This unit applies to livestock managers who use horses for stock work. Coordinating specialist services from veterinarians and farriers may be required.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Manage horse condition and health

1.1. Organisation procedures for maintaining health are developed in consultation with other organisation staff, and using sound animal welfare guidelines.

1.2. Soundness and working condition of organisation horses is assessed, reported and documented.

1.3. Suitable personal protective equipment is selected, used and maintained.

1.4. Unsound or unhealthy horses are identified, and reasons for their condition are established, if necessary, in consultation with available veterinary advice.

2. Manage nutritional requirements of horses

2.1. Daily and seasonal factors affecting the nutritional requirements of horses are determined for the organisation.

2.2. Supplementary feeding programs are provided to organisation horses to ensure that their physical condition and health is optimised for stock work.

2.3. Work programs for horses are related to, and balanced with, feeding program.

2.4. Potential nutritional problems are anticipated and preventative or corrective action taken for supplementary feeding.

3. Supervise horse work of other property personnel

3.1. Horse selection matches rider ability and suitability for task.

3.2. Planned horse activities are scheduled and details are communicated to appropriate staff.

3.3. Horse work and breaking by contractors or staff is co-ordinated, and supervision provided to ensure that horses and personnel work within their limitations.

3.4. Inexperienced horses are provided with stock training by experienced riders.

3.5. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards are identified, assessed, and planned activities provide for responsible actions by all people working with and around the horses.

3.6. Operational staff and any contractors are communicated with regularly to ensure smooth operation and progress.

3.7. Work outcomes and horse costs and treatments are monitored and recorded in the organisation record.

Required skills

handle and ride horses safely

assess the suitability and soundness of horses and match to riders

train inexperienced horses

provide feed for horses suitable for their stage and workload

monitor the health and welfare of stock horses

co-ordinate operations with horse breakers, vets, farriers and farm staff

observe, identify and react appropriately to environmental implications and OHS hazards

meet animal welfare legislative and enterprise requirements

use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, develop sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of tasks

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures and data

use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

care and maintenance of hooves and the lower limb

relevant legislation and regulations relating to OHS, contractor engagement and animal welfare

environmental controls and codes of practice applicable to the business and to the seeding operations

sound management practices and processes to minimise noise, odours, and debris.

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 competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

organise the safe handling and riding of horses

develop operational procedures to manage health and nutritional requirements of horses

identify ill or injured horses and consult with veterinarians

match horse type and experience to rider and task

supervise the horse work of other property personnel such as the breaking in by contractors.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Types of horses may include:

all types and breeds of horses that are used for stock work.

Type of conditions that impact on the welfare of horses may include:

Lameness, sore eyes, sore mouth, girth galls, back conditions, mud, caked sweat or vegetable matter, damaged feet or lower limbs, and localised or systemic infections.

Factors that effect nutrition and feeding programs may include:

paddock conditions

the presence of native and introduced species of grasses and legumes

feeding, mastication, teeth problems

hierarchical structures in the mob

the differing demands of age, sex, work, growth and pregnancy

mineral requirements and availability of roughage

grains, supplements and greenfeed.

Unit sector

Livestock

This unit contains employability skills.