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Natural Performance Hoof Care Professional (NPHCP) Program

Welcome to our NCHCP Apprenticeship Program

If you are looking for an exciting, rewarding career with horses, becoming a highly sought after Hoof Care Professional maybe for you!

To increase the standard of care in the hoof care community, we have created western Canada’s only standardized training program. Through two years of training, you will be guided through the complex field of equine hoof health. Several mentors will be included in this learning process giving you, the student, a well-rounded education.

Connie and Birgitta believe in creating a very strong TEAM environment, consisting of not only Hoof Care Professionals, but Equine Therapists & Veterinarians.

The prerequisite to our Apprenticeship Program is the three-day Intro to Hoof Care Workshop. For pricing and course outline see our Clinics page.

If after this intro clinic you wish to apply for the apprenticeship program, please contact Connie Challice, or Birgitta Wilkinson for further information. The following is the curriculum and tuition costs.

Curriculum and Tuition

Tuition:

$8,000 + GST  (Every six months $2100.00 is due)
(cost of books and 2 electives not included)

Program includes:

  • Six (6) full days of shadowing two different mentors (contact Connie or Birgitta to schedule)
  • Four (4) mandatory week long Apprenticeship Modules (one week long module every six months)

Dates:

June 3rd to 7th, 2024

September 30th- October 4th, 2024

  • Trimming horses, donkey’s, drafts, mules
  • Dissection/anatomy
  • Reviewing case studies
  • Discussing business/ insurance
  • Safe horse handling/basic horsemanship
  • Importance of diet and lifestyle
  • How to educate clients
  • Advanced trimming for founder/navicular
  • Recognizing diseases of the founder, acute laminitis vs subclinical laminitis, navicular, contraction, abscesses, quittor, white line disease (white line disease), etc
  • Radiograph review
  • Advanced dissection/anatomy component

*All scheduled horse owner trim clinics (attendance is optional)

*After passing a trimming evaluation (setup & maintenance trims) and recognizing pathology, the apprentice will be allowed to take on clients with healthy normal hooves. We will provide support in trimming any pathological hooves at this time.

If the apprentice wishes to accept clients, SWH will provides the following:
  • Onsite consults 5/year (over 5 cost will be $80/hour + mileage)
  • Support via email and texting pictures, and access to private TEAM AWESOME FB page (veterinarians/body workers/dentists/Hoof Care Professionals)
  • Updates on ongoing research/breakthroughs in the hoof care industry/community
  • Listed on SWH website as Student Professional (SP)

Students are to complete a midterm written exam as well as a final written exam. A glossary of terms will be provided, as well as a recommended reading resource list. Students must produce 5 case studies (3 normal, and 2 rehab) with photos. The case studies will be over a two year period and must be presented in a power point presentation.

**Any fellow hoof care professional desiring to be certified to become one of our Team Members, is welcome to challenge the exams, provide the above case studies, and participate in the trimming evaluations. Fee to be discussed.**

Electives – Extra Courses (must complete 2 for Certificate)

**Extra cost for student**

  • Basics of Reading X-rays by Dr. Kellon
  • Foundation Horsemanship/Building Leadership Clinic by Birgitta Wilkinson of SWH
  • Gait Analysis Clinic with Rachel Gedalyia
  • Empower the Owner Clinic with Tralauney Thomas of Equinox Health

This clinic is essential for Hoof Care Practitioners to recognize lameness issues ABOVE the foot, and to know when to refer to a professional body worker.

STUDENTS ARE WELCOME TO TAKE THE ABOVE ELECTIVES OR ELECTIVES OF THEIR CHOICE AFTER APPROVAL BY SWH DIRECTORS.
Certification is granted when mentors pass the trainees work, and the trainee has achieved 80% or greater on the final written exam and case studies are completed and presented to the satisfaction of the mentors. At this time the Student Practitioner will be listed as a Professional, and will have earned the Certification of NPHCP.

You will now be qualified to be listed as a Natural Hoof Care Professional with AACET (Alberta Association of Complimentary Equine Therapists).

Program Expectations and Requirements:

  • Student must have a drivers license/vehicle
  • Student must be passionate about horses/hoof care
  • Student must be compassionate toward horse owners
  • The first payment of $2100.00, is due with application submission. Subsequent payments are due in six month installments.
  • Students must have completed the three day Intro to Natural Hoof Care Clinic
  • SWH directors reserve the right to dismiss the apprentice at anytime during the two year period if they feel it warranted. A verbal and written warning will precede the dismissal. Tuition is non-refundable.
  • SWH is looking for the following qualities in potential apprentices.


    **Potential “Apprentices must meet our qualification standards in order to be accepted into the program.
    **Must have a PASSION for hoof care
    **Must have a Strong work ethic
    **Must have a RESPECT for horses and previous handling of horses be present and understand that they are a large prey animal, previous horse handling skills is an asset.
               ** Come dressed for working with tools and with proper foot wear
    ** Must Be willing to learn and to be coached
    ** “Thick skin” ie: be able to handle rejection/controversy
    ** Communication ability : be willing to teach your clients
Recertification
  • Every year our Team members are required to book a day with either Birgitta or Connie to review and evaluate their trimming to help answer any question they have regarding hoof care which may have evolved.
Reasons for Dismissal
  • Acting in an unprofessional manner toward the SWH team, or client (not showing up for appointments, lack of empathy for equine or human, not dealing with an unhappy client in an appropriate way, being rude and disrespectful to any member of the SWH team or client)
  • Trimming skills and knowledge is unreliable after 6 months of instruction
  • Failure to provide funds for continuation
    .