; muscular assymetry & issues in horses with high/low syndrome; strategies for total rehabilitation.

Nutrition as it affects the hoof:    Lecturer Duncan McLaughlin:  Basic equine nutrition needs as they relate to hoof health. Insulin resistance in the equine, pastures in Australia, nutrition for debilitated horses, alternative feeds. Myth busting in relation to equine feeding.

Hoof Boots for Rehabilitation and Competition: Lecturer Michael Ware: Therapeutic uses of hoof boots & fitting adaptations for asymmetrical hooves. Easycare Down Under also offer graduates of the Diploma of Equine Podiotherapy opportunities to be Specialist Hoof Boot Consultants.

Advanced horse handling practices.  Lecturer Wayne Anderson:  Horse handling techniques specifically relating to hoof care workers. 

Occupational Issues:  Lecturer Jennifer Moncur:  Occupational health & safety issues for trimmers. Insurance consideratoins for Equine Podiotherapists.

Practice Management: Lecturer Michael Ware:  Small Business Management. Legalities of Equine Podiotherapy, Professional Report Writing, Insurance for Professional Trimmers, Clinic practice - effective business, Building your business in the 21st Century, Public Speaking made easy, OH & S issues as they apply to hoof care professionals.

On the successful completion of this course you will be awarded a Diploma of Equine Podiotherapy and may use the title of Equine Podiotherapist.

 

What you will NOT learn!

You will not be learning "methods" based in measurements, or "simple recipes" or how to use hoof gadgets, because in the world of the domestic horse, which is where you will have your business, sadly these parameters rarely apply.

You will NOT leave the Equine Podiotherapy course with a one size fits all approach to your work.   Trimming based on that premise is set to fail and most horses with serious hoof problems fall far outside those parameters .... these are the horses that most need your help!

But you WILL learn a pardigm based in eqine orthopaedics and based on anatomy.

Recognition for Prior Learning.

Reccognition for prior learning is offered for the basic Equine Biology components of the course if you have already attended courses with similar content. It is not available for the practical hoof care modules or the anatomy modules on the distal limb.

Course Pre-requisites: None! But you must be over 18 years of age to participate and willing to study and undertake case histories as part of your course.

Because this career path is so very new and those who are seeking to obtain education come from a wide cross section of the community, male and female, young and old, the course developers felt that to set prerequisites based on previous education/experience was unfair and would prevent many people who are passionate about hoofcare from attending.

Career Opportunities:   The sky is your limit! This training opens up a huge field of work.  In Australia at present the demand for properly trained hoof care specialists far exceeds the supply.  It is impossible to meet the demand for Equine Podiotherapists!

In a world of shrinking careers your horizons in natural hoof care are limitless! Your skills will even take you outside this country if that is what you wish.

How, where, & when!

How is the course delivered?

The course is delivered in four bocks of practical "face to face" sessions and lectures, with distance learning modules in between. 

Where?

Practical Sessions are based at Mayfield Bare Hoof Centre at Yarck in Victoria and agistment centres in the surrounding area so the students gain experience with a vast number of varying cases.  A good range of accommodation for interstate students is available near the venue. 

Fees:  The total price for the Diploma at present is $ 4,900 the deposit is $500.  This price includes all text material. 

What else will you need?  Students need to supply their own trimming gloves & farrier aprons and it is a condition of our insurance that students must wear an approved (Australian Standards) safety riding helmet during the handling of live horses, so please bring yours with you .  Loan tools are available from the college for interstate/overseas students but if you are travelling by car please bring your own if you can.

When?  Two courses are run per year.  These usually commence in October & February.  Please consider booking early as they usually fill very quickly and numbers are limited.