A.C.E.H.P.

Students complete a two week intensive block in Tasmania under tuition with excursions and class room based education as the first component of the course. 

Following this, students undergo Mentorships with 3 mentors (one-two days with each).  
Students get opportunity to observe and work in field with mentors, under supervision. Student reports from mentors are part of course assessment.   

Assignments:
12 months of independent study to complete all course assignments including a basic First Aid Certificate.  

Case Study Reports and progressive photographic journal to be sent to instructors for assessment. Student presents minimum of five case study horses including client testimonials, progressive photographic record of horse hooves etc. Students to complete case studies based on duration of complete new hoof capsule growth.  This is a comprehensive learning process for students to understand the consequences of trims and advice both for the horse and owner expectations, the affects of environment and changes in seasonal diets on the hooves and the final results over a full hoof capsule growth.

Final Assessment
Record on DVD or do live Final Live Trim assessment. 

Excursion
Non compulsory. Students have the opportunity to experience and research Brumbies in their natural habitat. South Australia and NT – Duration one week.

Orientation/Course Introduction

• Orientation & introduce lecturers
• Overview of course
• Changing conventional thought processes 
• Code of Conduct 
• Career opportunities
• Healthy hoof vs. unhealthy – recognise 
• benefits of barefoot trimming, 
• foundation for sound hooves, natural environment, wild horse relevance and evolution

  1. RTE3137A Carry out basic hoof care procedures

Extreme Environment hooves

• Wild horse research
• Relevance to domestic horses – competitive and high mileage barefoot horses in domesticity
• Understanding evolutionary needs and development of the horses hoof

Hoof mechanism

• Identifying parts of the hoof 
• Function of the hooves
• What is a healthy, sound hoof?
• Characteristics unique to a sound hoof
• Hoof anatomy. dissections

Shoeing or Traditional Methods

• Overview – history of the metal shoe
• Types of shoesC
• Comparative studies of shod and barefoot 
• Pulling shoes – cadaver
• Tipping barefoot trained racehorses – overview – current rules

Hoof protection

• Hoof boots
• Other options 
• For working horses through transition period/horses with poor hoof form
• For rehabilitation – i.e. pads
• Boots available in the market and their features
• Sizing and fitting boots
• Booting as part of a business – client skills

Tools / equipment

• Useful and necessary tools
• Developing safe skills
• Cleaning, sharpening
• Importance of good equipment
• Camera – shot angles required for assessment
• Safety equipment – arm protection, aprons, back protection

What is a correct hoof trim?

• Trim principles and procedures – Non invasive trimming
• Specific trimming requirements – foals, donkeys, etc.
• Ensuring optimum comfort levels for horses prior, during and after trimming
• cadaver leg trimming
• live horse trimming
• reinforce horse and manual handling
• Record details of trim

2. RTE2118A Handle livestock using basic techniques

Horse handling - Practical

• Understanding horse behaviour and communication between horses.  Observing behaviour in herd in domestic situations compared to confined in stall.
• Dealing with problem horses safely
• Safe hoof and leg handling
• Balancing the horse for trimming
• Handling stallions, young stock, mares in season and unhandled horses, foals
• Donkey handling
• Ensuring horse and trimmer are in relaxed and safe surroundings
• Suitable equipment to carry i.e.: rope halter, 3m rope and training stick
• Recognising real problem horses. Whether to refer to educator.
• Working on near and off side/easy side

Manual handling - Practical

• Trimmers body posture and correct stance
• Fitness - exercises, and stretches for optimum trimming fitness

3. RTE3148A Assess conformation of horses

Assess Conformation

• Understand conformation in the horse
• Conformation abnormalities

Assess Movement and soundness

• Recognise heel first landing,  break-over
• Understanding and learning gaits of the horse
• Identifying lameness
• Body mechanics relating to hoof form – Good and Bad
• Problems from hoof related issues – brushing, forging, hind end lameness, tripping etc.
• Performance horses and their requirements

4. RTE3136A Comply with industry animal welfare requirements

Optimum environment for healthy hooves

• Conventional boarding v natural environment
• Simulating natural conditions which include companionship, freedom of movement, natural forage feed, water, shelter.

