Foundational Skills in Equine Practice

The first decade of equine practice is often a high-stakes balancing act in which you grapple with complex cases, difficult client conversations, and building clinical confidence without a safety net.

Conquer the physical and mental demands of these formative years with hands-on training in core areas of medicine, ophthalmology, and dentistry at the AAEP’s Foundational Skills in Equine Practice.

Important Details:

The 2 ½-day hands-on event will be held January 29–31, 2027, at the University of Florida (both lectures and labs).
RACE-Accredited CE Hours: 26, including 4.75 hours of pre-event preparation in the form of reading/videos.
Attendance is strictly limited to just 60 participants.

Why Choose Foundational Skills in Equine Practice?

You will acquire translatable knowledge and techniques that will expand your skills sets, boost your confidence, and accelerate your career. You will also connect with colleagues from across the US at a similar career stage.

Unlike traditional CE events, the Foundational Skills format combines knowledge acquisition, skill-building and personalized instruction for a full-circle learning experience. With 14 instructors and only 60 participants, you will receive the training opportunities and individual attention to ensure you return to your practice with immediate, actionable skills.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed specifically for equine practitioners who are in their first 10 years of practice. A low student-to-instructor ratio ensures a small-group environment with personalized guidance from instructors.

Learning Opportunities Include:

The program combines focused lectures followed by hands-on labs using cadaver specimens, live horses, and models, emphasizing practical skill development in:

Endoscopy
Oral exam
Ocular exam
Dental radiology
Ocular nerve blocks, SPL placement, nasolacrimal duct flush, tarsorrhaphy, and temporary tacking
Ultrasound of the neck and abdomen
Odontoplasty
Enucleation, third eyelid removal, and lid lacerations
Cranial nerve and moving neurologic exam

Lectures and wet labs will be led by a distinguished group of practitioners from private practice and veterinary teaching hospitals skilled in the topics and techniques.

“This is my favorite meeting/CE I’ve ever attended. I learned so much and made a lot of great connections.” - Past Foundational Skills Attendee
“It was a great opportunity to network, brush up on some rusty skills, and learn some new ones.” - Past Foundational Skills Attendee
“I can't overstate how valuable it is to have a community of new vets just like myself going through the same challenges at work that I can discuss things with and relate to. On top of that, I learned many new techniques that I will take home to my practice to improve how we work.” - Past Foundational Skills Attendee
“The wet labs were incredibly impressive; I was beyond amazed at what we were able to learn and accomplish. … I feel 100 times more prepared than I did before.” - Past Foundational Skills Attendee