Application
This unit is applicable to farriers working in farriery workplaces. 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 the anatomical components of the horse of specific relevance to farriers | 1.1. Basic features of horse anatomy are specified, in particular anatomical features of the lower limb and foot of the horse. 1.2. Basic functions of the foot with specific applicability to farriery are identified, in particular biomechanical functions of components of the lower limb and foot. 1.3. Differences between ideal and undesirable feet in determining shoeing needs are identified. 1.4. General principles of foot care for horses are identified, and specifically symptoms of malformation, injury and disease of the foot. |
2. Develop an appropriate foot care and shoeing program for the horse | 2.1. Type of work to be done by the horse is appraised, with reference to its gait, conformation and way of going. 2.2. An examination of the feet and of wear patterns of existing shoes is conducted in order to assess thecondition of the feet. 2.3. Personal responsibilities of the farrier are identified under relevant legislation and codes of practice. 2.4. Relevant features of the horse and its health are reported to the owner, and to a veterinarian, as applicable. 2.5. Agreement on foot care and shoeing plan is discussed with, and obtained from, the owner or person in charge of the horse. 2.6. Advice on routine and preventative hoof care is provided, and applied. 2.7. Records on each horse are maintained as required by the enterprise. |
3. Provide non-veterinarian horse health care under routine circumstances | 3.1. Symptoms of common ailments of the horse are identified. 3.2. Appropriate action is taken when malformation, injury and disease are suspected. 3.3. Appropriate non-veterinarian treatments are advised, or applied, under routine circumstances. |
4. Apply disease and ailment prevention procedures to single or groups of horses | 4.1. Principles that apply to isolation and quarantine of infection are identified. 4.2. Defined procedures are followed in regard to notifiable diseases and the maintenance of biosecurity. |
Required Skills
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Required skills |
adhere to OHS and animal welfare legislation, regulations and codes of practice employ safe and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when working with and handling horses maintain highest standards of hygiene and infection control at all times to reduce the risk of infection and cross-infection maintain records as appropriate literacy skills to read and follow organisational policies and procedures, including occupational health and safety (OHS), waste management and hygiene standards; follow sequenced written instructions; and record the information accurately and legibly oral communication skills/language to fulfil the job role as specified, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice when required numeracy skills to estimate, calculate, record and apply routine workplace measures to required tasks including measurements to assess shoe requirements problem-solving skills to select required materials and equipment and prioritise tasks use safe manual handling techniques and equipment use safe waste handling and disposal procedures. |
Required knowledge |
anatomical features of the lower limb and foot of the horse and applicable biomechanical functions general anatomy of the horse principles and practices of isolation and quarantine notifiable diseases and processes to be followed relevant legislation and codes of practice and personal responsibilities 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 the anatomical components of the horse relevant to farriers assess condition of horse's foot and develop appropriate foot care and shoeing plans for a range of horses provide advice on routine and preventative hoof care provide non-veterinarian horse health care under routine circumstances in regard to common ailments maintain biosecurity procedures apply disease and ailment prevention procedures including isolation and quarantine principles as appropriate. The skills and knowledge required to determine foot care and shoeing plans for horses 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 healthy horses, including a young horse, a mature horse, a shod horse and an unshod horse 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 case study analysis 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. | |
Features of horse anatomy may include: | features of general anatomical systems: skeletal system muscular system nervous system circulatory system lower limb anatomical features: bones hoof regions hoof structure joints ligaments major blood vessels nerve supply sensitive and insensitive structures tendons the process of and rate of hoof growth. |
Functions of the foot may include: | circulatory regulating biomechanical: anti-concussion arc of flight and break over patterns supportive non-slipping functions protective. |
Features of ideal and undesirable feet may include: | ideal feet: general healthy range of hoof angles depending on: age of horse or pony breed conformation front and back feet variations quality of hoof wall and horn shape of feet shape and location of frog shape and quality of sole undesirable feet: abnormally sloping or oblique feet brittle feet/shelly walled club feet mule feet dropped sole excess flares flat feet thin or double sole upright feet. |
Symptoms of malformation, injury and disease may include: | abscess/gravel bone/hoof developmental abnormalities corns coronary band injuries false quarter hoof deformities such as flared hooves joint ailments: curb degenerative joint disease joint injuries navicular disease sesamoditis side bone/ring bone spavin lacerations and abrasions lameness/heel pain laminitis limb deformities puncture wounds sand crack/grass cracks seedy toe thin soles thrush white line disease tendon and ligament injuries and disease. |
