The Danish Equine Academy · Official Programme Documentation
Equine Physiotherapist E.D.P.®
Professional education combining scientific and theoretical study, supervised practical training, independent equine clinical practice, clinical reasoning and formal competency assessment.
Professional qualification · Approximately 3.5 years · The Danish Equine Academy
Professional part-time education
Documented programme workload
Minimum equine clinical cases
Independent clinical practice
Contact teaching
Supervised practical training
Final competency assessment
Independent final assessment
Educational philosophy
The Equine Physiotherapist E.D.P.® programme is designed to develop a systematic understanding of the horse from anatomical, biomechanical and physiotherapeutic perspectives.
The programme progresses from fundamental anatomy, physiology and palpation to gait analysis, functional assessment, manual therapy, rehabilitation and advanced examination and treatment of different anatomical regions.
Theory and practical application are integrated throughout the programme. Students are expected not only to learn treatment techniques, but also to examine the horse systematically, interpret findings, formulate an appropriate treatment strategy and evaluate the response to treatment.
Osteopathic approach
An osteopathic approach is integrated throughout the entire Equine Physiotherapist E.D.P.® programme and becomes progressively more advanced as the student's theoretical knowledge, practical skills and clinical reasoning develop.
Students are trained to assess the horse from a whole-horse perspective, considering the entire musculoskeletal system — including bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and associated soft-tissue structures — and the functional and biomechanical relationships between them.
Students therefore learn not only to identify where a horse presents with pain, restriction or impaired function, but to investigate why the problem may be occurring, including possible biomechanical relationships, compensatory patterns and dysfunction elsewhere in the movement system.
Pain science & neurology
Pain science and neurology are integrated into the programme to support the student's understanding of pain, sensory and motor function, neurological influence on movement and the relationship between the nervous and musculoskeletal systems.
As their knowledge develops, students learn to incorporate relevant neurological principles and pain mechanisms into examination, clinical reasoning, treatment planning and evaluation of treatment response.
Pathology & veterinary referral
According to their level of training, students progressively develop knowledge of pathology and relevant signs of disease. Particular emphasis is placed on recognising findings that may indicate conditions outside the scope of physiotherapeutic treatment and therefore require veterinary assessment or referral.
Evidence-based practice & SOAP
Research literacy and evidence-based practice are integrated throughout the programme. Students are trained to critically consider relevant scientific and professional knowledge alongside clinical findings, practical experience and the individual horse.
Clinical reasoning and professional documentation are developed progressively throughout the education. The SOAP framework — Subjective, Objective, Assessment and Plan — is used as one structured approach to clinical documentation and case management.
Curriculum
Module 1
Foundations of equine anatomy, physiology, palpation, physiotherapeutic examination and massage, establishing the basis for systematic whole-horse assessment.
Module 2
Development of observational and gait-analysis skills together with massage techniques and functional interpretation of movement and muscular findings.
Module 3
Sports massage, core stability and the relationship between muscular function, performance, compensation and rehabilitation.
Module 4
Integration of examination findings into treatment planning, clinical reasoning, reassessment and professional documentation.
Module 5
Regional anatomy, biomechanics, examination and treatment of the forelimbs and shoulder, integrated with whole-horse assessment.
Module 6
Regional anatomy, biomechanics, examination and treatment of the hind limbs and hip, including functional relationships and compensatory patterns.
Module 6A
Formal theoretical and practical assessment of the student's developing knowledge, practical skills and clinical reasoning.
Module 7
Examination and treatment of the sacrum and pelvis with emphasis on biomechanics, functional relationships and integration with the rest of the movement system.
Module 8
Regional anatomy, biomechanics, examination and treatment of the head, neck and back, with progressive integration of whole-horse clinical reasoning.
Module 9
Advanced examination and treatment of the head, neck and back together with advanced treatment approaches, laser and massage.
Module 10
Examination and treatment of the sternum, ribs and diaphragm and their functional and biomechanical relationships within the whole horse.
Module 11
Consolidation and integration of programme knowledge, examination, treatment, clinical reasoning, rehabilitation, reassessment and documentation.
Module 12
Final written, oral and practical examination, including practical assessment on a horse.
Clinical education
minimum documented equine examinations and treatments
Students complete a minimum of 250 documented equine examinations and treatments, representing approximately 750 hours of independent clinical practice.
Each clinical case includes history, observation, gait assessment, palpation and examination, treatment, evaluation of treatment response and professional documentation. A clinical logbook is required.
The programme includes 352 hours of contact teaching, of which approximately 116 hours are supervised practical training.
Clinical reasoning
Observation
Examination
Clinical Findings
Clinical Reasoning
Identification of Contributing Factors
Treatment
Rehabilitation Plan
Reassessment
Documentation
Quality assurance
Midterm
Module 6A includes formal theoretical and practical midterm assessment.
Final examination
Module 12 includes the final written, oral and practical examination on a horse.
Independent assessment
An external veterinarian examiner participates in the final examination.
Module 6A and Module 12 together represent approximately 120 hours of allocated assessment-related workload, including preparation, examinations and associated academic work.
Study volume
The official programme-level documented workload is approximately 1,550 hours. This includes contact teaching, independent clinical practice, independent study and assessment-related academic work. Workload categories may overlap and should not be double-counted.
Official total programme workload
Approximately 1,550 hours
Contact teaching
352 hours
Supervised practical training within contact teaching
Approximately 116 hours
Independent clinical practice
Minimum 250 documented cases · approximately 750 hours
Module 6A and Module 12 assessment-related workload
Approximately 120 hours, including preparation, examinations and associated academic work
International transparency
For workload-comparison purposes only, approximately 1,550 hours corresponds to roughly 50–60 ECTS workload using the conventional range of 25–30 study hours per ECTS. The programme does not award ECTS credits and this comparison does not constitute formal ECTS accreditation, credit transfer, university equivalence or EQF placement.
Official records
Official document
The formal qualification document issued to the graduate.
Official document
Graduate-specific record of programme structure, clinical education, documented workload and examinations.
Official document
The formal framework for programme structure, workload, teaching and learning methods, clinical requirements, assessment rules and programme learning outcomes.
Official document
Detailed description of the academic and clinical content and progression across Modules 1–12.
These four documents constitute the Academy's core official programme documentation.
For authorities & professional organisations
The Danish Equine Academy uses a digital verification system to protect the authenticity and traceability of official qualification documents.
Each graduate's official documents are linked to a unique Certificate ID and QR code, allowing authorities, educational institutions, employers and professional organisations to verify the qualification and confirm that the documents were issued by The Danish Equine Academy.
Official documentation may include the Diploma / Certificate, Academic Transcript, Study Regulation, Module Descriptions and confirmation of clinical training, programme workload and examinations. Where additional verification is required, The Danish Equine Academy can provide further confirmation upon request.
The Danish Equine Academy
Secure documentation · Digital verification · Professional transparency
