Thinking of a career change...UKNHCP...anyone else done it/doing it?!

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kittykatcat

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Hi all,

I am currently working in Animal Health but unfortunately due to be made redundant at the end of this year (eek), previous to this I was a technical advisor at a large feed company.

I am now, obviously thinking about what path to take with my career and I am very very seriously considering training to become a UKNHCP.....

Both my horses are barefoot and I have been a 'convert' now for about 6 years. I also agree whole heartedly with the diet and management changes which should go hand in hand with going barefoot.

Coming from a very scientific background, I look at barefoot as a better option than shoes after studying the physiology and biomechanics of the hoof - rather than coming from the 'natural' route...

Anyway, question is really, has anyone else trained to be a UKNHCP, are you working now? How are you finding it? Pros/cons? Any advice or information GREATLY received as it will be a fair chunk of money out of my redundancy to train!

This isn't a barefoot/shoe debate, so please don't turn it in to one!

Thanks! :D
 
all i can say is, go for it. you are at work for a long time and need to be happy . i let money dictate my job and worked in banking when i really wanted to work with horses. my parents tried to give me advice and said if i worked and got some money behind me i could buy my own horse(which i did), however, when i took early retirement at age 55,i worked with horses for 5 years and although physically it was much harder i can honestly say i absolutely enjoyed every minute of it. what i am trying to say is follow your dream if you can possibly afford to, i wish i had!!!!!!:D:D:D:D
 
Well that's certainly true! Even if everything falls through and I have no clients, at least my horses can be trimmed for free...BONUS!!x :)
 
I looked into it. To me, the school I looked into seemed to be very "american" and I didn't like the fact that you were instructed to only use their products, and it seemed to be easy to lose your listing with them.

I was also concerned about the effect on my back, same as with farriers.
 
Certainly the back thing is a big con - however my AANHCP has various tools and tricks to save the back...plus my sister's an osteo so she could come in useful! I think as long as you do core strengthening exercises, you should be ok - no different to gardening, poo picking, etc IMO!
 
Having thought about it carefully on your behalf too :p:p:p, I think you should go for it! As has been said, you only live once, you will be coming to it from a great background, you will be able to weigh up the info and training you receive with a critical and analytical eye, and be able to see for yourself if what you are being told is correct. If you like how your barefoot trimmer works, then train where they trained - is that UKNHCP? Are there other training schools or organisations, and how do these compare?
Once you are qualifed/trained, I'll tell all the barefoot converts (and potential converts) that they need to go to you... ;);)
You could even leaflet-drop the neighbours....
If you get your advertising right, there will be enough work out there to keep you busy.
If you are very nice and send me your sister's number, I might even let you practice on one of my shetlands, cos my back is already killing me from trimming them myself when they bounce, or worse, lean on me... :D
 
Go for it - the trimmer I use is UKNHCP trained and she is brilliant. If I was younger and fitter I would love to do it. I think there is great demand for barefoot trimmers now, it seems more and more people are taking on the barefoot way of thinking. Good luck.
 
I went to Your Horse Live and there seemed to be 4 different Barefoot "schools" "associations" whatever, which is a big shame as I think there should be ONE only for the UK.

I like that you are from a scientific background. The only thing a client is concerned about is that their horse is sound and working well and that you are a nice, professional person who does a good job and turns up on time and handles the horses well. I am not concerned about the "philosophy" surely a proper functioning, healthy foot will be the same whatever school of trimming it comes from? I would like advice about diet, boots, etc. but I think they all offer that.

Personally, I had better results from a KC La Pierre person, the more "scientific" school and have heard others say the same. (I think that the some of UK trimmers have broken away from KC now). On the other hand the UKNHCP trimmers are doing the on-going scientific research with the Dexter project where they are recording the success of the navicular and foot related lamesness, - which they are successfully rehabing. Also they have some of the more gung-ho riders, regularly hunting, endurance and eventing, which is also mighty impressive to someone considering that route.

From a business point of view, you may have to offer additional things. (Which would mean more training). Some trimmers have done Intelligent Horsemanship courses, or they may do Bowen, etc. But I suppose that depends on how busy you are and how quickly you build up a client base.

As for your back - you can get a sort of seat arrangement where you can rest your back while the horse rests his foot on the a stand. As the horses are not getting nails in their foot they quickly become very quiet to handle when being trimmed.

I heard an equine professional say the other day that the case for barefoot is growing stronger and stronger.

You might not be able to be full time straight away, but you will have a lot of fun training and meeting like minded people, and all sorts of doors might open for you.
 
Thanks guys :D

I really think I am going to go for it!!! I'm so excited - practically all i do all day is research the bloomin subject so perhaps I should channel that energy!!

Hmm Crockshard - not sure about doing a leaflet drop around the neighbours - they're all a bit weird!!! :D Your sister's invited me hunting - i wonder what that lot will say about a barefoot horse....TALLY HO!!
 
KKC, Ive been toying with retraining and am really interested in UKNHCP - But cant find any course for next year??

If you have any info please will you share :)

x
 
A good friend did it a few years ago, the course, she now has a successful career and in fact has more clients than she can handle for one person. And ditto..if I were younger I'd love to do it too.
 
kittykatcat said:
Hmm Crockshard - not sure about doing a leaflet drop around the neighbours - they're all a bit weird!!! :D Your sister's invited me hunting - i wonder what that lot will say about a barefoot horse....TALLY HO!!
Click to expand...


Yeah I quite agree, the neighbours where I am are very strange too! :D:D

Good luck if you go out with my sister - she uses other peoples' horses' bottoms as an emergency (or only?) braking system. Perhaps something other than a french link to hunt in might be an idea for her! Hey, you could train in lorinery too! Anyway, I'm going to hunt on Pebble and she is as barefoot as they get, I don't really think they'll look or care, especially as your guys are footsure and aren't footy, so why would they even notice?!

Equine Touch is quite accessible as an alternative/complementary therapy for horses (kinda Bowen for horses but I didn't say that or I could be lynched), and if you do it you will learn how to treat people too and I LOVE IT! I'll turn up weekly for that, and for my ponies.... As another string to your bow of course. They run courses (L1&2) at Suzanne's in Sittingbourne.

TBH my only other concern was that it is quite alot of money to train from what I have read.... but the course itself looks pretty comprehensive! Good luck with it - I think lots of people will be very envious that you have the opportunity to do something you actually want to do with your life, and I'm sure you will be fab at it! :cool:
 
I'm interested in this as well. Does anyone know which hoof trimming school seems to be better to train with? I've looked at UKNHCP and Equine Podiatry Association. The latter costs about £1,000 more for the training.
Any opinions/experiences would be appreciated. Thanks x
 
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