^

 
 

Unit of competency details

ACMPHR302 - Maintain health and welfare of performance horses (Release 1)

Summary

Usage recommendation:
Superseded
Mapping:
MappingNotesDate
Is superseded by ACMEQU305 - Implement a horse health programRedesigned unit that includes content from ACMPHR302 Maintain health and welfare of performance horses, ACMHBR310 Prevent and treat equine injury and disease, and ACMHBR308 Maintain horses in a healthy state. Prerequisite requirements changed. Unit sector changed to EQU. Major changes to all sections of the unit 17/Feb/2022

Releases:
ReleaseRelease date
1 1 (this release) 29/Nov/2017


Classifications

SchemeCodeClassification value
ASCED Module/Unit of Competency Field of Education Identifier 050105 Animal Husbandry  

Classification history

SchemeCodeClassification valueStart dateEnd date
ASCED Module/Unit of Competency Field of Education Identifier 050105 Animal Husbandry  14/Feb/2018 
The content being displayed has been produced by a third party, while all attempts have been made to make this content as accessible as possible it cannot be guaranteed. If you are encountering issues following the content on this page please consider downloading the content in its original form

Unit of competency

Modification History

Release 

Comments 

Release 1

This version released with ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package Version 1.0

Application

This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to maintain health and welfare programs for performance horses. It involves preventing illness and injury by ensuring appropriate health management strategies, including vaccination, parasite control and hoof and teeth care. It covers potential risks associated with working with and around horses.

The unit applies to individuals who work in performance horse industry sectors in a range of environments. They carry out work under minimal supervision within industry guidelines and may have responsibility for highly valuable animals.

No occupational 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.

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

The prerequisite unit of competency for this unit is:

  • ACMEQU202 Handle horses safely.

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

Unit of competency 

Prerequisite requirement 

ACMEQU202 Handle horses safely

ACMEQU205 Apply knowledge of horse behaviour

Unit Sector

Performance Horse (PHR)

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. Prepare to carry out health, welfare or disease prevention procedures for horses

1.1 Carry out a pre-activity risk assessment prior to handling horses or implementing a health, welfare or disease prevention procedure

1.2 Implement personal hygiene and biosecurity practices applicable to administering horse health programs

2. Monitor and maintain a vaccination program

2.1 Organise and implement a vaccination program for horses

2.2 Store and administer vaccines according to label instructions and workplace procedures

2.3 Record and store vaccination records

3. Implement a parasite prevention control program

3.1 Recognise external and internal parasites, including signs and symptoms of infestation

3.2 Plan and apply maintenance programs for internal and external parasite control

3.3 Choose correct treatments and apply or administer to horse with reference to specific parasites, animal weight and condition

4. Monitor and maintain a hoof care program

4.1 Recognise and report common hoof diseases and injuries, and arrange or provide treatment according to workplace procedure or specialist instruction

4.2 Identify and report common gait abnormalities and arrange or provide treatment according to workplace procedure or specialist instruction

4.3 Identify horse shoes for training or competing appropriate to horse training, competition program or health status

4.4 Maintain effective communication with farriers and maintain current records

4.5 Implement routine hoof care for horses according to workplace procedures

5. Monitor and maintain a dental program

5.1 Recognise common dental diseases and abnormalities and associated signs and symptoms, and arrange treatment according to workplace procedure or specialist instruction

5.2 Implement regular dental maintenance routine for horses

5.3 Maintain effective communication with equine dentist or veterinarian, and maintain records

6. Implement a health maintenance and disease prevention program

6.1 Carry out regular health and injury checks gently and calmly, ensuring minimal stress and discomfort to horses

6.2 Apply stable bandages in line with workplace procedures

6.3 Identify and respond appropriately to symptoms of common illnesses and injuries

6.4 Implement quarantine measures on identified horses

6.5 Identify and report communicable diseases and implement control measures

6.6 Record and store horse health information according to workplace procedures

6.7 Store and maintain horse first aid kit according to workplace procedures

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 

Reading

  • Interpret textual information in workplace procedure and specialist instructions relating to the health and welfare of performance horses
  • Interpret key information in labels and horse health and welfare records

Writing

  • Use clear language and accurate industry terminology for reporting and keeping records

Numeracy

  • Perform basic calculations and measurements of product volume and horse weight to determine doses of treatments

Navigate the world of work

  • Follow workplace, safety, animal welfare and biosecurity requirements, and meet expectations relating to own role and area of responsibility

Interact with others

  • Follow accepted practices and protocols for reporting issues to supervisors and specialists using accurate industry terminology

Get the work done

  • Plan resources and schedule health and welfare activities to achieve required outcomes
  • Make decisions about health and welfare activities related to own role, and take responsibility for actions taken

Unit Mapping Information

Code and title current version 

Code and title previous version 

Comments 

Equivalence status 

ACMPHR302 Maintain health and welfare of performance horses

Not applicable

New unit

No equivalent unit

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

Release 

Comments 

Release 1

This version released with ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package Version 1.0

Performance Evidence

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

There must be evidence that the individual has implemented and monitored preventive health strategies including vaccination, parasite control, and dentistry for at least two compliant and manageable performance horses. All activities must be carried out using safe horse handling techniques and procedures, and include:

  • handling horse feet and legs
  • restraining horses by applying a variety of restraints depending on context of requirement
  • conducting a pre-activity risk assessment to identify hazards and assess and control risks
  • following work health and safety, animal welfare, biosecurity and environmental requirements
  • wearing and using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • using correct technique and location to administer injections
  • recognising normal physical and behavioural signs in horses:
  • temperature, pulse and respiration (TPR)
  • condition score
  • lameness
  • signs of internal and external parasites
  • administering oral drench
  • applying prescribed treatments
  • identifying and using basic farriery equipment:
  • recognise the purpose of horse shoes used for performance or remedial purposes
  • remove a loose shoe and perform emergency trim according to workplace procedures or specialist instructions
  • identifying dental problems, including common signs and symptoms
  • applying stable bandages
  • identifying common illnesses, injuries and communicable diseases
  • undertaking quarantine procedures and biosecurity measures
  • assisting contractors and specialists
  • maintaining a horse first aid kit
  • keeping accurate workplace records.

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:

  • documentation requirements regarding vaccination of individual horses
  • vaccination requirements of horses
  • injection techniques and storage of vaccines
  • safe injection sites
  • common horse parasites:
  • detection and faecal sampling
  • prevention options for horses
  • symptoms and life cycles of parasites
  • basic requirements of animal welfare legislation
  • normal dentition and patterns of eruption
  • dental disease, mouth conformation and abnormalities
  • hoof structure and function
  • typical gait abnormalities
  • indicators of horse lameness
  • horse shoes, including types, reasons for use, fit
  • application techniques for stable bandages
  • causes, symptoms and treatment of common illnesses, injuries and communicable diseases
  • quarantine requirements and biosecurity procedures for infection control
  • contents and use of items in a first aid kit
  • workplace procedures for maintaining records and reporting information.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment of skills must take place under the following conditions:

  • physical conditions:
  • a workplace or an environment that accurately represents workplace conditions
  • resources, equipment and materials:
  • live, compliant and manageable performance horses requiring a range of health and welfare treatments and assessed as suitable for the experience and skill of the individual
  • personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly fitted and applicable to activity for the individual
  • tack, materials and equipment for selected health and welfare activities
  • specifications:
  • workplace performance horse health and welfare procedures and programs
  • reporting and recording forms.

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