Assessor Resource

SISOEQO408A
Determine nutritional requirements for horses

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit applies to those working as horse riding guides or instructors. This may include those working for private horse riding companies or group leaders in school outdoor education programs. It may also apply to those with coaching responsibilities in equestrian dressage or jumping at a regional or State or Territory level.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to assess the nutritional requirements of horses in sporting and recreational programs, formulate rations and monitor feeding regimes.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Nil


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.




Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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

Evidence of the following is essential:

applies knowledge of factors affecting the nutritional requirements of different horses in the work environment, including the effects of additives and supplements, to prepare and provide balanced diets and food for horses demonstrating an understanding of quality, type and value of feed and needs of individual horses

completes tasks within nominated time frames and applies safe work practices when determining nutritional requirements of horses

applies effective contingency management techniques to make adjustments to feeding regimes in response to changing conditions, such as signs of problem eating displayed by individual horses

documents and maintains feed records and adjusts in response to changing requirements.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure carrying out and monitoring feeding regimes individual horses on multiple occasions to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.

Assessment must also ensure access to:

a commercial or private horse riding establishment with a variety of horses in various stages of preparation including paddocked horses

information about the properties of additives and supplements

appropriate feed, additives and supplements and feeding equipment

organisational policies and procedures in relation to feeding horses

appropriate personnel.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

observation of interaction with horses during assessment of nutritional needs, and implementation and monitoring of feeding regime

oral and or written questioning to assess knowledge of factors affecting the nutritional requirements of a range of horses

portfolio of feeding records

third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

RTE2121A Provide daily care for horses.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

problem-solving skills to:

select and formulate rations to meet individual horse's nutritional requirements

assess the effects of additives and supplements on the performance of horses

adjust feeding regimes in response to changing horse behaviour and needs

planning and organising skills to:

prepare individual rations based on nutritional requirements

feed horses within required time frames

monitor feeding regimes and make appropriate modifications

communication skills to liaise with relevant personnel to determine nutritional requirements of horses and appropriate feed, additives and supplements.

literacy skills to maintain and monitor feed records and follow instructions to prepare feed rations

numeracy skills to identify and correctly prepare and weigh up feed components and supplements.

Required knowledge

common horse behaviour, social traits and vices to enable feeding regimes to be implemented effectively

signs of changes in horse eating behaviour to enable problems to be identified and addressed

horse digestive system such as mouth and teeth, stomach, small and large intestines to enable identification and correction of feeding problems

feed sources and the role of energy, protein, fibre, minerals and vitamins in food rations to enable feed to meet horse's nutritional requirements

feed additives and supplements and their composition to enable potential effects to be monitored

nutritional principles and requirements with respect to horse's age, needs while spelling, training and working to ensure appropriate composition of feed

poisonous plants and their effects on grazing horses and the nutritional values of standing feed.

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.

Appropriate personnel may include:

employers

supervisors.

Nutritional principles may include:

nutrients:

protein

fat

trace elements

fibre

minerals

energy

grain and roughage balance.

Individual needs of horses may include:

work requirements

individual taste

behaviour

condition

age

environment

workload

stage of training.

Food rations may include:

local varieties or species of grass or pasture, hays and fodders

pre-packaged food or bulk base food.

Organisational policies and procedures may include:

use of standing feed

horse welfare

selection of feed products

use of additives and supplements

documentation requirements.

Supplementary feed may include:

vitamins

oils

calcium

electrolytes

potassium citrate

iron

hoof hardener

molasses

mineral salt lick

herbal remedies.

Relevant legislation may include:

occupational health and safety

permits and permission for access

environmental regulations.

Criteria may include:

quality

nutritional value

economic value

active ingredients

price

nutritional needs for specific horses.

Individual feeding regimes may include:

size

time and frequency

age effects

gender effects

level of work

individual taste

location of work and feeding

normal habitat

metabolism.

time of year and available natural feeds

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Identify and assess nutritional requirements for individual horses in consultation with appropriate personnel according to nutritional principles and individual horse's need. 
Select feed on the basis of quality, nutritional and economic value to meet the nutritional requirements of specific horses according to organisational policies and procedures. 
Prepare individual food rations for the range of horses in care according to nutritional principles and organisational policies and procedures. 
Monitor food rations and confirm they are appropriate to horse's nutritional requirements. 
Provide paddocked horses with standing and supplementary feed according to their needs and relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Identify criteria for the selection of food additives and supplements according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Assess supplements and food additives according to criteria related to the needs of the horse and its workloads, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Identify individual feeding regimes according to horse's needs. 
Feed horses at appropriate times and monitor individual feeding regimes. 
Document individual horse's eating behaviour, food intake and work level according to organisational policies and procedures. 
Adjust feeding regime as required. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SISOEQO408A - Determine nutritional requirements for horses
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

SISOEQO408A - Determine nutritional requirements for horses

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: