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Unit of competency details

SISOEQU005 - Guide horse trail rides in tracked areas (Release 2)

Summary

Usage recommendation:
Current
Mapping:
MappingNotesDate
Supersedes SISOEQO306A - Guide day horse trail rides in tracked areasNot equivalent. Title changed. Two units merged: SISOEQO306A Guide day horse trail rides in tracked areas and SISOEQO410A Guide overnight horse trail rides in tracked areas Unit covers guiding skills no matter what the duration of the trail ride. Unit now focuses on delivering the activity rather than planning; planning removed. Planning skills for leaders covered in SISOPLN001, in SISOPLN002, & in SISOPLN005, and SISOEQU010. Campsite and temporary stop operation removed; covered in SISOFLD003 Select, set up and operate a temporary or overnight site. Significant additions to performance criteria and knowledge evidence. Prerequisites added: SISOEQU001 Handle horses, and SISOEQU010 Identify hazards, assess and control safety risks for horse handling and riding activities. 18/Dec/2017
Supersedes SISOEQO410A - Guide overnight horse trail rides in tracked areasNot equivalent. Title changed. Two units merged: SISOEQO306A Guide day horse trail rides in tracked areas and SISOEQO410A Guide overnight horse trail rides in tracked areas Unit covers guiding skills no matter what the duration of the trail ride. Unit now focuses on delivering the activity rather than planning; planning removed. Planning skills for leaders covered in SISOPLN001, in SISOPLN002, & in SISOPLN005, and SISOEQU010. Campsite and temporary stop operation removed; covered in SISOFLD003 Select, set up and operate a temporary or overnight site. Significant additions to performance criteria and knowledge evidence. Prerequisites added: SISOEQU001 Handle horses, and SISOEQU010 Identify hazards, assess and control safety risks for horse handling and riding activities. 18/Dec/2017

Release Status:
Current
Releases:
ReleaseRelease date
2 (this release) 11/Sep/2019
(View details for release 1) 19/Dec/2017

Companion volumes:

Classifications

SchemeCodeClassification value
ASCED Module/Unit of Competency Field of Education Identifier 092101 Sport And Recreation Activities  

Classification history

SchemeCodeClassification valueStart dateEnd date
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 guide participants on basic trail rides along tracked areas with reasonably level terrain, no steep ascents, descents or gullies and some known simple terrain hazards.

It requires the ability to demonstrate, to participants, basic horse riding techniques appropriate for undemanding terrain, and to manage group riding for basic trail rides. To do this, guides must be proficient horse riders.

This unit applies to guides and trail bosses who work for outdoor recreation operators which provide basic trail rides of varying duration.

No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Pre-requisite Unit

SISOEQU001 Handle horses

SISOEQU010 Identify hazards, assess and control safety risks for horse handling and riding activities

Competency Field

Equine

Unit Sector

Outdoor Recreation

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. Confirm operational details for trail rides.

1.1. Interpret activity plans and risk assessments for trail ride and confirm suitability.

1.2. Access and interpret current weather and environmental information to ascertain impacts on riding activity.

1.3. Make adjustments to route and activity as required, and inform relevant personnel of route and anticipated timings before departure.

2. Prepare and pack equipment for rides.

2.1. Select communication equipment suitable for destinations and check for safe working condition.

2.2. Prepare first aid, other equipment and resources for horses and riders according to operational requirements of trail ride.

3. Prepare tack, horses and participants.

3.1. Select horses of suitable history, size and temperament to match participant capabilities and obtain participant disclaimer.

3.2. Confirm participants have clothing and footwear appropriate for the ride and forecasted weather conditions.

3.3. Select riding equipment to match riders and riding conditions and check it is in safe working condition.

3.4. Fit and adjust tack and personal equipment to participants and horses to ensure comfort and safety.

3.5. Assist with mounting of horses, check and adjust rider equipment.

4. Brief and instruct participants.

4.1. Communicate instructions and information about ride in a manner appropriate to participants and encourage questions and advice before and during ride.

4.2. Provide information on practices to minimise impact of horse riding on the environment.

4.3. Inform participants of known and anticipated risks, safety procedures, safe behaviour, safe areas and boundaries.

4.4. Advise participants of order of ride procedures and communication protocols to use during ride.

4.5. Provide information to participants about their horses and behaviour pattern.

4.6. Demonstrate correct horse handling and riding techniques appropriate for undemanding terrain.

4.7. Check and confirm participant ability to start and stop horse and control horse direction and speed before departure.

4.8. Check matching of rider to horse and adjust as required.

5. Lead rides in tracked areas.

5.1. Lead horses from designated order of ride position, adjusting position and role as required.

5.2. Provide clear demonstrations and concise directions to participants during ride to negotiate undemanding terrain.

5.3. Monitor individual participant performance and provide directions to improve techniques and control of horse.

5.4. Monitor participant adherence to order of ride and safety procedures and assertively correct breaches.

5.5. Monitor horse behaviour and interaction and promptly control aggressive, misbehaved and frightened horses.

5.6. Monitor riding conditions and hazards, including signs of rider and horse difficulty, to ensure rider and horse safety and welfare during ride.

