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Posted by Equestrian Queensland on 02/07/2018.

PERMITTED EQUINE THERAPISTS at FEI EVENTS

What is a Permitted Equine Therapist?

A Permitted Equine Therapist (PET) is a new category of equine treating professional introduced in 2018. PETs will be able to carry out Restricted Supportive Therapies at FEI events.

Who can be a Permitted Equine Therapist?

In order to become a PET, the applicant must have undergone specific training to carry out any of the therapies listed under ‘Restricted Supportive Therapies’ as described in the Veterinary Regulations, Article 1065. PETs must work within their areas of competency and not carry out ‘Restricted Supportive Therapies’ in which they are not trained.

What are Restricted Supportive Therapies?

Restricted Supportive Therapies include:

a) electrical current devices
(e.g. TENS machines, NMES and H-wave);
b) therapeutic ultrasound therapy; 
c) vacuum therapy; and
d) physical therapies (e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure, trigger point massage, myofascial release, osteopathy, chiropractic and spinal manipulation).

Permitted Equine Therapists & Acupuncture

PETs are not permitted to carry out acupuncture at FEI events, regardless of any national legislation that may otherwise allow them to do so. Only Permitted Treating Veterinarians (PTVs) can carry out acupuncture at FEI events.

I am a veterinarian, can I register as a Permitted Equine Therapist?

Veterinarians will not be permitted to register as PETs.
Applicants who are already registered as PTVs are already able to carry out Restricted Supportive Therapies at FEI events.
Applicants who are veterinarians and not registered with the FEI must register as a PTV even if they only wish to carry out Restricted Supportive Therapies at FEI events.
PTVs must only work within their areas of competency and not carry out ‘Restricted Supportive Therapies’ for which they are not trained. 

Use of Restricted Supportive Therapies

In view of the time required to construct the electronic application process, the FEI acknowledges an interim solution is required to enable horses to receive supportive therapies. The FEI requests applicant to follow the guidelines below:

1 January to 30 June 2018 Applicants waiting for the Permitted Equine Therapist registration to be processed before 30 June 2018 may carry out Restricted Supportive Therapies at FEI Events under the following conditions:

  • Applicants must identify themselves to the Veterinary Delegate of the event before entering the stables area, inform the Veterinary Delegate which horses they are treating and the name of the PTV at the event with whom they are working. 
  • Ensure therapies are undertaken in areas agreed by the Veterinary Delegate
  • Seek specific approval from the Veterinary Delegate to carry out therapies not listed by Article 1065

1 July 2018 onwards: Applicants who have not applied for the Permitted Equine Therapist status or those who have applied and are waiting for their registration to be processed will not be able to carry out Restricted Supportive Therapies at FEI events after 1 July 2018.

Permitted Equine Therapists' Application Process

Application Procedure PET applications are only accepted electronically by filling in the ‘Permitted Equine Therapist Application Form’ found below.

PET Application

  1. On clicking ‘Submit’, the form will be sent to Equestrian Austrlia who will evaluate the application.
  2. Successful applicants will receive an automatically generated email.
  3. Applicants that do not already have an FEI account will receive an email explaining how to create one. After creating their account the applicant will receive another email containing instructions to access the online examination. 
  4. Applicants that already have an FEI account will receive an email containing instructions to access the online examination.
  5. The online test will comprise questions relating to the FEI PET’s obligations when attending FEI events as described in the Veterinary Regulations. Applicants will not be tested on technical aspects of Restricted Supportive Therapies.
  6. After passing the online test, the applicant will be granted PET status and will be issued with an FEI PET identification card valid for 4 years.
  7. Unsuccessful applicants will be contacted by email with appropriate feedback.

Status Maintenance

  • PETs will be required to renew their status every four years.
  • The renewal process will involve retaking the online test based on their obligations as a PET at FEI events.
  • Should a PET not renew their status, the FEI will terminate their function.

Adding Additional Therapies to a PET's FEI Profile

  • The FEI acknowledges that some PETs may undergo further training in other restricted supportive therapies and also wish to add these therapies to their existing profile. 
  • PETs must make their request via their FEI Database profile page which can be accessed at https://data.fei.org/Person/Search.aspx
  • PETs may log into their account by clicking on ‘Log In’ in the top right hand corner of the page.
  • Once logged in, PETs must click on ‘My Account’ on the top right hand corner of the page.
  • To request an additional therapy, PETs must click on the link “Add a new therapy” displayed on the right of the grid, under ‘Additional Roles’, in the “Official” section.
  • After the PET has selected the therapy (or therapies) they wish to apply for, a request for approval is sent to their NF who will evaluate the application.
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