Elements and Performance Criteria
- Maintain accommodation for performance horses
- Determine the requirements of animal housing to meet environmental, security, physical and emotional needs of individual animals
- Identify hazards, carry out a risk assessment and take steps to minimise risk to ensure safety of self, horse and others
- Clean stables and yards, ensuring bedding is replaced and stable equipment is checked, maintained and stored according to workplace procedures
- Maintain a safe environment and housing for horses consistent with work health and safety (WHS) and animal welfare legislation and guidelines
- Maintain records according to workplace requirements and industry codes of practice
- Groom and rug a horse
- Select, use and maintain personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Identify WHS standards, assess risks and implement suitable controls while handling horses
- Wash and groom horses according to industry practices and workplace requirements
- Fit and remove rugs and rug accessories according to the requirements of the individual horse
- Clip a horse
- Prepare horses for work
- Select and prepare horses for work according to stable roster
- Identify and select horses by individual characteristics
- Select correct working gear and check for wear and suitability
- Fit working gear to horses safely
- Care for horses after work according to industry practices and workplace requirements
- Remove and clean working gear, report and action necessary repairs
- Monitor and maintain a horse feeding program
- Record and report variations to individual horse eating and drinking patterns
- Monitor and report condition of horses
- Prepare and distribute feed and feed supplements in line with feeding plan
- Maintain and clean food storage areas and water supply, and keep free of contaminants
- Adjust feeding practices, under supervision, to ensure horses are eating effectively and safely
- Monitor and adjust feeding practices to ensure handler safety is maintained