5. RTE3144A Prevent and treat equine injury and disease

The horse above the hooves - The holistic horse

• Overview of the whole horse
• Nutrition and digestion brief overview
• Relevance of teeth and good dentistry 
• Body work i.e. chiropractic and sports massage for performance
• Saddle fit
• Understanding role of trimmer in network of horse industries

Hoof pathologies and rehabilitation

• Principals to natural healing
• Understanding radiographs and their interpretation
• Recognising hoof pathologies and incorrect hoof form including:
• Foals with special trimming needs
• Founder/Laminitis
• Navicular
• Pedal osteitis
• White Line Disease
• Other - club foot, long toe/underslung heel, quarter cracks, flat feet etc)
• Transition both towards healthy hooves and those regressing through neglect/delayed trimming (transition being where hooves are unhealthy or less than optimum hoof form for performance.
• Abscessing, de-toxing and other undesirable healing reactions
• Soaking boots and poulticing
• Foals with special trimming requirements
• Live case studies
• Assessment and examination of the horse
• Working with veterinarians – when to call the vet
• Monitoring vital signs (hydration, heart rate, pulse, temperature etc)
• Caring for  injured lame horses
• Horse first aid kits – to travel with.
• Pain management (conventional and alternative)
• Common health problems (colic, mud fever, sunburn, coughs, lice, back pain, joint pain, skin conditions – rain scald)
• Worming
• Alternative therapies – acupuncture, massage, aromatherapy, chiropractors, massage, lasers, magnetic energy 

6. RTE3114A Implement feeding plans for livestock

Determine horses condition and nutritional requirements

• Effect of feed on hooves. -  signs and symptoms
• Reading food product and what s in it?
• Types of feed and grasses
• Poisonous plants
• Natural feeding position 
• Basic digestive anatomy, stomach capacity etc
• Body condition scoring
• Feed requirements for performance/exercise, breeding stock, young
• Assess pasture feed – know species and safe grazing times
• Arrange supplementary feed- knowledge of minerals
• Manage the feeding of horses – consulting clients
• Monitor the feeding plan

8. RTC2704A Provide basic First Aid

First aid for the Trimmer – Senior First Aid Certificate

9. WRRCS3B Interact with customers

• Customer service (highlighting horse/client relations, education)
• Respond to customer questions – be able to source information
• Establish pricing
• Identify customers special requirement, strategies for negotiating resistance
• Public speaking, developing a presentation strategy – industry promotion is practiced at all available opportunities
• Business Management.
• Marketing and promotion  (personal presentation, business image, advertising your service,  marketing tools, continual review of service, building repeat clientele, selling your service, public relations),
• Book keeping
• Record keeping & scheduling – Time management
• Territory management
• Maintaining customer base 

10. RTE3713A Carry out workplace OHS procedures

• SAFETY PRINCIPLES WITH HORSES
• SEXUAL HARASSMENT
• HEALTH ISSUES – TRANSMITTED DISEASES
• SAFETY EQUIPMENT  AND TOOLS USED EFFECTIVELY
• ASSIGNMENT – HAZARDS TO PEOPLE AND HORSES ASSOCIATED WITH TRIMMING
• REASONS FOR GOOD EQUIPMENT AND FIRST AID KIT

11. WRRS2B Advise on products and services

• Develop product / service knowledge
• Advise and market boots and tools
• Recommend specialised products and services 

12. BSBCMN206A Process and Maintain Workplace Information

• Collect information
• Process workplace information
• Maintain information systems 

13. ICAITU133A Send and Receive Information on the Internet

• Access and search the internet
• Send and organise messages
• Create an address book Use Cameras

14. BSBEBUS303A Participate in a Virtual Community

• Investigate virtual community
• Join a virtual community
• Contribute to a virtual community 

15. RGRO16B  Maintain Greyhounds, Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds in a Healthy State and Safe Environment

• Maintain accommodation
• Monitor and maintain a program
• Implement and advise on health maintenance program
• Implement a program of care and maintenance for the hoof
• Manage the care of the horse applying knowledge of animal anatomy and physiology