Unit of competency details
SISOEQU004 - Ride horses on untracked trail rides (Release 2)
Summary
Companion volumes:
Unit of competency
Assessment requirements
Training packages that include this unit
Qualifications that include this unit
Classifications
Classification history
| ASCED Module/Unit of Competency Field of Education Identifier | 092101 | Sport And Recreation Activities | 14/Feb/2018 | |
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Unit of competency
Modification History
Unit Release 2. No change to unit content from Release 1; mapping updated for accuracy.
Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to ride horses on complex trail rides along untracked areas with steep or difficult terrain, numerous obstacles and or environmental extremes. Rides would typically involve overnight stays and this unit requires the ability to manage horses overnight.
These personal riding skills are required by support staff, guides and trail bosses to lead participants on complex trail rides offered by outdoor recreation operators.
No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Pre-requisite Unit
SISOEQU001 Handle horses
SISOEQU002 Ride horses using fundamental skills
Competency Field
Equine
Unit Sector
Outdoor Recreation
Elements and Performance Criteria
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ELEMENTS
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PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
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Elements describe the essential outcomes
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Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.
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1. Select and prepare tack, horse and personal equipment.
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1.1. Confirm activity safety and emergency response procedures to ensure compliance during horse handling and riding activities.
1.2. Assess horse and select to match own skill level and riding conditions.
1.3. Check condition of horse, confirm soundness and groom before fitting tack.
1.4. Select tack and personal equipment to match riding conditions for difficult untracked terrain, and check it is in safe working condition.
1.5. Fit and adjust tack and personal equipment to self and horse to ensure comfort and safety.
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2. Ride horses in untracked trail ride environments.
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2.1. Mount and dismount horse safely in untracked trail environments without assistance according to organisational safety procedures.
2.2. Interpret behavioural signals, use positive body language and aids to direct, communicate with and control horse.
2.3. Use appropriate posture for horse riding in difficult terrain and safely and effectively handle the horse in a range of movements.
2.4. Instigate a gait appropriate to the terrain, establish and maintain an appropriate rhythm and adjust according to conditions and terrain.
2.5. Maintain safe zones according to the terrain and environmental hazards.
2.6. Maintain communication protocols during group riding activities.
2.7. Use practices to minimise impact of horse riding on the environment according to organisational policies and procedures.
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3. Negotiate environmental obstacles and steep inclines.
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3.1. Consistently control horse to safely approach and negotiate constant and unpredictable environmental hazards and obstacles.
3.2. Choose appropriate gait, and control horse resistance, line of direction and pace to ride over uneven and unstable ground, to ride through water, and to negotiate ascending and descending steep inclines.
3.3. Monitor horse behaviour towards obstacles and use techniques to maintain horse confidence and calmness.
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4. Manage horses overnight.
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4.1. Assess prevailing conditions and select suitable site for containing or tethering horses.
4.2. Set up temporary horse containment area or tethering systems to ensure security and welfare overnight.
4.3. Check condition and health of horses and treat as required.
4.4. Monitor safety and security of horses through the night.
4.5. Store equipment securely to avoid damage and exposure to weather conditions.
4.6. Return site to equal or greater standard on departure to minimise impact on environment.
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Foundation Skills
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Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement.
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SKILLS
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DESCRIPTION
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Reading skills to:
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- interpret detailed familiar organisational policies and procedures which can include those for safety, emergency response and minimal impact to the environment.
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Oral communication skills to:
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- clearly interact verbally and non-verbally with other riders to maintain a positive and safe riding environment.
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Teamwork skills to:
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- work cooperatively with other riders to set up horse containment and monitor horse security and welfare.
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Planning and organising skills to:
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- manage own timing to complete trail ride within planned timeframes.
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Unit Mapping Information
No equivalent unit.
Links
Companion Volume Implementation Guides - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=1ca50016-24d2-4161-a044-d3faa200268b
Assessment requirements
Modification History
Unit Release 2. No change to unit content from Release 1; mapping updated for accuracy.
Performance Evidence
Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:
- complete two different trail rides, each lasting for a minimum of four hours, on two different compliant and manageable horses
- ride within a group of minimum five and maximum ten participants during each trail ride
- during each ride:
- walk, trot and canter the horse under control within the terrain covered
- provide direction to the horse using the following aids:
- ride the horse through this range of movements:
- turns
- halts
- laterals
- backing up the horse
- ride towards and away from the group
- consistently use safe horse handling and riding practices and techniques to effectively control the horse.
