Elements and Performance Criteria
- Plan instructional sessions.
- Determine objectives of individual sessions to allow progression of skills within overall learning program.
- Identify and evaluate participant needs, characteristics and current riding skills.
- Develop session plans to include appropriate exercises for learner requirements and stage of skills acquisition.
- Identify suitable environment, horses and equipment for riding session.
- Complete session specific risk assessment and determine safety, emergency response and first aid procedures.
- Prepare tack, horses and participants.
- Set up equipment for exercises and complete safety checks on environment and equipment.
- Select horses of suitable history, size and temperament to match participant capabilities.
- Check participants’ own personal equipment and tack, if provided, and confirm it is in safe working condition.
- Select organisation’s tack and personal equipment to match riders and exercises, and check it is in safe working condition.
- Direct and assist participants to groom horse, fit and adjust tack and personal equipment; check comfort and safety of fit.
- Brief participants.
- Communicate instructions and information about session in a manner appropriate to participants.
- Encourage participants to ask questions and seek advice before and during session.
- Inform participants of known and anticipated risks, safety procedures, safe behaviour, safe areas and boundaries.
- Advise participants of communication protocols to use during exercises.
- Instruct fundamental horse riding skills.
- Assist with mounting of horses, check and adjust rider equipment, and prepare horses and participants using safe warm up exercises.
- Implement teaching and coaching techniques to impart skills and knowledge for fundamental horse riding skills.
- Provide clear and accurate exercise instructions and or demonstrations throughout the session.
- Facilitate effective group communication and interaction to maintain group control, engagement and safety.
- Observe and monitor participant riding performance and provide corrective instruction.
- Monitor participant adherence to safety procedures and assertively correct breaches.
- Monitor horse behaviour and interaction and promptly control aggressive, misbehaved and frightened horses.
- Evaluate the session.