Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to assess and implement a plan to modify horse behaviour and/or prepare a horse to transition to new purposes. It focuses on safely and humanely conducting re-education activities within the cognitive and physical limitations of the individual horse. The unit applies to all breeds of horses and disciplines and has particular relevance to racehorses and performance horses.
The unit applies to individuals who have responsibility for re-educating horses to perform in new disciplines, transition to new purposes and/or modify a wide range of behaviours. Individuals must have existing high-level handling and riding skills and experience handling a variety of horses, including those with difficult behaviours in-hand and under saddle.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, according to state/territory animal welfare and health and safety regulations, legislation and standards that apply to the workplace.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
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. Establish arrangements for re-educating and/or transitioning a horse to new purposes | 1.1 Determine client requirements for re-educating and/or transitioning the horse to new purposes 1.2 Confirm business arrangements, fees and timeframes with the client 1.3 Collate and review horse history and background information provided by client and/or from other relevant sources of information 1.4 Identify individual horse, and establish ownership and industry sector requirements relevant to transitioning or rehoming horses |
2. Conduct initial assessment of the horse | 2.1 Establish a safe controlled environment to conduct the assessment 2.2 Assess horse soundness, conformation, physical features and health 2.3 Assess horse behaviour, temperament and ground manner, and determine current level of education 2.4 Identify behaviours or conditions that need to be addressed in a re-education and/or transition plan 2.5 Record information about the horse and assessment outcomes accurately 2.6 Make a judgement about the type and extent of re-education required 2.7 Discuss findings, desired outcomes and required action, including costs, with owner or relevant person |
3. Develop a sequential plan to re-educate and/or transition individual horses | 3.1 Apply knowledge of equine behaviour and learning theory to design an individual horse re-education and/or transitioning plan after initial assessment 3.2 Assess safety risks and horse welfare requirements associated with re-educating and/or transitioning individual horses 3.3 Incorporate client involvement in plan as required 3.4 Ensure diet and exercise requirements specific to the individual horse and consistent with proposed new purpose are included in the program 3.5 Record key stages of the plan, proposed timeframes and success criteria |
4. Implement re-education and/or transition program | 4.1 Establish a safe, controlled environment free from hazards to minimise risks to people and horses 4.2 Introduce new tack, ground work, flatwork and other relevant activities to shape behaviour and responses to cues appropriate for new purpose 4.3 Expose the horse to new activities, routines and/or environments to assist with transitioning to a new purpose 4.4 Devise strategies to manage unwanted behaviours tailored to individual horse requirements |
5. Review re-education and/or transition program | 5.1 Assess progress of individual horse against success criteria, and evaluate horse readiness to transition to new purpose 5.2 Revise plan, modifying activities and/or extending timelines, to address needs of horses that have not met success criteria 5.3 Discuss with client alternative plans for a horse that has significant re-education issues or is unsuited for proposed new purpose 5.4 Recommend ongoing education, welfare and care requirements for individual horse at the completion of the program |
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 |
Learning | Actively source current, evidence-based information on equine education and learning theory to inform practices |
Numeracy | Use mathematical concepts to calculate training fees and costs Calculate and adjust timelines in schedules or plans |
Navigate the world of work | Take responsibility for complying with regulatory requirements, including work health and safety and animal welfare, within own role and area of work Follow safe, ethical and humane horse handling industry practices |
Get the work done | Use problem solving strategies, intuition and past experience to manage contingencies and potential problems Use main features and functions of workplace digital tools to complete own tasks |
Sectors
Performance Services Horses (PSH)