Pacific Hoof Care Practitioners

Training Program

PHCP TRAINING STEPS 

STEP 1
Fill out and submit the PHCP Enrollment Form

along with the application fee
The Enrollment Committee will review the form, conduct a telephone interview with you, and determine where in the program you should start. You will also receive an invitation to join the PHCP yahoo chat list, where support and information are shared.

Required study materials:

  • “Making Natural Hoof Care work for you” By Pete Ramey.
  • All articles on http://www.hoofrehab.com
  • “Under The Horse” DVD series by Pete Ramey (rentals are available from www.yourhorsematters.com)
  • “Paddock Paradise” By Jaime Jackson
  • “The Sound Hoof” By Lisa Simons Lancaster
  •  note: these materials do not need to be purchased all at once.

STEP 2
Beginning Clinics
(see scheduled clinics)

  • Online course “Introduction to Natural Hoof Care and the PHCP”
  • Hoof Anatomy and Cadaver Trim
  • Booting and Shoe Removal clinic
  • Introduction to Equine Diet and Lifestyle (online course)

Note: Students may begin their 1st Mentorship series after Clinic #2.  Clinics #3 & #4 are required before entering Step 4 (independent study)

STEP 3
Mentorship Series #1     
Each of these mentorships will include:
  • Tools – selection, use, and maintenance
  • Basic trims on live horses
  • Safe horse handling skills and dealing with common behavior problems
  • Identifying common hoof problems and recognizing how diet and lifestyle can affect the hoof.

A minimum of three separate mentorships,  (one or two days each), with 3 different PHCP instructors are required. Mentors are listed in the Files of the Chat list.  Each mentor will file a report with the Enrollment Committee upon completion of the mentorship. A copy will be sent to the student. Students are required to notify the Enrollment Committee when they complete Step 3, have attended all of the required Beginning Clinics, and are ready to enter Step 4 Independent Study. (Note: if the final mentor in Series #1 does not feel that the student is ready for Independent Study, the student may be asked to do another mentorship to work on the skills the needed in order to progress)

STEP 4
Independent study
Students will practice their skills and gain experience. This is the time when you will practice on your own horses, and start building a clientele, if you want to trim professionally.
Depending on the student’s experience, this step should be sufficiently long enough to gain experience in the “real world” and work on a variety of horses. The suggested “Independent Study” period might be 3 - 6 months long, depending on the student’s previous experience and progress. Students are encouraged to use the “PHCP Chat” list on Yahoo to post photos and discuss interesting or challenging cases that they might encounter. Students entering Step 4 will be considered “Student Practitioners” and listed on the PHCP website as such. Students are required to do one mentorship during their independent study,  to evaluate their progress. The mentorship can be with an instructor that they have previously mentored with in Step 3.
When a student feels ready to advance to Step 5 (Advanced Mentorships) they must submit an Independent Study Progress Report accompanied by a Media Presentation, to the Enrollment Committee for approval. The Progress Report and Media Presentation guidelines can be found in the Files of the Chat List.

STEP 5
Advanced Mentorships
These advanced mentorships will include in-depth trimming on a variety of horses. A minimum of three mentorships is required. Mentors will file a report for each mentorship with the Enrollment Committee and a copy will be sent to the student.  One Advanced Mentorship may be with a previous mentor and one may be with a professional outside of PHCP, such as a farrier or veterinarian that specializes in equines. The student must get prior approval from the Enrollment Committee for this. The purpose of the Advanced Mentorships is to further improve the student’s skills and work on areas of special study to the student. Step 6 (Advanced Clinics) should also be completed at this time.

STEP 6
Advanced Clinics
(see scheduled clinics)
students may choose a minimum of 2 clinics. These clinics are also offered to graduate students for continuing education.

  • Advanced Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders. Taking an on-line course with Dr. Kellon qualifies as credit for an Advanced Clinic. Go to drkellon.com  to register.
  • Natural Horse and Hoof Care with Todd Jaynes. Register at www.naturalhoofcare.net/index.html
  • Power tool trimming* Attending an “Abrasive Trim” clinic with Phil Morarre will qualify as credit for this clinic. www.softouchnaturalhorsecare.com
    • Balance International saddle fitting clinic
  • Interpreting radiographs with Dr. Cynthia Nielson
    • Basics of Reading Radiographs, on-line course with Dr. Eleanor Kellon at drkellon.com
  • Advanced Anatomy and Cadaver Dissection*
  • Equicast casting clinic with Dave Richards
  • Attend a lecture with Dr. Bowker, if available.

STEP 7
Media Presentation
The student will present a series of “before and after” hoof photos or a video clip of a trim, with a written or verbal commentary to go with it. This presentation will be posted for board members to view and evaluate. Your mentors will also provide input. Upon approval, the student will be considered a practitioner and receive a “Certificate of Completion”. They may now be listed as a practitioner on the PHCP website.
Guidelines and instructions for the Media Presentation can be found in the Files on the Chat list.