Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to review, evaluate and select specific equine education and training methodologies and techniques to achieve stated objectives within welfare, workplace and safety requirements. It involves in-depth knowledge of a range of methodologies and techniques used in equine education and training.

The unit applies to individuals who have responsibility for overseeing or implementing education programs for horses to achieve identified objectives, and meet horse welfare and workplace needs in any performance or leisure horse discipline or working horse context.

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 or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Unit Sector

Performance Horse (PHR)

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 of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.

There must be evidence that the individual has:

• researched and prepared a brief summary comparing and contrasting two equine education methodologies, including:

• underpinning assumptions and evidence base
• alignment with learning theory and horse welfare

• assessed the current level of education and physical readiness of two horses, and developed an individual education program for each horse that includes goals, methodology and techniques
• monitored the delivery of the education programs for each horse, and evaluated the horses' responses to and outcomes of the program
• researched and prepared a brief summary of the requirements and capabilities of three individual riders, drivers or handlers to achieve specified program outcomes.

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:

• range of horse education methodologies, including underpinning assumptions, evidence base, alignment with learning theory and horse welfare
• equine behaviour, including body language, vocalisations, locomotory behaviour
• key features of current research in equine cognition, ethology, behaviour and learning
• key animal welfare frameworks and application to horses, including:

• equine health, care and welfare
• Five Freedoms, Five Domains Model, quality of life indicators

• current practices in safe horse handling
• equine conformation and biomechanics
• skills required of riders, drivers or handlers to safely interact with their horse to meet identified goals
• techniques for assessing:

• horse suitability for riders, drivers or handlers
• hazards and risks associated with education programs

• equipment, tack and resource requirements for education programs
• criteria to evaluate industry specialists relevant to the sport or discipline
• features to include in an education plan, including objectives, stages and timeframes
• key requirements of regulations and workplace policies and procedures for:

• work health and safety when interacting with horses
• animal welfare relevant to horses.

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:

• access to live horses
• technology to access information, and/or sources of current information on equine education methodologies

• specifications:

• guidelines for preparing a training program and assessing risk and horse suitability.

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