This unit applies to those working as horse riding leaders in a controlled environment, such as a riding arena. This unit may also apply to those working for organisations who offer riding activities or recreational horse riding programs. |
Nil | ||
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Plan riding session or sessions | 1.1. Establish participant's needs and characteristics and assist with participant's disclaimer where required. 1.2. Perform and document appropriate safety checks suitable for the session, according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 1.3. Identify possible hazards and risks associated with riding activities and determine safety procedures and contingency plans according to organisational policies and procedures. 1.4. Assess horses and match to participant characteristics. 1.5. Prepare horses safely and appropriately for the activities being performed. |
2. Brief participants. | 2.1. Communicate instructions and relevant information about the riding session in a manner appropriate to the participants. 2.2. Encourage participants to seek clarification, information and feedback as required during the session. 2.3. Inform participants of known and anticipated risks, safety procedures, appropriate behaviour and rules and regulations of riding. 2.4. Establish a suitable communication system to use while participating in activities. |
3. Conduct riding session or sessions. | 3.1. Provide clear and accurate instructions and demonstrations during the session. 3.2. Supervise participants and maintain effective communication during horse riding activities. 3.3. Observe participants during riding activities and provide individual and or group correction as required according to rules and regulations and accepted best practice principles of horse riding activities. 3.4. Facilitate group dynamics to maintain group and horse safety, control and engagement. 3.5. Bring participants to a halt safely, supervise dismount and client safe departure at the end of the session. |
4. Complete post session responsibilities. | 4.1. Encourage participants to identify their satisfaction with the session, and give feedback as required. 4.2. Check and release horses and store tack and equipment according to organisational policies and procedures and rules and regulations of riding. 4.3. Identify potential areas of improvement for future riding sessions. |
Required skills |
communication skills to: consult with participants to identify their needs convey information about the safety aspects of the session convey skills to participants interact with participants to create a safe and positive environment problem-solving skills to: conduct the session according to participant's needs and characteristics anticipate and mitigate aggressive, misbehaved and or frightened horses address participant difficulties during the session anticipate and respond appropriately to routine situations planning and organising skills to: source and access appropriate equipment, horses and a suitable arena monitor participation organise participants into manageable groups with suitable horses for activities language and literacy skills to: complete post session participant and self evaluations conduct and document safety checks numeracy skills to conduct activities within session timeframes personal horse riding and handling skills to a high level of technical correctness to enable the safe and effective conduct of horse riding sessions for participants. |
Required knowledge |
legislation, organisational policies and procedures and rules and regulations of riding to ensure safe and non-discriminatory conduct of session or sessions features of the arena to enable identification and management of potential risks and hazards selection, use and set up of tack and equipment for a horse riding session communication systems used between participants and horses during riding hazards and risks commonly associated with horse riding sessions and methods of mitigating these risks horse handling and riding techniques to facilitate safe participation in the session social behaviour, psychology and vices of horses to recognise and treat individual temperaments and behaviours throughout session emergency and safety procedures appropriate for horse riding, to ensure risk minimisation to participants and horses. |
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 | Evidence of the following is essential: conveys information to participants for riding session or sessions to ensure activities are conducted safely, according to participant's needs, relevant legislation, organisational policies and procedures, rules and regulations and best practice codes assesses participant's needs and applies relevant processes to safely prepare suitable horses for the session or sessions compatible with individual needs monitors participants and provides constructive feedback and intervention and modifies riding activities to facilitate participation in the riding session evaluates and reflects on own performance to identify areas that need improvement. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure conduct of safe sessions that reflect the needs and characteristics of a range of participants to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance. Assessment must also include access to: suitable arenas with controlled conditions suitable horses for the riding session or sessions access to a group of participants for the riding session or sessions access to tack and personal equipment such as halters, ropes, saddles, bridles, helmets, suitable attire. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of relevant legislation, organisational policies and procedures, rules and regulations of riding and best practice principles to enable safe conduct of all riding activities during sessions observation of safe conduct of the session or sessions, and monitoring and adjusting of session or sessions according to participant's needs, characteristics and responses portfolio of self evaluations and safety checks for sessions third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance. Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended. |
Guidance information for assessment | |
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. | |
Participant's needs and characteristics may include: | age previous experience fitness level and physical capabilities injuries and illnesses reasons for participating. |
Safety checks may include: | arena surface and fencing temperament of horses condition of tack personal equipment. |
Relevant legislation may include: | occupational health and safety permits or permissions for access environmental regulations. |
Organisational policies and procedures may include: | occupational health and safety conflict resolution communication protocols use, care and maintenance of horse, tack and personal equipment maintenance of records code of ethics. |
Hazards may include: | temperature extremes slippery or unstable terrain dangerous animals and insects stinging trees and nettles dense vegetation group management hazards. |
Risks may include: | hypothermia heat exhaustion injuries to horse and or participant exhaustion lost party or party member equipment failure. |
Safety procedures may include: | horse management in hazardous situations equipment checking and usage appropriate dress adequate warm up and cool down saddling, bridling and tethering mounting and dismounting keeping distance from other horses unsaddling and unbridling riding at appropriate speed the 'emergency stop'. |
Relevant information may include: | equipment, clothing and resource requirements arena boundaries safety procedures emergency procedures communication systems rules and regulations of riding responsible and safe behaviour. |
Rules and regulations of riding may include: | Equestrian Australia regulations and guidelines State Equestrian Association and Local Equestrian Association Codes of Conduct Australian Sports Commission's Harassment free Sport policy Australian Horse Industry Council code of practice. |
Horse riding activities may include: | mounting start stop turning riding different paces, patterns and movements |
Unit sector | Outdoor Recreation |
This unit contains employability skills. |
Refer to Unit Descriptor