This unit applies to those working as horse riding guides who guide day rides in a controlled environment. This may include those working for private horse riding companies or group leaders in school outdoor education programs.
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ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide. |
1. Plan a day ride. | 1.1. Establish participant's needs and characteristics and assist with participant's disclaimer where required. 1.2. Develop an activity plan, according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures, to meet participants' needs. 1.3. Select trail ride route suitable for participants and identify rest stops to minimise impact on the terrain and other trail users according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 1.4. Identify hazards associated with the ride and minimise risks to ensure personal safety of participants. 1.5. Access relevant sources to interpret detailed weather and environmental information to determine activity plan. 1.6. Determine food and water requirements according to principles of nutrition and contextual issues of the activity. 1.7. Inform appropriate authorities of route and anticipated times before commencing the ride. |
2. Select equipment for the ride. | 2.1. Select horses of suitable size and temperament to suit individual rider's needs, abilities and attitude. 2.2. Select equipment according to contextual issues and organisational policies and procedures. 2.3. Perform and document appropriate safety checks suitable for the ride, according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 2.4. Adjust and fit equipment to ensure personal comfort. 2.5. Pack saddle bags to ensure they are balanced and comfortable for the horse. |
3. Brief participants. | 3.1. Communicate instructions and relevant information about the ride in a manner suitable to the participants. 3.2. Demonstrate correct horse handling and riding techniques. 3.3. Establish a suitable communication system for participants to use during the ride. 3.4. Outline safety procedures and safe areas and or boundaries for the activity. 3.5. Check and confirm participants are properly equipped for the ride. 3.6. Check participants can apply simple aids to horses to control their direction and speed 3.7. Check that the combinations of horses and riders are appropriate for the planned ride |
4. Lead a day ride. | 4.1. Provide clear and concise direction and advice to group during the ride. 4.2. Monitor riding conditions and techniques to ensure a safe environment. 4.3. Monitor individual participant's performance and provide appropriate feedback. 4.4. Implement appropriate modifications to activity in regard to all variable factors that are monitored. 4.5. Lead both mounted and unmounted horses from horseback. 4.6. Respond appropriately to any emergency or situation. |
5. Select a temporary site for short stops. | 5.1. Assess and select suitable sites to minimise impact on the local environment. 5.2. Explain relevant minimum impact practices to group and monitor their compliance. 5.3. Return site to an equal or greater standard on departure. |
6. Complete post trip responsibilities. | 6.1. Notify relevant authority of trip completion. 6.2. Retrieve, inspect, repair and store equipment according to organisational policies and procedures. 6.3. Check and deal with injuries or wear to horses according to organisational policies and procedures. 6.4. Evaluate relevant aspects of riding activity. 6.5. Identify potential areas of improvement for future trail horse riding activities 6.6. Review own performance and identify potential improvements. |
Required skills |
communication skills to: consult with participants to plan day rides that meet their needs liaise with relevant authorities regarding the route convey information about the safety aspects of the ride interact with participants to create a safe and positive riding environment provide information on skills required to safely negotiate tracks and trails and to control the horses provide information and skills to non riders provide feedback to riders to assist them to improve their riding skills problem-solving skills to: plan suitable riding activities according to participant's needs and abilities assess different variables affecting the ride respond appropriately to non-routine situations manage the group effectively assess suitability of horse to rider and the level of their abilities to travel different routes and paces planning and organisation skills to source, allocate and coordinate resources, equipment and a suitable trail ride route with easy access to a suitable site for short stops language and literacy skills to: produce a plan for the riding activity document safety checks, complete post activity participant and self evaluations personal horseriding skills to a high level of technical correctness to demonstrate and explain requirements to participants water hazard and river reading skills, such as direction and speed of flow, currents, eddies and other hydrological features that may impact on safety during the ride water hazards navigation skills to lead a group on a planned horse riding activity along a certain route and or to a chosen destination first aid and emergency response and rescue skills appropriate to the location to enable initial response to emergencies for both participants and horses ability to apply a risk management plan to enable the activity to be conducted safely. |
Required knowledge |
relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to ensure safe conduct of riding activities minimal impact codes to enable protection of the environment horse handling techniques and behaviour patterns and characteristics of horses to ensure safety of participants and horses symptoms, treatment and prevention of hypothermia, hyperthermia and dehydration to assist in planning riding times and distances and assist participants in self monitoring information about local area to assist in the planning process and enable management of potential hazards and any special restrictions applying to the area types and characteristics of equipment to enable its safe and efficient selection, use and maintenance clothing requirements for day rides, such as wet weather gear to maintain warmth and sun protection to minimise sunburn and heat stroke waterproofing and stowing techniques used to keep equipment, that is not required on hand, dry during ride communication systems and signals used to communicate during the ride principles of nutrition to maintain health during the activity weather and environmental information to identify forecast conditions and their effect on the riding activity emergency response and rescue procedures appropriate for horse riding, to ensure risk minimisation to self and group. |
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: applies knowledge of horse riding and handling techniques to plan within activity constraints and applies effective group management techniques to guide and monitor participants according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures monitors the progress of the day ride and applies effective contingency management techniques to make adjustments in response to changing conditions, such as horse and rider problems, and negotiating hazards and changing weather conditions encourages and responds to group feedback and evaluates and reflects on own guiding performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure planning and leading day rides that reflect the needs of a range of participants to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance. Assessment must also ensure access to: resources and information regarding participants and location to accurately plan, guide and document a day ride for a variety of participants suitable horses a route or location suitable for the conduct of a horse trail ride a suitable temporary site, if required a group of participants to take part in the day ride horse riding equipment such as saddles, navigation equipment, appropriate clothing, food and water, communication devices; safety, and first aid equipment. |
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: observation of planning and guiding processes and interaction with a group of participants, including conveying information for safe participation and appropriate assessment of and assistance provided to participants oral and or written questioning to assess knowledge of relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of day rides observation of dealing with contingencies such as changing weather conditions and equipment failure portfolio of day riding plans third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance. Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: SISOEQO304A Apply first aid for horses. |
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: | skill level previous experience fitness level, emotional and physical capabilities age injuries and illnesses condition on the day of the trip size of the horse. |
Plan may include: | ride's aims and objectives date, time and duration of ride location, planned route and or destination guide and participant ratios resources equipment weather details safety requirements contingency plan. |
Relevant legislation may include: | occupational health and safety permits from land management authorities equal opportunity privacy working with children environmental regulations. |
Organisational policies and procedures may include: | occupational health and safety Standard Operating Procedures for running a trail ride risk management procedures assessment procedures time and budget constraints use and maintenance of equipment communication protocols confidentiality of participant information guide and participant ratios emergency and safety procedures 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 exhaustion lost party or party member equipment failure. |
Relevant sources may include: | Bureau of Meteorology Media land managers or agencies local knowledge. |
Weather and environmental information may include: | satellite images daily and weekly forecasts maximum and minimum temperatures weather warnings event warnings river levels synoptic charts high and low tide predictions. |
Food and water requirements may include: | range of foods perishability energy content. carrying capacity |
Principles of nutrition may include: | essential nutrients individual food requirements and allergies hydration. |
Contextual issues may include: | weather conditions, including times season transport location trip distance and duration group objectives group size |
Appropriate authorities may include: | authorities supervisors |
Equipment may include: | saddles and associated horse equipment maps and compass safety equipment Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons ropes knife communication equipment. first aid equipment saddle bags |
Relevant information may include: | logistical details safety procedures prevention and treatment of illnesses behaviour patterns and characteristics of horses equipment requirements preventative measures for risks possible hazards horse handling and riding techniques objectives of day ride rules and codes responsible and safe behaviour. medical information, fitness and skills of the riders |
Communication system may include: | calls radio hand signals whistles. |
Safety procedures may include: | correct fitting equipment undamaged equipment communication systems use of safety and rescue equipment. procedures for managing the group assessing abilities of riders before departure teaching basic skills prior to departure ensuring appropriate horse and rider combination |
Participant's performance may include: | use of appropriate communication system riding technique riding pace and space attitude negotiation of hazards use of equipment suitability of horse or rider combination. |
Variable factors may include: | change of weather equipment failure participant's needs riding conditions. |
Suitable site may include: | rest stops activity sites temporary shelter. |
Outdoor Recreation
This unit contains employability skills.
No licensing, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.