Training
Training Application Calendar Dates 2023
Since PZP (or ZonaStat-H) has been federally approved (EPA reg. no. 86833-1), certification through this PZP training course is required to either receive and/or apply the vaccine to equids.
The equine contraceptive training class runs for 3 days and contains a lot of information. It is 50% pure educational and 50% hands-on training and is designed to provide the trainee with enough background to explain the science to supporters, critics, the public or the press.
Travel and Lodging
It would be helpful for us to know what your travel plans are (driving, flying, flying and renting a car). If you are flying and not renting a car, two of the hotels have a shuttle. If you are driving, the hotel complex is right off I-90, at Exit 443 (Zoo Drive), about two miles west of downtown Billings.
We suggest that everyone stay at the Big Horn Resort, (406-839-9300) which despite its fancy name is just a nice moderately-priced hotel a mere mile from the Center. The hotel provides complimentary breakfasts and has an airport shuttle. The SCC provides 3 lunches and there are two nice restaurants right next to the hotel if you do not have ground transportation for dinner. If the Big Horn has no vacancies, the Holiday Express (406-652-0111) is right next door. They also have complimentary breakfasts but no airport shuttle service. A third choice is Homewood Suites (406-656-0525), which has complimentary breakfasts and airport shuttle service. All three hotels are close to each other.
First Day
Regardless of where you stay, we meet at 8:45 AM in the lobby of the Big Horn Resort on the first morning. We will escort everyone to the Center (which is inside ZooMontana’s grounds) to get you through the security gate. Thereafter we will provide you with a code, so you can come and go on your own. We generally are able to conclude the class and get everyone out by 5:00 or sooner of the 3rd day.
Supplies
We will provide you with a training manual, all necessary vaccine mixing equipment (which you may or may not be able to transport in carry-on luggage, if you are flying, depending on the TSA staff that day!)
Auditing
Occasionally some individuals desire to sit through the PZP training course but without the hands-on training. These folks could include members of the press who simply want to know more about the science, or upper level administrators who are contemplating utilizing this science at some point in the future. We welcome these “auditors” and are happy to include them for a $100 fee.
Prerequisites
It is not unusual for some people attending the course to never have held a rifle of any kind and this can slow the training process down. This is particularly true for those who have never looked through a rifle scope before. So, if you fall into that category, we strongly advise you to find someone with a scoped rifle and to learn how to handle/hold it and use the scope effectively. You don’t have to actually shoot, but it would be helpful to be comfortable looking through a scope.
The Area
Finally, if you are attending between late May and mid-September, we are located fairly close to Yellowstone National Park. The Northeast entrance is on the other side of a 60-mile drive across the nation’s second highest continuous highway (The Beartooth Highway – elevation 10,700 feet), through Cooke City and into the Northern Range and Lamar Valley of the park. Thus, if you are inclined, you might take an extra few days and mingle work with play and enjoy the scenery and wildlife. That road is closed from late September through May.
Payment
We require that everyone secure their seat with a $150 deposit that will be applied to the $300 PZP training fee the first day of the course. If you cancel more than 30 days in advance of your class, we will refund that deposit. The remainder of the fee is to be paid while you are attending the course unless other arrangements have been made.
