Equine veterinarian Helmuth von Bluecher, who was featured in the Tryon Daily Bulletin on Saturday, June 17, will, along with his daughter Tescha von Bluecher, Dr. Thann Boyum, Connie Brown, Nikki Guerrazzi, Reid McClellan, Lilia White and Anita Williamson, be teaching Groom Elite 99 (Introduction to Horse Care and Handling), Groom Elite 101 Certification program and Groom Elite 201, another certification program, at Isothermal Community College, Columbus.

Groom Elite 99 classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1-5 p.m., July 11-20. Groom Elite 101 classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1-5 p.m., July 25 – August 24. The class schedule for Groom Elite 201 has not yet been set.

Regarding Groom Elite 101, this flagship 40-hour course focuses on important horse care skills including: equine behavior, grooming basics, equine anatomy, digestion and feeding guidelines, horse health evaluation, applying bandages, safety, barn management and much more.

The course is geared to horse care workers and horse owners with some experience who desire to have a deeper, more comprehensive knowledge of the horse and working with horses.
Originally designed for the racing industry, this nationally recognized groom certification curriculum has been modified for Isothermal Community College to address the needs of the local show horse industry.

Training will combine classroom lecture and hands on learning in the barn (local barns). At the end of the course, students will have an opportunity to be tested for competency and knowledge in equine care and receive their “Certified Groom Elite” certification. The course is available in English and Spanish. Limited financial aid is available to qualifying students.

Upcoming ICC courses, to be announced are: Braiding for Competition, Equine Sport Massage, Barn Management, Veterinarian Assistant, Equine Nutrition and Equine Videography and Photography.

For more information, or to register, call 828-894-3092. Visit ICC on Facebook at facebook.com/isothermalpolk.