Elements and Performance Criteria
- Determine the nutritional requirements of horses
- Identify credible sources of information on equine nutrition relevant to workplace needs, including scientific and technical literature, historical records and industry practice information
- Analyse research findings to determine credibility, relevance and currency of information
- Determine the nutritional needs of horses of various classes based on research findings relevant to workplace requirements
- Apply relevant research findings to the management of workplace nutrition practices
- Manage ingredients for horse rations
- Determine suitable nutrients for inclusion in an equine diet according to the individual needs of each horse, availability, quality and cost
- Organise laboratory testing to determine the quality and quantities of ingredients required for ration formulation according to workplace requirements
- Implement safe, secure and hygienic storage of feed and ingredients
- Calibrate measuring equipment and calculate quantities at regular intervals
- Formulate and modify effective feeding plans, rations and methods
- Develop a feeding plan to supply nutritional requirements to meet appropriate horse condition, performance and health outcomes
- Formulate rations on the basis of identified nutritional requirements, digestive physiology and anatomy, and availability of feedstuffs
- Implement feeding methods and techniques to support natural feeding behaviours
- Adapt feeding plan to respond to variations in nutritional requirements and seasonal conditions
- Apply a cost-effective approach to sourcing and supplying required nutrients
- Assess and manage the environmental impacts of supplying feedstuffs
- Monitor and manage the feeding of horses
- Supply rations to horses according to feeding plan schedule and requirements
- Ensure feeding records and feed orders are maintained, monitored and prepared according to workplace requirements
- Monitor the implementation of the program using appropriate measures to ensure the goals of the feeding plan are achieved
- Monitor and document reactions to changes in feed types, ingredients or schedules
- Develop and implement a plan to manage documented adverse reactions to rations
- Monitor, review and record the feeding plan and implement improvements and adjustments as required
- Evaluate health implications of feeding plans, rations and methods
- Monitor the health of horses for signs of inadequate nutrition or nutrition-related diseases
- Research and implement solutions for identified nutrition-related health problems and seek veterinarian or other professional advice according to the type of problem
- Implement alternative feed regimes, diets or methods to counter the effects of poor nutrition
- Implement strategies to prevent the development of nutrition-related diseases
- Manage pasture for horses
- Identify and select pasture species on the basis of nutritional value, persistence under grazing by horses, and environmental requirements
- Determine harmful effects of pasture species for various classes of horses, and develop a management strategy to ensure herd health
- Identify and remove plants poisonous to horses from pastures and areas accessed by horses
- Develop and implement a pasture management plan to maximise nutritional value, and minimise negative health and environmental impacts