Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to maintain health and welfare programs for performance horses. It involves preventing illness and injury by ensuring appropriate health management strategies, including vaccination, parasite control and hoof and teeth care. It covers potential risks associated with working with and around horses.
The unit applies to individuals who work in performance horse industry sectors in a range of environments. They carry out work under minimal supervision within industry guidelines and may have responsibility for highly valuable animals.
No occupational licensing or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Work health and safety and animal welfare legislation relevant to interacting with horses applies to workers in this industry. Requirements vary between industry sectors and state/territory jurisdictions. Users are advised to check with the relevant authority for specific requirements.
NOTE: The terms 'occupational health and safety' (OHS) and 'work health and safety' (WHS) generally have the same meaning in the workplace. In jurisdictions where the national model WHS legislation has not been implemented, RTOs must contextualise the unit of competency by referring to current OHS legislative requirements.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare to carry out health, welfare or disease prevention procedures for horses | 1.1 Carry out a pre-activity risk assessment prior to handling horses or implementing a health, welfare or disease prevention procedure 1.2 Implement personal hygiene and biosecurity practices applicable to administering horse health programs |
2. Monitor and maintain a vaccination program | 2.1 Organise and implement a vaccination program for horses 2.2 Store and administer vaccines according to label instructions and workplace procedures 2.3 Record and store vaccination records |
3. Implement a parasite prevention control program | 3.1 Recognise external and internal parasites, including signs and symptoms of infestation 3.2 Plan and apply maintenance programs for internal and external parasite control 3.3 Choose correct treatments and apply or administer to horse with reference to specific parasites, animal weight and condition |
4. Monitor and maintain a hoof care program | 4.1 Recognise and report common hoof diseases and injuries, and arrange or provide treatment according to workplace procedure or specialist instruction 4.2 Identify and report common gait abnormalities and arrange or provide treatment according to workplace procedure or specialist instruction 4.3 Identify horse shoes for training or competing appropriate to horse training, competition program or health status 4.4 Maintain effective communication with farriers and maintain current records 4.5 Implement routine hoof care for horses according to workplace procedures |
5. Monitor and maintain a dental program | 5.1 Recognise common dental diseases and abnormalities and associated signs and symptoms, and arrange treatment according to workplace procedure or specialist instruction 5.2 Implement regular dental maintenance routine for horses 5.3 Maintain effective communication with equine dentist or veterinarian, and maintain records |
6. Implement a health maintenance and disease prevention program | 6.1 Carry out regular health and injury checks gently and calmly, ensuring minimal stress and discomfort to horses 6.2 Apply stable bandages in line with workplace procedures 6.3 Identify and respond appropriately to symptoms of common illnesses and injuries 6.4 Implement quarantine measures on identified horses 6.5 Identify and report communicable diseases and implement control measures 6.6 Record and store horse health information according to workplace procedures 6.7 Store and maintain horse first aid kit according to workplace procedures |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill | Description |
Reading | Interpret textual information in workplace procedure and specialist instructions relating to the health and welfare of performance horses Interpret key information in labels and horse health and welfare records |
Writing | Use clear language and accurate industry terminology for reporting and keeping records |
Numeracy | Perform basic calculations and measurements of product volume and horse weight to determine doses of treatments |
Navigate the world of work | Follow workplace, safety, animal welfare and biosecurity requirements, and meet expectations relating to own role and area of responsibility |
Interact with others | Follow accepted practices and protocols for reporting issues to supervisors and specialists using accurate industry terminology |
Get the work done | Plan resources and schedule health and welfare activities to achieve required outcomes Make decisions about health and welfare activities related to own role, and take responsibility for actions taken |
Sectors
Performance Horse (PHR)