Updated May 15, 2007     

Latest News

* Please note changes to 2007 Calendar dates. Course Calendar 

Perfect Hoof Video Series Released. View Now

Institute Approved for Continuing Education

The AAVSB has approved the Institute as a "race" provider. Credit hours earned by attending the Institute's  five day program and on-line program can be credited to veterinarians and veterinarian technicians helping them meet their state boards CE requirements.  

Advanced Level II Curriculum Posted

Beginning with the Summer semester, the Institute will be offering enrollment in our second level program, "Advanced Applied Equine Podiatry." This level of education will be open to all first level graduates. It will include 80 hours of practical experience and the new second level On-Line Curriculum.

We understand that there are a number of academic students that wish to continue their education in Applied Equine Podiatry, therefore we are making the second level On Line Program available to all students holding a certificate of completion for the level one On Line Program. Students may begin the first of each month.

Our second level programs is guaranteed to challenge, entice and excite you. We promise the education you receive will help you to achieve peak performance from the horse, beyond that which you ever thought possible.    

Enrollment now being accepted! Level II Advanced Applied Equine Podiatry Application   Level II Curriculum

Full Time Student Enrollment

Full Time Student Enrollment Forms have been posted to the site and should be downloaded, completed, signed and returned to our office. Only those students that have completed the forms and have them on file with us, are considered full time students. If you wish to receive credit for all the hours you complete, please sign and mail the forms today.

Thank you

KC La Pierre, RJF, PhD

We have just completed a five day course in Allentown Pennsylvania. It was a fantastic course with twenty five students, and six DAEP alumni in attendance. Following the course, on May 3rd. we held a test day with five students testing. We are very pleased and proud to announce that all five students passed with flying colors, to become our latest DAEP. Congratulations to Alan Smith, Brenda Guillory, John Zeiselmeier, Kelly R. Connor, and Tim Mockford. Welcome to the Institute's Alumni Association.

The first phase of the Institute's Licensed Instructor Program is complete. We are excited to introduce our future faculty, the class of 2007 IAEP Licensed Instructors. In the photo from left to right are: KC & Robyn La Pierre, Eric Nystrom, Ian Whatley, Melissa Smith, David Roseman, Julie Womack, and Doug Hanna. All participants in this program are required to be active alumni DAEP.

Each Instructor will be responsible for teaching La Pierre Performance Hoof Care. Instructors are allowed to teach throughout the world, though each will be first concentrating on their own areas, Ian in the UK and parts of Europe, Eric and David in the North East U.S., Julie and Melissa in the North West U.S. and Doug in the South East U.S. The first of three required programs included courses on leadership, team building and public speaking taught by Robyn La Pierre, GM, AEP. KC La Pierre, RJF, PhD taught courses that helped the future instructors develop a sound foundation for the presentation of AEP and his work, utilizing power point  presentations, and effective public speaking. There was also a fair amount of time allotted for participants to develop their drawing skills, through dry erase board presentation exercises.

Robyn has aptly named our future instructors the Institute's "Gold Team Instructors".

Private Forum established for the Institute's Active Alumni

All active alumni are invited to join this private forum, which is located at Alumni Forum

Active alumni that wish to enter the forum must first become members of the PHC and then contact the forum moderator for permission to join the group. We hope to see all our active alumni take advantage of this new and valuable tool.

Alumni Association

Due to an increase in the number of trimmers portraying themselves as Equine Podiatrists, IAEP will be implementing a public awareness campaign that will spotlight the benefits of using an active alumnus Degreed Applied Equine Podiatrist. All active alumni will receive a window appliqué that will denote that they are in fact an active Degreed Applied Equine Podiatrist in good standing with the Institute of Applied Equine Podiatry. The appliqué will display the current year and will need to be replaced each year. All graduates become active members of the Alumni Association upon receiving their diploma and remain active for twelve months. In order to maintain active status, each member must complete 40 hours of continuing education per year. If you are currently a non-active alumni and would like to become active, please contact Robyn La Pierre at alumni@equinepodiatry.net. There are many benefits to becoming and remaining active, including free admission to numerous educational events, access to a growing research data base, access to a private AEP forum, and eligibility for second level (Advanced Applied Equine Podiatry.) Show your clients, and all horse owners that you are proud of your achievements and that you believe in maintaining the highest of standards in performance hoof care. Join the IAEP Alumni Association today!

View Code of Ethics and Continuing Education Requirements here.

