Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers supervising raising young horses and defines the standard required to: handle foals from birth to yearlings; conduct detailed staff briefings with regard to tasks and safety issues; supervise the raising of young horses; recognise abnormal behavioural signs and signs of abnormal development; carry out foal conformation corrective action; monitor the health and well-being of foals, weanlings and yearlings; maintain accurate data records.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to horse handlers and stud workers.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Monitor foal development

1.1. Regular observations are taken to assess foal health and development according to the requirements of the organisation.

1.2. Symptoms of ill health, common diseases and developmental disorders are recognised, reported and acted upon.

1.3. Foal health and growth rate is recorded in accordance with enterprise requirements.

1.4. Vaccination is carried out under instruction as required according to organisation procedures or by a veterinarian.

1.5. Occupational health and safety hazards are identified, risk assessed and suitable controls implemented.

2. Assess young horse conformation and correct where possible

2.1. Conformation of foal is assessed using standard conformation terminology.

2.2. Corrective action plan is developed and implemented at foal stage to address treatable undesirable conformation.

3. Meet the dietary requirements of young horses

3.1. Mares and foals are monitored to ensure adequate nutrition for the mare and milk supply for the foal.

3.2. Foals are weaned onto suitable pasture and supplemented with appropriate feeds if required.

3.3. Feed requirements of growing horses are met, with excessive protein and mineral deficiencies being avoided.

3.4. Feeding plans for yearlings allow growth and development for sale or growing on.

4. Supervise the handling and education of young horses

4.1. Young horses are kept in paddocks and facilities that minimise the risk of injury and blemishes.

4.2. Young horses are handled from foals to be able to be led and tied up.

4.3. Young horses are provided with the social support of other young horses or foster mares to help them settle and adapt from weaning.

4.4. Weanlings and yearlings are taught to parade for sale.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• identify hazards and implement safe work practices
• handle foals from birth to yearlings
• recognise abnormal behavioural signs and signs of abnormal development
• maintain accurate data documentation
• report on foal conformation
• carry out conformation corrective action plans
• use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, develop sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of tasks
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures and data
• use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• relevant legislation and regulations relating to waste and environment management, and animal health
• relevant Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and animal welfare legislation, codes of practice and enterprise requirements
• diseases and common illnesses associated with young horses
• developmental disorders of young horses
• desirable and undesirable conformation
• strategies to address undesirable conformation or characteristics.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• handle foals from birth to yearlings
• conduct detailed staff briefings with regard to tasks and safety issues
• supervise the raising of young horses
• recognise abnormal behavioural signs and signs of abnormal development
• carry out foal conformation corrective action
• monitor the health and well-being of foals, weanlings and yearlings
• maintain accurate data records.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Horses may include:

• all types and breeds of young horses.

Unit sector 

Horse breeding

Co-requisite units 

Competency field