Application
This unit is applicable to those working in the range of equine industries where farriery services are provided. Farriery services are performed on fully broken in horses and on 'well-educated' horses. In addition to legal and ethical responsibilities, all units of competency in the ACM10 Animal Care and Management Training Package have the requirement for animals to be handled gently and calmly. The individual is required to exhibit appropriate care for animals so that stress and discomfort is minimised. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Identify horse behaviour and level of education of a horse prior to handling | 1.1. The senses of a horse are identified and responded to appropriately, as well as methods used by horses to communicate. 1.2. Level of education of the horse is identified. 1.3. A range of nervous behaviours, vices and horse behavioural problems are identified, together with the external factors that may cause behavioural changes. 1.4. A decision whether to proceed with farriery services is based on the consideration of the behaviour and level of education of the animal prior to handling. |
2. Identify and safely catch and control a horse | 2.1. Horse is correctly identified by its features. 2.2. Appropriate gear for catching, handling and controlling horses is identified and applied. 2.3. Appropriate calm and reassuring climate is created and maintained for the horse. 2.4. Horse is caught, handled, controlled and restrained in a safe, humane and appropriate manner. |
3. Perform the farriery service safely | 3.1. The team required for the shoeing process is identified, together with choice of restraining devices as required. 3.2. Nervous behaviours are identified and minimised, together with anticipation and appropriate response to any changes in horse behaviour during the farriery service. 3.3. Evasive or humane corrective action is taken, and others given timely warning of risk, when any adverse reaction from a horse is anticipated. 3.4. Occupational health and safety (OHS) considerations applicable to the task are adhered to. 3.5. The correct shoeing position is adopted in order to allow the service to be conducted safely and humanely, to allow the horse to remain balanced and of no danger to itself, the farrier or others. 3.6. Waste materials are disposed of, consistent with manufacturer's guidelines, OHS requirements, good biosecurity practice and enterprise processes. |
Required Skills
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Required skills |
adhere to OHS and animal welfare legislation, regulations and codes of practice catch, handle and restrain horses in a safe and humane manner identify individual horses perform farrier services in a safe and humane manner recognise and respond appropriately to a range of horse behaviours oral communication skills/language to fulfil the job role as specified, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice when required problem-solving skills to anticipate horse behaviour and take appropriate action use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment use safe waste handling and disposal procedures work as part of a team. |
Required knowledge |
common horse behaviour, social traits and vices factors which might influence a range of horse behaviours purpose of using different items of handling gear and appropriate personal protective equipment safe work practices. |
Evidence Required
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package. | |
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | The evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can: identify horse behaviour and level of education of a horse prior to handling identify, catch and control horses in a safe and humane manner perform farriery service in a safe and humane manner use appropriate personal protective equipment and maintain safety of self and others in the workplace. The skills and knowledge required to handle horses safely in the provision of farriery services must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in worksites, where routine farriery tasks are performed, or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. There must be access to a range of horses of different temperaments, alone and in a group, in strange and familiar surroundings, and being subjected to standard and unusual treatments as well as the appropriate equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence. |
Method of assessment | To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances and where possible, over a number of assessment activities. The assessment strategy must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are: written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions third-party evidence workplace documentation portfolio. This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role. |
Guidance information for assessment | Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds). |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. | |
Senses of the horse may include: | physical senses: eyesight hearing smell taste touch sensitivity to changes in: weather behaviour of other horses, animals or humans layout of equipment, property or surrounds. |
Methods used by horses to communicate may include: | verbal non-verbal means: mouth and face body postures, which might include ears back or kicking. |
Indication of the level of education of the horse may include: | horse can be lead into position where farrier needs to work horse will accept being restrained by head collar and lead horse will accept having its feet handled and positioned for farrier procedures horse will accept having its legs handled horse will accept standing in position for required period of time with consideration of: age breed horse's usual activity or purpose size Note: Horses presented for farriery services must be well-handled and confident to have their feet picked up and held in positions required by a farrier. |
Nervous behaviours, common vices and horse behavioural problems may include: | nervous or defensive behaviours: striking kicking biting holding body in tension shaking pawing pushing or barging sweating wanting to run away behavioural problems: weaving attempting to sit down or lean on farrier refusing to allow legs to be handled refusing to hold legs off the ground behaviour may vary to reflect: eating disorders inability to maintain concentration or lack of physical stamina to hold positions for required time pain, discomfort or fear temperament. |
External factors that could influence horse behaviour may include: | external factors: contact with particular individuals distractions, such as dogs or other animals, unusual noises or items herd hierarchy and presence or absence of other horses weather, season or environment the atmosphere and other activities occurring: because of illness or injury during competition or racing events during sales preparation in preparation for and during transport. |
Features used to identify a horse may include: | age or category (e.g. foal or broodmare) brands or tattoos colour head, leg and body markings height sex wounds or permanent scars. |
Gear required for catching, handling controlling and restraining horses may include: | catching: head collar or halter and lead catching yard handling: bagging down cloth muzzles controlled or restrained: anti rearing bit chemical sedatives prescribed by and administered under the supervision of a veterinarian hobbles leg ropes twitches personal protective equipment to be used by the farrier. Note: The majority of horses are quiet, easily managed and require no restraint. Where restraint is required it must be the minimum necessary and should always be determined through consultation with the owner or responsible person. |
A calm and reassuring climate may include: | minimising factors that may make the horse nervous or fearful, such as loud noises maintaining a situation that is perceived to be hazard or threat-free by the horse proceeding calmly and slowly using a quiet and calm voice tone. |
Appropriate manner need for horse to be caught, handled, controlled and restrained may include: | horse catching, handling, controlling and restraining methods must: comply with industry codes of practice comply with relevant legislation and regulations related to animal welfare and prevention of cruelty to animals handling techniques will be selected with consideration of: location of other persons and animals variables that apply to the range of working environments where horses may be controlled, such as: stables tracks and event venues yards age and education of horse location of vehicles, fences and equipment variables that influence the behaviour of horses (e.g. wind and noise) handling, control and restraint of horses: feet are picked up using industry approved methods head collars and leads are used for tying up horses safely horses are released correctly into paddocks and yards restraints are fitted only when required and for the shortest time period monitoring and interpreting the horse's behaviour and traits awareness of the horse's placement in relation to handler, other horses and hazards. |
Team required to conduct the farriery service may include: | person to hold horse assistant for younger, less experienced horses or horses with an identified problem farrier. |
Changes in horse behaviour may include: | horse may become nervous, frightened or agitated horse may panic either because of external factors, such as noise, or because of pain and discomfort horse may become tired and unable to maintain position. |
OHS considerations may include: | alertness of the farrier and adoption of a position that is comfortable and balanced for the farrier appropriate clothing, applicable to all members of the team manual handling skills: carrying lifting shifting use of relevant personal protective equipment and other safety devices: hair tied back jewellery removed leather apron sun cream and head covering work boots wrist guards. |
Considerations for providing farriery service humanely may include: | complying with relevant: industry codes of practice legislation and regulations concerned with: animal welfare the prevention of cruelty to animals. |
Sectors
Unit sector | Farriery |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Not applicable.