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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 treatmentscleaning and sharpening toolsexposure to noise, dust, skin and eye irritantshandling horsesmanual handling associated with working with tools and metalremoving, replacing and fitting shoestrimming feetworking with fire to shape shoes, shoe horses and weld working with hazardous items (e.g. electricity, heat, gas and other flammables)outside distractions:noisemovementother animalsvehiclesuneducated, stressed or difficult horses. |
Restraints may include: | head collar or halter and leadmuzzlesanti-rearing bitchemical sedatives prescribed by and administered under the supervision of a veterinarianhobblesleg ropestwitch.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:walktrotpacecantergallopjump actioncharacteristic actions of various breeds and types of horsescommon faults of the skeletal system, stance and their effects on gaitcommon injuries of the muscular system and their effects on gait ideal action and alignmentrelationship 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:donkeysdraught horses or carriage horsesendurancehack and breed classesharness and thoroughbred racing horsesOlympic disciplinespolo and polocrossespecific breeds of horses (e.g. Shetland ponies)sporting eventsstage performances steeple chase eventswestern eventsworking horses needs of chronically lame or injured horses where hoof reconstruction may be requiredparticular needs of the horse may be determined through consultation with:allied health service providersequine veterinariansowners, trainers, riders, drivers or groomsotherscondition of the foot should be assessed:with the shoe onwith 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 horseregular review to reflect growth and developmentfoals 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 hammerfoals and young horses are not recommended to be shod although sometimes shoes may be glued to assist in conformational or injury problemsfoot care plan or service is developed which may include corrective trimming. |
Tools for removingand fitting shoes may include: | anvilbufferclenching tongsnail pullers pincerspritchelraspshoe shapershoeing hammerhot shoe tools:hot fit tongs water bucket and water. |
Relevant factors when assessing feet may include: | condition of the existing shoecondition of the hoovesgeneral condition of the horsetemperament of the horsethe approximate age of the horsethe work that the horse will performtype 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 surfaceuneven hoof wearshoe movement on footindicators of stumbling or other forms of interferenceindicators of poor fit:presence of bruising or cornsshoe is pressing on sensitive structuresclenches have risen. |
Remedial or surgical shoes may include: | feather edged shoeshoe with padsthree quarter bar shoebar shoebonded extensiondiamond toed shoeglue-on shoesheart bar shoehospital platelateral extensionpattern restremedial or surgical shoesrocker shoeseated out shoeshoe with set heelthree quarter shoe. |
Toolsfor trimming feet may include: | hoof nippers or cuttersraspparing knifetoe knife. |
Considerations required to safely trim and prepare feet may include: | growth rate of the shod versus the unshod hooftrimming 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 defectsbalance of the foot in relation to the length of toe and height of heeladjusting any irregularities or unevenness in the bearing surfacechecking the balance of the foot in relation to the pastern foot axisdetermining how much hoof needs to be removed in relation to a range of conditions:achieving normal weight bearing in weak heelsany problems noticed by owner in relation to break over of hoof or interferencebroken hoof and pastern anglecorrectly dressing the upright footheels too highheels too lowhoof wall reductionmedial or lateral growthparing down the discoloured horn where there is a cornreducing the side of the wall that is too high until a level bearing surface is obtained in the case of a twisted footremoval of seedy toe and false quartertoe 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 limbinjury may occur through the following faults in dressing the foot:inadequate removal of excess hoofoverparing the frogoverparing the soleover-lowering the toeover-lowering the heelsover-lowering the bearing surfaceuneven bearing surfaceopening up the heelsrasping 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 obtainedachieving normal weight bearing in weak heelsremoval of damaged hoof wallcleaning and debraiding the hoof wallapplying acrylic or polyurethane composites using appropriate personal protective equipment including:face maskgloves. |
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 shoulderavoidance of reaching sensitive tissuechecking angles and shape of footthe weight is evenly distributed over the foottoe clip is cut in balance with hoof shape if clip is requiredwhen viewed from behind, both heels are the same height and the base of the frog just touches the groundwhen 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 conformationshape of its feet size and weightwear patterns of existing shoeswork it performsshoe types in various sizes and weights fitted hot or cold:bar shoediamond toed shoeegg bar shoefeather edged shoegraduated shoeheart bar shoeraised heelsrocker bar shoeseated out shoeshoe with quarter clips, heel clips and/or side clipsshoe with set heelside weightssquare toethree quarter bar shoethree quarter shoeother considerations in shoe selectionRules of Racing shoe requirementsother sport and working horse requirements:breed requirementscarriage and draught horse shoesendurancehacking, dressagemule or donkey shoes.polo and polocrosseshowjumping, eventing, huntingworking stock horse and western events. |
Ancillary features may include: | bar extra clipextra nail holespadsseating out shortening or lengthening heelstud 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 surfacechecking and adjusting shoe to reduce the risk of:close fitting wide fittingchecking length of shoe to assess if:heels are too longheels are too short. |
Relevant factors may include: | nailing on a shoe should avoid:nail bind prickssole pressureholding horse's leg at a comfortable angle during nailing to:discourage horse from moving away during nailingenable horse to stand in a balanced positionprevent 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 shoeselecting nails of appropriate size and length for hoof quality and shoe typesetting nails in appropriate position around hoofnailing on the shoe in sequence clenches even, flat and broad, nails driven to standard heightnails driven home, with heads fitting the countersinkswith foot on the ground assess:front and hind feet are pairs, the same size and shape and the same pastern foot axisno excessive rasping of the wallno 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 wallshoe fits the outline of the foot and heels are of correct lengthwith foot off the ground assess:no unnecessary paring of the frog and soleheels not opened uptoe clip centred and in line with the point of the frogsole eased at the seat of cornno daylight between the foot and the shoeshoe fits the foot and the heels do not interfere with the function of the frogshoe is properly finished offhorse shows no sign of lameness when trotted up. |