5.7. Lead a mounted rider from horseback when required.

5.8. Implement required modifications to activity, speed and route to ensure participant safety and comfort and completion within ride timelines.

5.9. Respond to emergency situations according to organisational safety, emergency response and first aid procedures.

6. Complete post ride responsibilities.

6.1. Notify relevant personnel of ride completion.

6.2. Retrieve equipment, inspect for wear or breakage, tag faults and store in designated area.

6.3. Check condition of horses and deal with any injuries according to organisational procedures.

6.4. Document any equipment faults, horse injuries and safety incidents.

6.5. Evaluate the ride through a debrief and identify improvements for future activities.

Foundation Skills

Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement.

SKILLS 

DESCRIPTION 

Reading skills to:

  • interpret complex and sometimes unfamiliar documents and information which can include:
  • activity plans and risk assessments
  • organisational policies and procedures
  • weather and other environmental information.

Writing skills to:

  • use fundamental sentence structure to complete forms that require factual information; these can include:
  • safety checklists
  • equipment faults
  • incident reports.

Oral communication skills to:

  • provide clear and unambiguous instructions to participants using language and terms easily understood by riders
  • ask open and closed probe questions and actively listen to determine participants’ understanding of instructions.

Teamwork skills to:

  • pro-actively and cooperatively work within teams of guides, support staff and base operational staff to organise ride logistics, solve operational problems and deliver a quality ride experience to participants.

Planning and organising skills to:

  • manage own timing and that of participants to complete trail rides within organisational service times.

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:

  • guide two different trail rides, each lasting for a minimum of one hour, on two different compliant and manageable horses
  • during each of the rides, at different times, assume the position of both front rider guide and drag or roving rider guide
  • guide a minimum of five and a maximum of ten participants during each trail ride
  • during each ride:
  • consistently control participant adherence to safety procedures and practices
  • consistently monitor and control horse behaviour
  • consistently ensure riders are in control of their horse and provide assistance with riding techniques as required
  • according to scenarios:
  • provide responses to two emergency situations and complete two incident reports
  • complete two reports on equipment faults.

Knowledge Evidence

Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:

  • organisational safety, emergency response and first aid procedures for guiding horse trail rides
  • organisational policies, procedures and codes for minimal impact of horse riding activities to the environment
  • basic aspects of applicable state, territory, local government or land manager environmental regulations sufficient to know where trail rides may be operated in tracked areas and under what conditions
  • sources of information on weather and environmental conditions and how to use to ascertain riding conditions
  • the effects of weather on riding conditions, route and selection of personal equipment and tack
  • purpose, features and safe set up of horse riding tack for trail rides:
  • saddles of different types and their suitability for different riders and trails with undemanding terrain
  • equipment to ensure security of saddle position on varying terrain including breastplates and cruppers
  • halters and ropes and techniques for securing during travel
  • factors that affect the selection of tack and personal protective equipment to suit individual riders
  • key features of different types of communication equipment used for basic trail rides, and factors that affect choice:
  • global positioning systems (GPS)
  • two-way radios
  • mobile phones and applications
  • clothing requirements for trail rides to protect against sunburn, heat stroke, wet and cold weather
  • waterproofing and stowing techniques used to keep clothing and equipment dry during ride
  • communication protocols for group trail rides in tracked environments
  • order of ride procedures for group trail rides to include positioning and roles of:
  • front rider
  • drag roving rider guide
  • assistant guides and support staff
  • participant riders
  • behavioural history of individual horses chosen for the ride
  • common behavioural problems of horses during group trail rides
  • techniques used to control adverse horse behaviour while maintaining welfare of the horse and safety of rider.

Assessment Conditions

Skills must be demonstrated in a horse trail riding environment meeting the following conditions:

  • tracked areas with reasonably level terrain
  • no steep ascents, descents or gullies
  • known simple terrain hazards.

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 participant riders whom the individual guides
  • compliant and manageable horses, matched to the candidate as above, and educated for trail ride conditions
  • calm, consistent and obedient horses, matched to participant riders as above, and educated for trail ride conditions
  • tack to include:
  • halters
  • leads
  • ropes
  • saddles which can be stock, hybrid or western saddles
  • saddle cloths
  • bridles
  • reins
  • bits
  • stirrups with safety features
  • personal protective equipment to include:
  • riding boots
  • Australian Standard, or equivalent, compliant helmets
  • communication equipment including equipment for emergency response
  • activity plans
  • risk assessments for trail rides to include known and anticipated hazards, safety risks and control measures
  • hard copy or online information on weather and other environmental conditions
  • template:
  • safety checklists
  • participant disclaimers
  • equipment fault reports
  • incident reports
  • organisational safety, emergency response and first aid procedures for guiding horse trail rides
  • organisational policies, procedures and codes for minimal impact of horse riding activities to the environment
  • plain English documents issued by state, territory, local government regulators or land managers describing regulations for operating horse trail rides in tracked areas.

Assessment must ensure access to:

  • breastplates and cruppers
  • human and equine first aid equipment.

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, SISOEQU005 Guide horse trail rides in tracked areas, or a qualification or Statement of Attainment which includes a unit of competency that has been superseded by this 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 trail guide 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