Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to raise young horses, including observing foal development, meeting dietary needs, and handling and assisting with educating young horses.
The unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. They complete routine activities and work in a range of known contexts within horse breeding and horse industry environments.
No 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.
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. Monitor young horse development | 1.1 Observe and assess young horse health, conformation, development and behaviour 1.2 Detect and report symptoms of ill health, common diseases, undesirable conformation and developmental disorders 1.3 Record young horse health and growth rate according to workplace practices 1.4 Vaccinate young horses under instruction |
2. Monitor young horse behaviour | 2.1 Observe young horse behaviour 2.2 Detect and report signs of stress to relevant personnel 2.3 Record observed behaviour according to workplace practices 2.4 Provide enrichment activities to young horses |
3. Meet the dietary requirements of young horses | 3.1 Monitor young horses for signs of adequate nutrition 3.2 Wean foals onto suitable pasture and supplement with feeds 3.3 Meet feed requirements of growing horses 3.4 Ensure feeding plans for young horses are appropriate for purpose |
4. Handle and assist with the education of young horses | 4.1 Check paddocks and facilities to minimise the risk of injury and blemishes to young horses 4.2 Use safe and ethical horse handling techniques to assist in educating young horses to be led and tied up 4.3 Provide young horses with social support of other young horses and/or nanny mare or gelding 4.4 Train weanlings and yearlings to parade for sale |
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 |
Writing | Record and report health and development information about young horses accurately in workplace forms |
Navigate the world of work | Follow regulatory and workplace procedures, including work health and safety, safe horse handling, biosecurity and animal welfare requirements, associated with own role and area of work with young horses |
Get the work done | Plan and sequence tasks, prioritising activities to achieve work outcomes for raising young horses Use workplace technology, tools and/or systems to complete records and reports |
Sectors
Horse Breeding (HBR)