Term and Curriculum
Course Outline...what to expect.
The New Zealand Equine Dentistry School Ltd (NZEDS) offer a three month tuition schedule, comprising of theory and LOTS of practical. We have limited spaces, so that the instructors teaching is maximised. Warwick Behrns EqDT IAED/CA will be your primary instructor, with other dentists adding a variety of instruction periodically through the course duration.
The NZEDS course is predominantly practically based with a comprehesive theoretical component. Teaching practical and theory components simultaneously gives students a far better retention of knowledge.
During the first few weeks, students will spend time in the classroom studying the theory behind equine dentistry. From there they will get to work with horse's skulls, evaluating problems and using some of the basic tools, hence making a start towards working on horses mouths. Observation of instructors working is common during the next two weeks, and this gives students an appreciation of what is involved before making a start themselves.
At an early stage students are taught how to diagnose problems and the use of equipment to correct these problems by way of static displays. We have access to a number of horses for you to begin on, as the first part of your practical you will feel very clumsy and will need constant supervision.
After one month, you will be feeling alot more confident and this is where you will need to be most careful. Here is where so many new equine dentists fall down. They have an abundance of knowledge, and quite often make the mistake of thinking 'they know what they are doing'. You can never stop learning in this industry, and although it may not feel like it here, the most important part of the course is just beginning. PRACTICE!
From here on you will get two months of practice, with supervision, knowledge and expertise to fall back on. By the end of the course students will be working independantly on horses for clients with confidence and preparing to run their own practice.
The education received will take students through from basic equine dentistry techniques to working with advanced cases. We feel that three months allows students to be totally proficient to work on all types of equines' and successfully be able to run their own business.
Students need to be fit and healthy, and a good background in horsemanship is ideal. Equine Dentistry requires a high level of dedication and attention to detail to achieve the maximum results. Students need to be prepared to focus themselves completely on the three months of training.
We encourage students to become members of the International Association of Equine Dentistry (IAED) and to attend conferences and certification programs as this becomes an important link to your future as an equine dentist in business.
2010 Dates
Monday May 10th to Friday August 6th (Class full)
Monday August 30th to Friday November 26th (Class full)
2011 Dates
Monday January 17th to Friday April 22nd **
Monday May 9th to Friday August 5th
Monday August 29th to Friday November 25th
** 14 weeks have been allowed in this date range to allow for instructor travelling to the IAED conference for one week in February 2010. Dates for this class are subject to change to reflect this trip not going ahead.
*Course dates are subject to change.
