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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Identify shoeing needs of individual equines
   • Handle equines to reduce stress and alarm, monitor behaviour to eliminate risks to equine or handlers according to workplace practices
   • Identify, fit and use personal protective equipment according to health and safety in the workplace procedures
   • Observe gait and conformation, including trotting the equine in different patterns to identify any signs of lameness
   • Observe and identify moderate faults and defects that may be alleviated
   • Adopt a working position that maintains comfort of the equine and ensures comfort and personal safety
   • Use appropriate tools to remove shoes, ensuring no damage is caused to the hooves
   • Clean hooves of foreign bodies in a safe handling manner to facilitate examination of the hoof
   • Examine the shoe and assess implications of the wear pattern
   • Report any conditions requiring higher-level treatment by a veterinarian or other specialist
   • Amend the shoeing plan, taking into account conditions of the hooves not previously identifiable
2. Trim and prepare hooves
   • Use farriery tools to trim and prepare hooves to achieve balance, level and shape, and to correct any identified hoof defects
   • Conduct trimming operations without injury to equine hooves
   • Check work while in progress and on completion to ensure quality outcomes of hoof preparation have been achieved
   • Make and/or select and modify the correct type, material and size of shoes according to shoeing plan
   • Select suitable tools to fit shoes according to equine needs
   • Shape selected shoes to incorporate any ancillary features as determined by the shoeing plan
   • Fit shoes to fore and hind hooves and assess the need for any final adjustments
   • Make final adjustments to the shape and size of the shoe and any ancillary features to achieve correct fit
3. Attach shoes and finish shoeing process
   • Select suitable tools and appropriate size nails for attaching and clenching shoes
   • Attach the shoe safely, securely and in the correct position
   • Finish the hoof using clenching process, and assess the finished job and welfare of the equine
   • Assess finished work to ensure the equine is more comfortable and the condition of the hoof is likely to improve
   • Inform the responsible person of farriery procedures completed, and advise on future hoof care requirements and the welfare of the equine
   • Update records of service according to workplace practices