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The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. |
Risks to horse or handlers may include: | completing farriery tasks: applying fillers and other treatments cleaning and sharpening tools exposure to noise, dust, skin and eye irritants handling horses manual handling associated with working with tools and metal removing, replacing and fitting shoes trimming feet working with fire to shape shoes, shoe horses and weld working with hazardous items (e.g. electricity, heat, gas and other flammables) outside distractions: noise movement other animals vehicles uneducated, stressed or difficult horses. |
Restraints may include: | head collar or halter and lead muzzles anti-rearing bit chemical sedatives prescribed by and administered under the supervision of a veterinarian hobbles leg ropes twitch. Note: The majority of horses are quiet, easily managed and require no restraint. Where restraint is required it must be the minimum necessary and should always be determined through consultation with the owner or responsible person. |
Features ofgait and conformation may include: | gaits: walk trot pace canter gallop jump action characteristic actions of various breeds and types of horses common faults of the skeletal system, stance and their effects on gait common injuries of the muscular system and their effects on gait ideal action and alignment relationship of the conformation of the foot and limb to the way of going. |
Tools for removing and fitting shoes may include: | anvil buffer clenching tongs nail pullers pincers pritchel rasp shoe shaper shoeing hammer hot shoe tools: hot fit tongs water bucket and water. |
Relevant factors when assessing feet may include: | condition of the existing shoe condition of the hooves general condition of the horse temperament of the horse the approximate age of the horse the work that the horse will perform type of surface the horse will work on. |
Implications of wear pattern may include: | indicators of uneven weight bearing: variations in shoe thickness on ground contact surface uneven hoof wear shoe movement on foot indicators of stumbling or other forms of interference indicators of poor fit: presence of bruising or corns shoe is pressing on sensitive structures clenches have risen. |
Tools for trimming feet may include: | hoof nippers or cutters rasp paring knife toe knife. |
Considerations required to safely trim and prepare feet may include: | growth rate of the shod versus the unshod hoof trimming aims to achieve a level bearing surface and a normal pastern foot axis, it involves: study of the shape and proportions of the foot identification and correction of any defects balance of the foot in relation to the length of toe and height of heel adjusting any irregularities or unevenness in the bearing surface checking the balance of the foot in relation to the pastern foot axis determining how much hoof needs to be removed in relation to a range of conditions: broken hoof and pastern angle heels too high heels too low medial or lateral growth toe too long any problems noticed by owner in relation to breakover of hoof or interference. |
Hoof trim considerations in relation to injury to the horse's feet may include: | a badly dressed foot is not only altered in shape but also in position relative to the leg, which in turn influences the action of the limb faults in dressing the foot: inadequate removal of excess hoof overparing the frog overparing the sole over-lowering the toe over-lowering the heels over-lowering the bearing surface uneven bearing surface opening up the heels rasping the wall and dumping the toe. |
Quality outcomes of hoof preparation may include: | achieve optimal conformational relationships between angles of leading wall of hoof line, long axis of pastern and angle of shoulder avoidance of reaching sensitive tissue checking angles and shape of foot the weight is evenly distributed over the foot toe clip is cut in balance with hoof shape if clip is required when viewed from behind, both heels are the same height and the base of the frog just touches the ground when viewed from the side, the toe, quarters and heels are proportionate and the pastern foot axis is in a straight line. |
Ancillary features may include: | bar extra clip extra nail holes pads seating out shortening or lengthening heel stud holes. |
Final adjustments may include: | hot or cold shoes may be fitted: surface fitting, where the foot surface has to be adapted exactly to the bearing surface of the hoof outline fitting, which means adaptation of the shoe to the length and breadth of the hoof with the outer border of the shoe corresponding to the outline of the bearing surface checking and adjusting shoe to reduce the risk of: close fitting wide fitting checking length of shoe to assess if: heels are too long heels are too short. |
Relevant factors may include: | nailing on a shoe should avoid: nail bind pricks sole pressure holding horse's leg at a comfortable angle during nailing to: discourage horse from moving away during nailing enable horse to stand in a balanced position prevent injury to farrier due to poor manual handling techniques. |
Factors taken into account when finished job is assessed may include: | securing shoe to foot: using an appropriate number of nails to secure shoe selecting nails of appropriate size and length for hoof quality and shoe type setting nails in appropriate position around hoof nailing on the shoe in sequence clenches even, flat and broad, nails driven to standard height nails driven home, with heads fitting the countersinks with foot on the ground assess: front and hind feet are pairs, the same size and shape and the same pastern foot axis no excessive rasping of the wall no dumping of the wall (making the foot fit the shoe) clips low and broad and the toe clip centred with correct angle to the hoof wall shoe fits the outline of the foot and heels are of correct length with foot off the ground assess: no unnecessary paring of the frog and sole heels not opened up toe clip centred and in line with the point of the frog sole eased at the seat of corn no daylight between the foot and the shoe shoe fits the foot and the heels do not interfere with the function of the frog shoe is properly finished off horse shows no sign of lameness when trotted up. |