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 competence in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:

assess the shoeing needs of individual horses with particular needs that may be addressed by the farrier

report conditions requiring higher-level treatment to other farrier or to veterinarians involved with hoof care as required

discuss shoeing options with clients

fabricate or modify a range of remedial or surgical shoes to assist in the correction and/or alleviation of a horse's problem

select and fit appropriate pairs of shoes to horses exhibiting with chronic lameness, damage or engaged in particular sporting, working or other activities and assess quality of outcomes

provide advice on future hoof care requirements and maintain records of service provided.

The skills and knowledge required to accommodate special needs of particular horses through farriery techniques must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in worksites, where routine farriery tasks are performed, or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access to a range horses for assessment and fitting of pairs of shoes as well as the appropriate equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategy must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:

written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks

simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions

case study analysis

third-party evidence

workplace documentation

portfolio.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).

Required skills

adhere to OHS and animal welfare legislation, regulations and codes of practice

employ safe and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when working with and handling horses

maintain highest standards of hygiene and infection control at all times to reduce the risk of infection and cross-infection

maintain records as appropriate

recognise and work within own limitations

literacy skills to read and follow organisational policies and procedures, including OHS, waste management and hygiene standards; follow sequenced written instructions; and record the information accurately and legibly

oral communication skills/language to fulfil the job role as specified, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice when required

numeracy skills to estimate, calculate, record and apply routine workplace measures to required tasks including measurements to assess shoe requirements

problem-solving skills to select required materials and equipment and prioritise tasks

use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment

use safe waste handling and disposal procedures

work as part of a team with other professionals, including veterinarians.

Required knowledge

conformation, normal gait and abnormalities of gait and how the farrier can alleviate a range of severe faults and foot problems through shoeing

effects of trimming on the stance and action of the horse

general anatomy of the horse

limits of safe trimming and why these must not be exceeded

relevant legislation and codes of practice and personal responsibilities

special requirements of foals and young horses

safe work practices

types of surgical horse shoes and modifications that may be made to address the needs of a horse with particular needs.

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.

Particular needs of individual horses may include:

horses used for special unusual or specific purposes:

donkeys

draught horses or carriage horses

endurance

hack and breed classes

harness and thoroughbred racing horses

Olympic disciplines

polo and polocrosse

specific breeds of horses (e.g. Shetland ponies)

sporting events

stage performances

steeple chase events

western events

working horses

needs of chronically lame or injured horses where hoof reconstruction may be required

particular needs of the horse may be determined through consultation with:

allied health service providers

equine veterinarians

owners, trainers, riders, drivers or grooms

others

condition of the foot should be assessed:

with the shoe on

with the shoe off.

Particular needs of foals and young horses may include:

appropriate approach by the farrier to avoid the development of bad habits in the horse

regular review to reflect growth and development

foals having their feet attended for the first time should be halter-broken and have received some preliminary training, including experience in having their legs manipulated, feet picked up, standing on three legs and having their feet tapped with a hammer

foals and young horses are not recommended to be shod although sometimes shoes may be glued to assist in conformational or injury problems

foot care plan or service is developed which may include corrective trimming.

Tools for removingand 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.

Remedial or surgical shoes may include:

feather edged shoe

shoe with pads

three quarter bar shoe

bar shoe

bonded extension

diamond toed shoe

glue-on shoes

heart bar shoe

hospital plate

lateral extension

pattern rest

remedial or surgical shoes

rocker shoe

seated out shoe

shoe with set heel

three quarter shoe.

Toolsfor 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 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:

achieving normal weight bearing in weak heels

any problems noticed by owner in relation to break over of hoof or interference

broken hoof and pastern angle

correctly dressing the upright foot

heels too high

heels too low

hoof wall reduction

medial or lateral growth

paring down the discoloured horn where there is a corn

reducing the side of the wall that is too high until a level bearing surface is obtained in the case of a twisted foot

removal of seedy toe and false quarter

toe too long.

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

injury may occur through the following 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.

Hoof reconstruction may be undertaken:

overtime and may include:

reducing the side of the wall that is too high until a level bearing surface is obtained

achieving normal weight bearing in weak heels

removal of damaged hoof wall

cleaning and debraiding the hoof wall

applying acrylic or polyurethane composites using appropriate personal protective equipment including:

face mask

gloves.

Quality outcomes of foot 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.

Shoe selection considerations may include:

characteristics of the horse:

assessment of horse's action

conformation

shape of its feet

size and weight

wear patterns of existing shoes

work it performs

shoe types in various sizes and weights fitted hot or cold:

bar shoe

diamond toed shoe

egg bar shoe

feather edged shoe

graduated shoe

heart bar shoe

raised heels

rocker bar shoe

seated out shoe

shoe with quarter clips, heel clips and/or side clips

shoe with set heel

side weights

square toe

three quarter bar shoe

three quarter shoe

other considerations in shoe selection

Rules of Racing shoe requirements

other sport and working horse requirements:

breed requirements

carriage and draught horse shoes

endurance

hacking, dressage

mule or donkey shoes.

polo and polocrosse

showjumping, eventing, hunting

working stock horse and western events.

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.