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.

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 (may be available to rent from PHCP)
  • "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

  • 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

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. Each mentor will file a report with the Enrollment Committee upon completion of the mentorship. 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 student needs 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 are required to file at least one progress report, with hoof photos of at least one trim, every 3 months with the Enrollment Committee and prior to asking approval to advance to Step 5.
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 contact the Enrollment Committee for approval. Step 6 Advanced Clinics may be taken at any time during Independent Study if the student wishes.

STEP 5
Advanced mentorships
 These advanced mentorships will include in-depth trimming on a variety of horses. A minimum of three mentorships is required and they must be under different instructors than in Step #3. Mentors will file a student report for each mentorship with the Enrollment Committee. One of the advanced mentorships may be with a professional outside of PHCP, such as a farrier or veterinarian that specializes in equines, but the student must get prior approval of that person from the Enrollment Committee. The purpose of the Advanced Mentorships is to further improve the student’s skills and work on areas of special interest to the student. Step 6 Advanced Clinics should also be completed at this time.

STEP 6
Advanced Clinics
Students may choose a minimum of 2 clinics. Advanced clinics may be taken any time after entering Step 4 Independent Study. These clinics are also offered to graduate students for continuing education.

  • Advanced nutrition, including metabolic problems* Note: completing the ”NRC Plus” online course by Dr. Kellon will qualify as credit for this clinic.
  • Todd Jaynes' Natural Horse and Hoof Care clinic
  • Power tool trimming* Attending an “Abrasive Trim” clinic with Phil Morarre will qualify as credit for this clinic.
  • Balance International saddle fitting clinic
  • Interpreting radiographs*
  • Advanced Anatomy and Cadaver Dissection*
  • Attend a lecture with Dr. Bowker, if available
  • These clinics are being developed and will be announced when 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 voting members to view and evaluate. Your mentors will also provide input. Upon approval, the student will be considered a graduate of the program, listed as such on the PHCP website, and eligible for full voting privileges.