United Kingdom Alumni Site Up and Running

We are pleased to announce that the UK alumni site is up and running at www.appliedequinepodiatry.org.uk . We hope to be up-loading a US chapter alumni association site shortly. If you have anything that you would like to contribute to the UK site, please do not hesitate to contact us. Consider this is a call for photos, cases studies, or notices you wish to have posted to the site. We are looking for an active UK alumni to act as web master for this site, as well as a web master for the US alumni site. If you are interested in either, please contact us at admin@equinepodiatry.net  We hope that the added exposure will help in the continued growth and acceptance of Applied Equine Podiatry.

Changes to Curriculum and Testing

We are delighted to announce that vast improvements have been made in our testing procedures. With the help of some outside talent, we have revamped our On-Line exam procedures. We are more confident than ever that our testing requirements will confirm that our students are capable of achieving and maintaining the high standards forth set by the Institute.

We are also taking steps to enhance the practical exam procedures. With the implementation of these newly established procedures and requirements, we are able to train faculty members to become examiners. This will allow for two examiners to be present on most scheduled test dates.

The new changes help to re-enforce or commitment to our students and to ensure their continued success in the application of Applied Equine Podiatry.

Two David La Pierre Memorial Scholarships Awarded

We are pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2007 David La Pierre Memorial Scholarship is Lindsey J. Zemanek, of Los Lunas, New Mexico. Lindsey Zemanek submitted an outstanding essay, that encompassed all of the key elements that we feel represents our definition of a true student of Applied Equine Podiatry. Of particular noteworthiness was her use of the following quote, "The sorrows of the horseflesh are the fruits of civilization." W.E. Webb, 1872. Throughout her essay Lindsey demonstrated her understanding of the need for education within the equine community. Lindsey is currently attending New Mexico State University. She has set her sights on obtaining a degree in veterinarian medicine, which she hopes to use to specialize in equine lameness and the treatment of hoof diseases. "As hoof care means less and less about nailing an iron shoe on a prepared hoof, and more about attempting to identify the causes and cures of different pathologies in individual feet, the horse community will move into a healthier place for all involved. I want to help bring about this change." Good for you Lindsey!  Recently, a good friend of ours said it well, "If your going to dream big, dream bigger than you ever thought you could dream." That friend is Pat Parelli, a man that proved with hard work and big dreams, you can achieve. We are happy to be able to play a small part in helping to make someone's big dreams become reality.

There were a very large number of applicants for this years scholarship, all of which deserve recognition for their enthusiasm and heart felt dedication to improving the quality of life of the horses we all love. And because there were so many exceptional entrees this year, Robyn and I have decided to award a second scholarship.

The Second David La Pierre Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Vicky Hollingsworth of Clintonville, Wisconsin. Vicky also submitted a superb essay, that illustrated her desire to, as she puts it, "learn and to teach all that can be learned, and all that can be taught to others."

For this years scholarship awards, Robyn and I have had our hopes met by finding two exceptional individuals who's interest are, like our own, to further the science of Applied Equine Podiatry in an effort to better the lives of today's and tomorrow's horse.

Please join us in offering our heartfelt congratulations to both recipients of the David La Pierre Memorial Scholarship.

David La Pierre Memorial  Scholarship Fund

The “David La Pierre Memorial Scholarship Fund”  is designed to furnish financial aid to one deserving student per year, who would like to pursue a career in the field of Applied Equine Podiatry.  The Scholarship is for a maximum of $5000.00 in tuition and materials, and is designed to cover all costs of tuition, on-line modules, as well as tools, and recommended reading materials for the first level diploma program. 

We have decided, at our discretion, to offer a second partial scholarship to that individual that shows an exceptional desire to advance the science of AEP. The second scholarship is for a maximum of $3,900.00 in tuition, and is designed to cover the cost of all practical courses required for the first level diploma. Recipient of this optional offering is responsible for the cost of the On Line Program, tools, and recommended reading materials.

Click here to apply for the 2008 David La Pierre Memorial Fund.

On Line Program Expanding

Please join Robyn and I as we welcome Eric Nystrom, D.E.P. of  Marshall, VA. to our staff. Eric will be working as an On Line Program Instructor. I am delighted that he has agreed to join our team. Eric is very knowledgeable and has excellent communication skills, I am confident that he will make a wonderful Instructor.

Curriculum accepted by University

Carol Baker, Director of Equine Programs at Post University, Waterbury Ct. has adopted the Institute's Applied Equine Podiatry program, offering certification as a career path for university students. Equine Podiatry is being offered as an add-on certification  to the universities B.S. Equine Management degree. Though the curriculum has not been posted to the university site as of this date, we have included a draft for those interested in the universities degree program. This is a major step in the right direction in the acceptance of Applied Equine Podiatry as a solid career choice and in its development as a true profession. 

Proposed Curriculum           Post University web page