On May 20, 2021, Fear Free launched its national Equine Veterinary Certification Program, an eight-module certification course for veterinary professionals. Stacie is one of the five authors of the course, and the program traces back to a conversation she started: in 2018 she approached Fear Free founder Dr. Marty Becker about building an equine version of the certification that had already reached more than 100,000 small-animal professionals.
Fear Free Equine Certification Program Launches
The course teaches veterinary professionals how to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in equine patients: examining horses safely with gentle techniques, performing routine procedures in a non-threatening way, recognizing the signs of stress, and helping owners train their horses to cooperate in medical and hoof care. Professionals who complete it earn eight RACE-approved continuing-education hours.
“As a veterinarian who shares my life and home with horses, I know how important it is to address both their emotional and physical needs. A Fear Free approach to equine care will improve the lives of equine practitioners, caregivers, riders, and above all, horses.”
— Dr. Marty Becker, Fear Free founder and CEO, in the launch announcement
The course was written by Stacie G. Boswell, DVM, DACVS-LA; Tamara Grubb, DVM, PhD, DACVAA; Nita Hynes, DVM; Claudia Richter, DVM; and Sherrie Yuschak, RVT, VTS-Behavior. It was reviewed by 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); and Lore Haug, DVM, MS, DACVB, CABC (Texas Veterinary Behavior Services).
Veterinary professionals can learn more and enroll at fearfreepets.com. The launch announcement is archived at PRWeb.