HMB Pro · HM International School of Horse & Hoof Care
Become a Hoofing Marvellous Barefoot Professional
Develop the judgement and practical skill to help horses and the people who care for them.
HMB Pro is two years of guided professional study, practical learning and assessment, for committed horse owners and for people already working with horses.
Laura and her horse
Questions about her horse’s hooves led Laura to study with HMIS. She went on to qualify as an HMB Pro in the USA.
Why people take this path
Many began with a question about their own horse.
Some of our students first came looking for answers for a horse they loved. Some had experienced loss. Others had seen their horse improve and wanted to understand why.
For many, that experience became a reason to study more deeply, so they could help other horses and the people who care for them.
Every student's reasons are their own, and every journey is different. What they share is a wish to understand horses and their hooves more deeply - and to use that understanding to help others.
What an HMB Pro learns
Professional training is broader than learning a trim.
The programme develops the understanding, habits and judgement that sit behind good hoof care, so that each decision is grounded in what the individual horse is showing you.
- Anatomical understanding
- Knowing the structures inside the hoof and limb well enough to recognise what the outside of the foot is telling you.
- Observation
- Learning to look carefully and consistently at the horse, the hoof and the way they move, before reaching for a tool.
- Hoof care
- Practical trimming skills developed alongside the understanding that informs every decision.
- The whole horse
- Considering diet, environment, movement, workload and comfort as part of each hoof's story.
- Photographic documentation
- Recording feet with consistent views so change can be seen, discussed and reviewed over time.
- Case studies
- Following real horses, building records and reflecting on what the evidence shows.
- Professional judgement
- Weighing what you see, recognising your limits and knowing when to involve other professionals.
- Communication with owners
- Explaining findings clearly and honestly, so owners can take part in their horse's care.
How the two years work
Study at home, practise with care, learn together in person.
HMIS is a living school. Our clinical framework guides the training, while ongoing observation, real cases and the questions our students bring help us keep the teaching fresh and responsive.
- 01
Modular online learning
Structured study you work through at home, building knowledge step by step.
- 02
Practical activities and case work
Applying what you learn to real horses and real records, with careful documentation.
- 03
Instructor guidance and tutorials
Support, feedback and discussion with the HM teaching team as you progress.
- 04
Assessments
Regular checks of understanding and practical skill throughout the programme.
- 05
Two in-person training camps
One intensive camp in each year, learning and practising alongside instructors and fellow students.
Where the journey begins
Phoenix Foundations: two ways to learn
Before beginning HMB Pro, complete either the in-person 3-day practical workshop or the online workshop experience. You only need to complete one format.
In-person 3-day practical workshop
3 days of anatomy-led teaching with the HM team, learning alongside others.
View HM WorkshopsOnline workshop experience
Recorded workshop teaching and demonstrations, giving you access to Phoenix Foundations wherever you are.
Coming soon
Explore the online workshop experienceAn international learning community
Well over 100 HMB Pro students and graduates across more than 15 countries
Students bring different horses, climates, experiences and languages. Discussing a case with someone who works in very different conditions is one of the quiet strengths of studying together.
Teaching takes place in English. We work hard to support students for whom English is not their first language, with time to ask questions, discuss cases together and learn through visual and practical teaching.
The learning does not stop at the end of a module. Students and qualified HMB Pros keep talking and learning together online, sharing cases and questions. They take the work seriously and support each other through it, enjoy being together at training camps, and often form lasting friendships.
Is this the right path for you?
Could this be your path?
HMB Pro calls for sustained study, practical work, careful records, openness to feedback and a willingness to keep learning.
Previous professional credentials are not required. Completing one of the foundation routes is.
Prospectus and next step
Request the HMB Pro Prospectus
Interested in becoming an HMB Pro? Complete the form and we’ll send you the prospectus with more detail about the training, entry requirements and next steps.