Elements and Performance Criteria
- Relate elements of the horse diet to physiological function
- Classify major nutrient elements according to needs of the horse
- Describe components of the digestive system and the nutrient absorption and metabolism processes
- Relate features of a well-balanced diet to horse age, health condition and workload
- Evaluate impact of an unbalanced or deficient diet on horse health
- Implement health management programs for horses of all ages
- Determine horse health and emergency care procedures
- Keep horses in appropriate premises that meet welfare, legislative and licensing requirements
- Correctly fit and use personal protective equipment (PPE) and specialised PPE to meet quarantine requirements
- Handle and restrain horses using safe horse handling practices and animal welfare standards
- Assess health status of horses, applying knowledge of signs and symptoms of healthy and distressed, sick or injured horses
- Identify health care and emergency care procedures and communicate to relevant staff
- Review characteristics, signs and symptoms of healthy and distressed, sick or injured horses
- Identify horses that are potentially suffering from an infectious disease and quarantine or implement control measures to prevent disease spread under veterinary guidance
- Implement procedures for reporting notifiable diseases
- Treat injury and disease
- Determine health care and management for individual horses
- Discuss prognosis for common illnesses and injuries with key personnel and determine need for professional advice or veterinary assistance
- Assess and control risks prior to administering medication or treatments
- Confirm methods of administering medication, recording treatment and monitoring injectable medication
- Administer medication or treatments according to veterinarian instructions, work health and safety (WHS) requirements, stable procedures, and industry and animal welfare regulations
- Apply pharmaceutical and therapeutic treatments as instructed
- Correctly handle and store medications according to legislation and workplace safety procedures
- Return or dispose of surplus medications and treatments according to workplace procedures
- Monitor health management program
- Monitor horses during and after treatment and report indicators of further health problems
- Document health management program and treatments and maintain records
- Review program implementation and outcomes
- Describe components of the digestive system and the nutrient absorption and metabolism processes
- Relate features of a well-balanced diet to horse age, health condition and workload
- Evaluate impact of an unbalanced or deficient diet on horse health