Elements and Performance Criteria
- Assess education needs of the horse
- Establish client needs and requirements for individual horse
- Assess level of education and temperament of the horse to be educated, and potential safety risks
- Assess conformation, condition and health of the horse to determine readiness and suitability for education program
- Prepare a plan to educate the horse based on its individual needs, application of equine behaviour, current equine learning theory and intended purpose
- Prepare safe environment to commence groundwork
- Prepare safe, secure and controlled facilities to commence horse groundwork education
- Identify hazards and assess and control potential risks to safety of handler/s and horse/s
- Select and correctly fit own personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Determine if the assistance of another handler is required based on risk assessment
- Introduce horse initial handling on the ground
- Develop calm and obedient behaviour by gaining trust and confidence of horse through appropriate handling and feeding
- Introduce a halter and lead rope, and educate the horse to be caught, led and tied up safely
- Accustom the horse to being groomed and hosed
- Accustom the horse to have its legs handled and all feet picked up
- Familiarise the horse with tack, equipment and aids used in education exercises
- Teach the horse to focus attention on handler and respond consistently in different contexts to aids, cues and communication relating to forward and backward movement, changing direction, halting and stopping
- Build horse confidence within a controlled environment, progressing to unfamiliar and/or open environments when ready
- Educate horse to load and unload on transport
- Assess risks associated with transport vehicle and location for loading and unloading horse
- Familiarise horse with transport vehicle and prepare for transport
- Select suitable horses to assist with habituating the horse to be in close proximity to other horses
- Teach horse to enter and exit a transport vehicle using positive reinforcement methodologies
- Build horse confidence in loading and unloading and to be transported safely in a secured vehicle
- Apply reward-based horse education methodology