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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Identify shoeing needs of individual horses
  2. Trim and prepare feet
  3. Fit shoes
  4. Attach shoes and finish shoeing process

Required Skills

Required skills

adhere to occupational health and safety 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 crossinfection

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 skillslanguage 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

problemsolving skills to select required materials and equipment and prioritise tasks

use safe manual handling techniques andor equipment

use safe waste handling and disposal procedures

work as part of a team with other professionals including veterinarians

Required knowledge

anatomical features of the lower limb and foot of the horse and applicable biomechanical functions

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

safe work practices

types of surgical horse shoes and modifications that may be made to address the needs of a horse exhibiting severe faults and defects

Evidence Required

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 exhibiting severe faults and defects of the foot or lower limb that may be alleviated by the farrier

report conditions requiring higherlevel treatment to other farriers or to veterinarians involved with hoof care as required

discuss shoeing options with clients

trim and prepare feet

select and fit appropriate pairs of shoes to alleviate severe faults and defects and assess quality of outcomes

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

The skills and knowledge required to fit shoes to alleviate severe faults and defects in horses 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 of horses presenting with severe faults and defects as well as the appropriate equipment andor resources to enable one to demonstrate competence

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency in ones 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 andor oral assessment of candidates required knowledge

observed documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidates application of practical tasks

simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions

case study analysis

thirdparty 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 eg literacy and numeracy demands and the needs of particular target groups eg 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


Range Statement

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 including 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.

Severe faults and defects in horses' feet that may include:

injuries caused by the shoe:

capped elbow

overreach

defective feet:

flat foot

twisted foot

weak or low heels

injuries caused by abnormalities of gait:

brushing/speedy cutting

cross-firing

forging

knee hitting

over-reaching

scalping

stumbling

diseases and injuries of the limb and foot which require protection and relief of pressure through the provision of specialist techniques or surgical shoes:

bone spavin

corns

curb

false quarter

fractured pedal bone

keratoma

laminitis

navicular disease

pedal ostitis

ring bone

seedy toe

sidebone

splints

sprained joint

sprained ligament

strained or ruptured tendon

the condition of the foot should be assessed:

with the shoe on

with the shoe off.

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.

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

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

toe too long

any problems noticed by owner in relation to break over 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

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.

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 and dressage

mule or donkey shoes

polo and polocrosse

showjumping, eventing and 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.