Gait, conformation and way of going may include: | gaits: walk trot pace canter gallop jump action common faults of the skeletal system, stance and their effects on gait common injuries of the muscular system and their effects on gait the role of the growth plates and their sensitivity to damage due to: improper angulation and balance of the foot relationship of the conformation of the foot and limb to the way of going characteristic actions of various breeds and types of horses. |
Shoe wear patterns may include: | wear patterns may be either uneven or excessive in specific areas: unevenness of wear may be the result of: faulty preparation of the foot fitting the wrong type of shoe the horse's gait undesirable conformation of limb or pastern foot axis excessive wear in the toe may be caused by: the horse goes on its toe to alleviate pain, such as in navicular disease, ligament or tendon injuries the shoe has excessively high caulkins excessive wear in the quarters may be due to: an undesirable pastern foot axis an uneven bearing surface excessive wear in the heels may be due to: chronic laminitis or low ringbone disease. |
Assessment ofcondition of feet may include: | assessing the special needs of the young horse identification of: ailments and injuries that may affect hoof and foot growth unusual deformities of the feet and legs observation of the horse at rest and in motion to identify lameness and faults of gait: identification of the position of the foot axis when the horse is standing squarely which will identify whether the feet are balanced assessing feet: with the shoe on with the shoe off determining need for either new shoes or resetting existing shoes picking up and cleaning each foot to check for injuries or foreign objects evaluation, if not straight, of possible causes: uneven wear or growth of the hoof conformation faults injuries poorly fitting tack observation of the horse's conformation to identify faults of gait or unsoundness: abnormalities of gait including: brushing/speedy cutting cross firing forging knee hitting over-reaching paddling, winging, and plaiting scalping seeking information from the owner: any bad habits history of lameness or prior injury history of shoeing, type of work or training, preference for style. |
Relevant legislation and codes of conduct may include: | prevention of cruelty to animals biosecurity protocols codes of practice: relationships with professional persons, such as other farriers, veterinarians, horse dentists and others ethical considerations of the confidentiality of client information animal care regulations which place limitations on the roles a farrier may undertake in the diagnosis and treatment of problems and advice that may be given. |
Foot care and shoeing plan may include: | details of the service to be provided: removal of shoes trimming fitting new shoes or refitting old shoes adding accessories to shoes to correct problems, improve horse comfort or performance: bars caulks or trailers other orthopaedic treatments stud holes explaining routine hoof care that can be undertaken by the owner or person responsible planning a schedule that indicates when shoeing is likely to be required: as a result of changes to the horse's work or other changes as part of a regular maintenance plan in order to review or adjust current treatment referring client to veterinarian or other specialist for further investigation or treatment. |
Routine and preventative hoof care may include: | cleaning feet checking for injuries checking for foreign objects ensuring tetanus vaccination is current applying moisturising or water proofing agents feeding nutritional supplements observing horse movement and checking for lameness or irregular gait planning hoof trimming and shoeing according to: conformation environmental conditions hoof quality and growth horse's age work load. |
Records may include: | diary entries horse health records horse treatment records invoices. |
Common ailments may include: | colic eye injuries feed and related disorders: condition score feed allergies the role of feedstuffs in hoof health malnutrition infectious and non-infectious skin disorders infectious respiratory diseases internal and external parasites lacerations and abrasions metabolic ailments: azoturia/tying up soft tissue: heat soreness swelling teeth disorders. |
Appropriate action may include: | ethical responses under legislation protecting animals from cruelty require the farrier to report incidents or circumstances where the horse is in need of protection farrier may advise the owner or responsible person that veterinary advice may be appropriate. |
Non-veterinarian treatments may include: | treatments provided by farrier: adjusting fit of orthotics, pads, wedges or shoes applying poultice cleaning nail prick wounds preparing feet as part of pre-operation procedures by stripping the wall, sole or frog preparing feet for X-ray by cleaning foot and removing shoe, if required providing post-operative care by cleaning and dressing wounds trimming feet to correct angles in accordance with veterinary instructions. |
Biosecurity principles and procedures may include: | the separation/isolation of injured horses to prevent further damage isolation and quarantine protocols to limit the spread of infectious diseases isolation of horses and protective measures while in transit to events and stopovers en route notifying the specified authorities in the case of suspected notifiable diseases standards of hygienic practices required of the farrier to avoid transmission of diseases between individual horses and between properties and locations complying with worksite specific quarantine and security protocols situation. |
Sectors
Unit sector | Farriery |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Not applicable.