Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to educate a horse for lungeing exercise by introducing techniques, routines and gear, and voice commands and signals used to control and direct a horse to lunge calmly. It includes understanding the potential risks associated with interacting with horses, and the application of industry guidelines and procedures to ensure the welfare and safety of the individual and the horse.

The unit applies to individuals who have moderate experience in handling horses to be able to lunge a suitably educated, compliant and manageable horse in working environments that include round yards and fenced exercise arenas in a broad range of horse industry sectors. They undertake work in a range of known contexts; work under broad direction; take responsibility for own work, and use discretion and judgement in the selection and use of available resources.

No licensing or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication, except for the racing industry, where requirements vary between states and territories. Users working in the racing industry are advised to contact the relevant Principal Racing Authority for advice on current requirements.

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.

Pre-requisite Unit

Prerequisite unit of competency for this unit is:

• ACMEQU210 Lunge educated horses.

Note the following chain of prerequisites that also applies to this unit.

Unit Sector

Equine (EQU)

Elements and Performance Criteria

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.

Unit Mapping Information

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all the elements and performance criteria of this unit.

There must be evidence that the individual has introduced at least two compliant and manageable horses to lungeing, including:

• identifying risks associated with lungeing horses
• selecting, fitting and introducing lungeing gear to horses
• controlling and positioning the horse during walk, trot and canter:

• in both directions whilst safely adjusting lunge lead and whip position
• using lunge whip and handler body position to encourage inexperienced horses to start, stop and follow the track during lunge exercise
• using voice to control tempo and speed of inexperienced horses during lungeing exercise
• selecting and performing lungeing techniques that encourage inexperienced horses to maintain speed, tempo, gait and position on the track

• effectively communicating with supervisor, including raising issues of concern related to lunge exercise
• monitoring basic horse health and welfare during lunge exercise and reporting abnormalities to supervisor
• applying correct care of horse and equipment after lungeing.

Knowledge Evidence

An individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge required to perform the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. This includes knowledge of:

• safe horse handling techniques, zones and positioning techniques to encourage inexperienced horses to lunge
• types and purpose of personal protective equipment (PPE) suitable for lunge exercise
• features of a safe work area to lunge horses
• techniques for introducing inexperienced horses to lungeing
• horse learning theory that can be applied to lungeing activities
• purpose and reasons for lungeing horses
• types, purpose, correct fit and use of horse lungeing gear
• common horse behaviour, social traits, vices and responses related to lungeing horses
• potential hazards and risks associated with lungeing horses:

• horse behaviour
• other horses in vicinity
• handler skills and techniques
• surface variations
• area not fenced or confined

• symptoms and signs of illness and injury during and after lungeing
• styles of lunge exercise and exercise routines
• types of working gear required for lungeing horses
• types of injury that may be sustained during lunge exercise
• animal welfare practices in relation to lunge exercise.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment of skills must take place under the following conditions:

• physical conditions:

• a workplace fenced arena or round yard, or an environment that accurately represents workplace conditions

• resources, equipment and materials:

• various compliant and manageable horses (inexperienced in lungeing) assessed as suitable for the experience and skill of the individual
• appropriate tack for individual, horse and lungeing activities
• PPE, correctly fitted and applicable to lungeing exercise, for the individual.

Training and assessment strategies must show evidence of the use of guidance provided in the Companion Volume: User Guide: Safety in Equine Training.

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103