Frequently Asked Questions:

 When is the next course?  Two courses are delivered each year.  Commencing February and October.  Please contact our admin (details on home page).  Don't delay places are limited and the courses usually fill months prior to their commencement.  For information please email:  

 Course Administrator Glynis O'Keefe on glyn.okeefe@equinepodiotherapy.com.au

or phone 03 5773-4306 or if unanswered - mobile 0458215601

Is there a fee payment plan available?  Yes there is.  Just contact our admin. office for details.

Who can train as an Equine Podiotherapist? Anyone who is over the age of 18 who is fit and well enough for an outdoors lifestyle with horses.  But you must be keen enough to undertake some intensive study as well as practical trimming work.

Do I need a hoof care background to take these courses?    No particular previous background in hoofcare, equine health care, or farriery is necessary to undertake this course. Even if you are a novice trimmer you will gain all the skills necessary during the course to become an Equine Podiotherapist.

How is the course delivered?  The 12 month course is delivered with distance learning and face to face lectures at the campus in Victoria.  Practical trimming is done on cadaver hooves and live horses.  Four blocks of five or six days (and some nights) of practical work and face to face lectures are undertaken throughout the year.  These are based at Mayfield Bare Hoof Centre at Yark in rural Victoria where there are classroom facilities and horses.  Mayfield is a working rehabilitation centre for horses with serious hoof conditions such as laminitis and navicular syndrome.

How many students are in each class?  There are usually 15 - 17  students in each course.  The student numbers are deliberately kept small so students have plenty of support during their training.  For all the hands on trimming classes with the live horses we have two lecturers present so you have hot and cold running help all the time!.

How do you pronounce the name?  It is pronounced equine pod-eye-oh-therapy.  Its basis is the word podiatry meaning of the foot.

Are there grades or credits to be gained? The course has been constructed by a professional course writer to meet Australian standards for a Diploma Course. There are assessment tasks and standards that must be met to achieve your Diploma. You will also have to complete a portfolio of case studies as part of your training to Graduate. These must be completed no longer than two years after your commencement date.  The accreditation is a Diploma of Equine Podiotherapy from the Australian College of Equine Podiotherapy. Students and graduates are also able to join the Equine Podiotherapists Association.

It this a Tafe course?   No. The Australian College of Equine Podiotherapy is a private college.

Can veterinarians attend and do they gain AVA Ongoing Education Points if they attend?  Yes the Diploma of Equine Podiotherapy Course is accredited for ongong educational points with the Australian Veterinary Association and the veterinarians who have attended have found the information offered invalueable in their practice work. All have said that they wished that it could have been part of their veterinary studies.

Farrriers: Like veterinarians you will find that by studying rehabilitative trimming practices & furthering your knowlege of distal limb anatomy opens up a new range of options when dealing with serious hoof issues.  Many farriers are taking the opportunity to incorporate natural hoof care practices into their business as so many clients now seek this option.

Is this new trade covered by insurance? Yes.  The modality of Equine Podiotherapy is able to be covered by insurance.  As a career the modality of Equine Podiotherapy is able to be covered by certain insurance companies.   Student cover for Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance whilst they are studying and working on their case histories is available should students wish this. 

Can anyone call themselves an Equine Podiotherapist?  The title Equine Podiotherapist is trade marked and owned by the Australian College of Equine Podiotherapy.  Only those who successfully complete this course and gain their Diploma may be called Equine Podiotherapists.

I have already done an accredited barefoot trimming course is Equine Podiotherapy the same? Equine Podiotherpay has been constructed as a Diploma level course with in depth course content and is unlike any other course taught in Australia at this time.  Many of our students have already completed other barefoot trimming courses but wish to extend their knowledge of the hoof further.

Should veterinarians, equine massage therapists, body-workers, owners or trainers consider doing this course?   Absolutely yes! 

Imagine being able to walk up to any horse and  by just assessing its hoof form know exactly the state of the internal structures of the hoof.  Know for sure if the internal hoof structures are dysfunctional, and if they are impacting on its biomechanics, causing lameness, navicular syndrome or stopping it from reaching peak performance levels. 

This is invalueable for equine professionals.  No more guessing about those vague lamenesses that plague the domestic horse.  No other course is Australia at this time covers orthopaedic trimming principles except this one.  No other course offers you a world leading hoof expert such as Professor Robert Bowker as your instructor. Veterinarians on our course have said how much they enjoyed this course and how they wished that this type of detailed study was available in their veterinary course.

How much time will be involved?   Each course runs over a twelve month period.  There are four blocks of five/six days face to face teaching during this time and distance learning modules plus assignments in between these blocks.  The students have an additional 12 months to complete their case histories should they require it. It is a Diploma level course and requires additional work on the students own time to complete assignment tasks etc.

What does the EPT course cost?   The full fee at this time is $4,900 (Aus.)

Where is it delivered? The course is delivered at the college campus at Mayfield Barehoof Centre in Yarck in rural Victoria..

The campus offers air conditioned classrooms, toilets & showers and a pool for students use in the summer & camping facilities if students which to camp on this lovely property.

Interstate students are encouraged to apply as there is a full range of accommodation close to the venue.

How to enroll?  If you would like to train to be a future Equine Podiotherapist please contact the college Admin. Officer:

EPT Course Administrator glyn.okeefe@equinepodiotherapy.com.au

Ph 03 5773 4306 or contact Mob 0458 215 601 if unanswered.

Admin. Office:  470 Middle Creek Rd. Yarck Victoria  3719