The CERP courses are designed to guide the practitioner through the theoretical foundations to the clinical applications of equine rehabilitation. VAHL's CERP Program includes the fundamentals necessary to successfully apply physical therapy in the rehabilitation of equine athletes. The training also teaches how to create therapeutic exercise protocols and how to adapt them to specific injuries.

Who can attend?
Certified Equine Rehabilitation Practitioner can be a veterinarian, veterinary technician, physical therapist, physical therapy assistant, or students of these professions.

Curriculum: Only three steps toward success!

This course provides an introduction to equine rehabilitation and therapeutic modalities. Participant will review the regulatory issues involved in this field of practice from the perspective of physical therapists and veterinarians. Basic equine anatomy, gait analysis, conformation, lameness evaluation and neurologic examination will be reviewed. Collaboration between the veterinary and physical therapy professions will be emphasized to enhance the learning experience.

• The participant will be introduced to the use of selected physical agent modalities used in equine physical rehabilitation. The following physical agents will be covered: superficial heating and cooling agents, manual therapies, electrical therapies (for example: electrical stimulation), mechanical therapies (for example: therapeutic ultrasound, shock wave therapy), therapeutic exercise, pain relief and external coaptation.
• The participant will acquire basic knowledge of the conditions of equine tendons and ligaments, equine bones and joints, and the equine nervous system, muscles, skin and hooves that are amenable to physical therapy. Response to injury and healing will be reviewed as well as selection of appropriate therapeutic modality.

This course will provide the participant will the skills necessary to design and implement a comprehensive rehabilitation program for commonly seen musculoskeletal, integumentary and neurologic conditions in the horst. A case study approach will be utilized teaming students from different professions together during this course to design and implement the rehabilitations programs.

Provides hands-on laboratory coursework that will build on the course material from Equine I lectures. Part two of three modules in the CERP program.

Provides hands on laboratory coursework that will build on the course material from Equine I lectures.  This course will provide the participant with the basic skills necessary to prescribe and provide rehabilitation programs for the equine patient.  A full day of anatomical dissection on equine cadavers will be utilized to emphasize clinically relevant structures.  The participant will receive hands on training of selected physical agent modalities used in equine physical rehabilitation.  The following physical agents will be covered:  superficial heating and cooling agents (including cold salt water hydrotherapy), manual therapies, electrical therapies (for example:  electrical stimulation, therapeutic laser), mechanical therapies (for example:  therapeutic ultrasound, shock wave therapy, total body vibration) and therapeutic exercise (including EquiCore System, Underwater Treadmill)

After successful completion of Equine I & II online lectures and live lab sessions, students will be eligible for Equine III, Final Examination and Case Presentations.

• Examinations will be administered online.
• Participants must prepare a written report, for submission, of two clinical equine rehabilitation cases that have required rehabilitation prior to taking the examination.
• Participants will be given the format for the written submission during Equine I & II lab sessions.

Format: Online

We recommend to book transfer and accommodation after having received the positive response "passed". Please also make sure to have a travel (cancellation) insurance.

I am still under the impression that there is nothing alive quite so beautiful as a horse.

~ John Galsworthy

The certificate program in equine rehabilitation offers a series of postgraduate courses for veterinarians, physical therapists and veterinary technicians. After successful completion of all the online, e-learning and practical courses and after successfully passing the examination, participations will receive the title “Certified Equine Rehabilitation Practitioner”.

It's time to become a Certified Equine Rehabilitation Practitioner!