Knowledge Evidence
Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
- organisational safety and emergency response procedures for riding horses in untracked areas
- organisational policies, procedures and codes for minimal impact of horse riding activities to the environment
- factors that affect the selection of horses, tack, especially saddles, and personal protective equipment to suit trail guides leading groups in untracked areas with difficult terrain
- communication protocols for group trail rides in untracked environments
- the meaning of safe zone for group trail rides in untracked areas and how these can vary according to the terrain and environmental hazards
- common behaviour patterns of horses during group trail rides in untracked areas with difficult terrain
- horse riding techniques used to control horses safely and effectively in untracked environments with difficult terrain to include those for:
- mounting and dismounting without assistance in the open
- different seat positions and when these are required by the terrain
- starting and stopping
- walking, trotting and cantering horses and which gait is suitable for particular environmental features and obstacles
- aids to direct the horse:
- turns
- halts
- laterals
- backing up the horse
- riding towards and away from the group
- hydrological features of rivers, creeks and oceans including direction and speed of flow, currents and eddies, hazards they present and impacts on where horses can safely cross
- typical hazards, obstacles and environmental features found in untracked areas with difficult terrain and techniques used to safely negotiate these:
- dense vegetation
- unstable ground
- rivers and creeks
- beach sand and water
- steep inclines
- procedures for safely crossing public roads and travelling along them
- purpose, features and secure set up of:
- temporary yards
- high lines
- picket lines
- hobbles
- ground tethers
- daily fluid and nutritional requirements for horses operating in difficult terrain for long distances.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in a horse trail riding environment meeting the following conditions:
- untracked areas with difficult terrain
- steep ascents and descents
- numerous environmental obstacles.
Horse matching prior to all assessments involving horse interaction is essential. Assessors must:
- complete, participate in or validate a risk assessment of both the candidate’s and other participant riders’ characteristics and level of horse handling and riding skills
- match, or validate the matching of, horses of suitable history, size and temperament to both the candidate and other participants to ensure that rider and horse combination is safe.
Assessment must ensure use of:
- a group of minimum five and maximum ten riders, including the candidate
- compliant and manageable horses, matched to all riders as above, and educated for untracked trail ride conditions
- grooming equipment to include:
- dandy and body brushes
- plastic or rubber curry combs
- mane or tail brush
- hoof picks
- saddles which can be stock, hybrid or western saddles
- saddle cloths
- bridles
- reins
- bits
- stirrups with safety features
- saddle bags
- personal protective equipment to include:
- sun protection and wet weather clothing
- riding boots
- Australian Standard, or equivalent, compliant helmets
- horse equipment for overnight stays which can include:
- halters
- leads
- bags, nets or bins used to feed horses
- temporary yards
- high lines
- picket lines
- hobbles
- ground tethers
- food and water resources for horses
- organisational safety and emergency response procedures for riding horses in untracked areas
- organisational policies, procedures and codes for minimal impact of horse riding activities to the environment.
Assessment must ensure access to:
- breastplates and cruppers
- human and equine first aid equipment
- navigation equipment
- communication equipment for emergency response.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations requirements for assessors, and:
- hold a qualification or Statement of Attainment which includes this unit of competency, SISOEQU004 Ride horses on untracked trail rides, or a qualification or Statement of Attainment which includes a unit of competency that has been superseded by this unit, and
- hold a qualification or Statement of Attainment which includes the unit SISOEQU009 Instruct the advancement of recreational horse riding skills, or a qualification or Statement of Attainment which includes a unit of competency that has been superseded by that unit, and
- have at least three years’ experience as a trail guide or trail boss where they have applied the skills and knowledge covered in this unit of competency, and
- hold accreditation relevant to assessing riding skills covered by this unit; accreditation refers to:
- accreditation offered by equine sporting organisations recognised by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), or
- certification offered by equine organisations which are Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) or whose training is managed by an affiliated RTO.
Links
Companion Volume Implementation Guides - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=1ca50016-24d2-4161-a044-d3faa200268b
