Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare to educate pack horses
- Assess current level of education, health status, condition and behaviour of the horse
- Confirm client needs and requirements and develop education plan for individual horse
- Prepare safe, secure and controlled facilities and environment to conduct each stage of the education program
- Identify hazards and control potential risks to safety of handler/s and horse/s
- Select and correctly fit personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Determine if the assistance of another handler is required based on risk assessment of the horse
- Educate horses to carry loads
- Teach horse to be led alongside a horse being ridden and on foot
- Introduce the horse to a pack saddle and fit correctly
- Introduce and familiarise the horse to loads and low hanging equipment
- Habituate the horse to be in close proximity to other horses in front and to the rear
- Lead the horse, ensuring a safe position and distance, past objects to accustom to loads
- Introduce heavier loads containing different objects, ensuring loads are balanced and secured, appropriate for the size of the horse
- Consolidate education of pack horses
- Train the pack horse to follow the lead horse
- Repeat exercises in a range of environments to develop horse confidence negotiating different surfaces and obstacles
- Teach the horse to be restrained utilising remote area options
- Recognise and respond appropriately to signs of stress and fatigue in horses undergoing education
- Apply reward-based horse education methodology
- Apply education techniques consistently to reinforce horse learning
- Recognise and apply positive reinforcement to the horse for progress towards desired behaviours
- Use appropriate techniques to manage behaviour and performance according to current equine learning theory and to ensure the wellbeing of the horse
- Assess horse acceptance of education for client's needs, and provide feedback