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Fear Free Veterinary Certification Program – Equine

Fear Free and good horsemanship go hand in hand: Communication is the essence of both. Horses are large, powerful animals and injuries to equine veterinarians are common. Fear Free helps reduce injuries to veterinary staff and horses, improve the health and wellbeing of patients, save you time, create more manageable patients, and earn your clients’ lasting trust and commitment.

The Veterinary Certification Program – Equine teaches you how to use Fear Free concepts to ensure that barn visits and hospital visits go as smoothly as possible. Video clips and slides show you how to examine equine patients safely by using gentle techniques, perform routine procedures in a non-threatening way, recognize signs of stress in equine patients, help owners train their horses to cooperate in medical care, hoof care, and more.

The Veterinary Certification Program – Equine encompasses eight one-hour modules, including these topics and more:

Recognizing stress in equine patients via body language
Handling and examining horses in a way that reduces stress
Reducing horses’ stress during commonly aversive procedures such as injections
Training horses to voluntarily participate in medical care, hoof care, and more
Ensuring the horse is as comfortable as possible during trailer travel
Modifying aspects of the hospital environment to suit horses’ unique needs
Managing equine pain in the most effective, Fear Free way
Identifying fear-inducing stimuli for horses
Administering medications in a calm manner without a struggle

Course Overview

Additional Benefits

Complimentary access to other Veterinary Certification Programs
Complimentary RACE-approved CE courses in addition to certification course
Fear Free Directory Listing
Private Facebook group
Fear Free Educational Library
Fear Free Toolbox with downloadable marketing tools, drug charts, and more
Exclusive discounts on Fear Free-related products through the Preferred Product Program
Online store for marketing, branding, and educational handouts and brochures
Fear Free Job Board
Certification Gift

Continuing Education

Upon completion of the modules, you will receive a total of eight RACE-approved CE hours.

Course Authors

Stacie Boswell, DVM, DACVS-LA
Tamara Grubb, DVM, PhD, DACVAA
Manon (Nita) Hynes, DVM
Claudia Richter, DVM, ACVB Resident
Sherrie Yuschak, RVT, VTS-Behavior, KPA Faculty

Course Reviewers

Sue McDonnell, MS, PhD, CAAB, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Stephen Reed, DVM, DACVIM, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital
Rebecca Gimenez Husted, BS, PhD, Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue
Lore Haug, DVM, MS, DACVB, CABC, Texas Veterinary Behavior Services

Veterinary Certification Requirements

In order to earn Fear Free certification, veterinary professionals must successfully complete the online certification program. To uphold your certification, you must:

1. Earn 4 additional hours of Fear Free-specific CE annually.

2. Maintain an active membership via an annual renewal fee. Your renewal fee is due annually from the date you initially register and pay for the Fear Free Certification Program. Keep an eye out for reminder emails and instructions on how to pay your renewal fee.

Earning the Elite Fear Free Certified Professional Designation

Becoming an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional is for veterinary members who want to go above and beyond in their commitment to Fear Free. Elite Fear Free Certified Professionals are individuals who are continually committed to a higher level of education. In short, it is an opportunity to set yourself apart from the rest.

The requirements to become an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional are…

Completion of an individual veterinary certification program
Completing 35 hours of Fear Free veterinary CE available through the veterinary membership or at industry events and/or conferences
Continuing to earn 4 additional hours of Fear Free CE annually
Maintaining an active Fear Free membership via an annual renewal fee

To track your progress toward becoming an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, follow the CE tracker on your Member Homepage. Once you earn the required 35 Fear Free CE hours, you will receive a congratulatory email (where you can claim your free Elite kit) and an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional badge on your Member Homepage.

I have been in practice for 30 years and this is a game-changer. I have been so pleased at how quickly and effectively I have been able to integrate Fear Free practices into my daily work, even in areas outside of primary care. It has had a significant side effect too: happy, less stressed doctors and staff.

Suzanne Cook Olson, DVM, DACVIM