Elements and Performance Criteria
- Establish arrangements for re-educating and/or transitioning a horse to new purposes
- Determine client requirements for re-educating and/or transitioning the horse to new purposes
- Confirm business arrangements, fees and timeframes with the client
- Collate and review horse history and background information provided by client and/or from other relevant sources of information
- Identify individual horse, and establish ownership and industry sector requirements relevant to transitioning or rehoming horses
- Conduct initial assessment of the horse
- Establish a safe controlled environment to conduct the assessment
- Assess horse soundness, conformation, physical features and health
- Assess horse behaviour, temperament and ground manner, and determine current level of education
- Identify behaviours or conditions that need to be addressed in a re-education and/or transition plan
- Record information about the horse and assessment outcomes accurately
- Make a judgement about the type and extent of re-education required
- Discuss findings, desired outcomes and required action, including costs, with owner or relevant person
- Develop a sequential plan to re-educate and/or transition individual horses
- Apply knowledge of equine behaviour and learning theory to design an individual horse re-education and/or transitioning plan after initial assessment
- Assess safety risks and horse welfare requirements associated with re-educating and/or transitioning individual horses
- Incorporate client involvement in plan as required
- Ensure diet and exercise requirements specific to the individual horse and consistent with proposed new purpose are included in the program
- Record key stages of the plan, proposed timeframes and success criteria
- Implement re-education and/or transition program
- Establish a safe, controlled environment free from hazards to minimise risks to people and horses
- Introduce new tack, ground work, flatwork and other relevant activities to shape behaviour and responses to cues appropriate for new purpose
- Expose the horse to new activities, routines and/or environments to assist with transitioning to a new purpose
- Devise strategies to manage unwanted behaviours tailored to individual horse requirements
- Review re-education and/or transition program
- Assess progress of individual horse against success criteria, and evaluate horse readiness to transition to new purpose
- Revise plan, modifying activities and/or extending timelines, to address needs of horses that have not met success criteria
- Discuss with client alternative plans for a horse that has significant re-education issues or is unsuited for proposed new purpose
- Recommend ongoing education, welfare and care requirements for individual horse at the completion of the program