SISOEQU008
Instruct fundamental horse riding skills


Application

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to teach new and or inexperienced riders the fundamental skills of horse riding.

It requires the ability to plan, organise and deliver individual training sessions within an overall learning program designed to progressively develop participants' fundamental riding skills.

This unit applies to instructors and coaches who facilitate the acquisition of initial riding skills required by recreational and equestrian sport riders before they can progress to higher order skills required for work, recreational or competitive activities. To do this, instructors and coaches must be proficient horse riders.

No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCECRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Plan instructional sessions.

1.1. Determine objectives of individual sessions to allow progression of skills within overall learning program.

1.2. Identify and evaluate participant needs, characteristics and current riding skills.

1.3. Develop session plans to include appropriate exercises for learner requirements and stage of skills acquisition.

1.4. Identify suitable environment, horses and equipment for riding session.

1.5. Complete session specific risk assessment and determine safety, emergency response and first aid procedures.

2. Prepare tack, horses and participants.

2.1. Set up equipment for exercises and complete safety checks on environment and equipment.

2.2. Select horses of suitable history, size and temperament to match participant capabilities.

2.3. Check participants’ own personal equipment and tack, if provided, and confirm it is in safe working condition.

2.4. Select organisation’s tack and personal equipment to match riders and exercises, and check it is in safe working condition.

2.5. Direct and assist participants to groom horse, fit and adjust tack and personal equipment; check comfort and safety of fit.

3. Brief participants.

3.1. Communicate instructions and information about session in a manner appropriate to participants.

3.2. Encourage participants to ask questions and seek advice before and during session.

3.3. Inform participants of known and anticipated risks, safety procedures, safe behaviour, safe areas and boundaries.

3.4. Advise participants of communication protocols to use during exercises.

4. Instruct fundamental horse riding skills.

4.1. Assist with mounting of horses, check and adjust rider equipment, and prepare horses and participants using safe warm up exercises.

4.2. Implement teaching and coaching techniques to impart skills and knowledge for fundamental horse riding skills.

4.3. Provide clear and accurate exercise instructions and or demonstrations throughout the session.

4.4. Facilitate effective group communication and interaction to maintain group control, engagement and safety.

4.5. Observe and monitor participant riding performance and provide corrective instruction.

4.6. Monitor participant adherence to safety procedures and assertively correct breaches.

4.7. Monitor horse behaviour and interaction and promptly control aggressive, misbehaved and frightened horses.

5. Evaluate the session.

5.1. Debrief and encourage participants to identify personal skill progression and satisfaction with session.

5.2. Provide feedback on techniques and adherence to safety requirements.

5.3. Self-evaluate session against learning objectives and identify areas for future improvement.

Foundation Skills

Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement.

SKILLS

DESCRIPTION

Reading skills to:

interpret detailed familiar organisational safety, emergency response and first aid procedures.

Writing skills to :

prepare detailed session plans incorporating correct terminology and jargon for the exercises

use fundamental sentence structure to complete safety checklists that require factual information.

Oral communication skills to:

provide clear and unambiguous instructions to learners using language and terms easily understood by novice riders

ask open and closed probe questions and actively listen to determine learners’ understanding of riding techniques.

Planning and organising skills to:

manage own timing and that of participants to complete instructional sessions within organisational service times.


Sectors

Outdoor Recreation


Competency Field

Equine