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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Identify hazards for horse handling or riding activities.
   • Use hazard identification and risk assessment templates, independently or with other personnel to complete assessments.
   • Use a range of methods to identify current and foreseeable hazards with potential to harm health and safety of anyone involved in or present during activities.
   • Identify man-made or environmental obstacles and hazards in areas where horse handling or riding activities are scheduled.
   • Gather and interpret weather and environmental information to ascertain impacts on handling or riding conditions.
   • Identify hazards, including biosecurity issues, associated with handling or riding horses for program activities.
   • Identify features of and potential hazards for tack and all other equipment to be used.
   • Record identified hazards according to organisational procedures and legal requirements.
2. Assess safety risks associated with hazards.
   • Consult with other personnel, as required, for input into risk assessments.
   • Collect sufficient evidence of the type and level of risk posed by identified hazards.
   • Use commonly accepted methods to complete risk analysis and risk assessments.
   • Document outcomes of risk assessments and proposed actions to eliminate or control risks.
   • Maintain records of risk assessments according to organisational procedures and legal requirements.
3. Assess risks associated with horse and handler or rider combination.
   • Use organisational templates designed to match horses to handlers or riders.
   • Identify handler or rider characteristics and level of horse handling or riding skills.
   • Identify known behaviour and education level of horses available for the activity and consider potential hazards.
   • Assess and select horses of suitable history, size and temperament to match handler or rider characteristics and skill level.
   • Assess handler or rider’s own horse, when self-provided, and ensure horse and handler or rider combination is safely matched.
   • Maintain records of assessments according to organisational procedures.
4. Plan activities to eliminate or control risks.
   • Evaluate and determine ways to eliminate hazards from horse handling or riding activity.
   • Evaluate and determine ways that safety risks can be effectively controlled for horse handling or riding activity.
   • Take measures to eliminate or control risks, within scope of responsibility or refer for authorisation.
   • Incorporate risk control processes into documented plans or procedures for horse handling or riding activities.
5. Respond to immediate safety risks.
   • Monitor horse behaviour and handler or rider control during activities and adjust horse and handler or rider combination as required.
   • Respond immediately to safety situations and stimuli causing adverse horse reactions as they arise.
   • Complete on-the-spot risk assessment to avoid injury to handlers or riders and horses.
   • Amend or cease activities if hazard or safety risk is determined to be extreme.