This unit applies to those working as horse riding guides who are responsible for guiding overnight rides in an uncontrolled environment. This may include those working for private horse riding companies or group leaders in school outdoor education programs.
SISOEQO410A Guide overnight horse trail rides in tracked areas
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 ride to a remote area. | 1.1. Establish participant's needs and characteristics and assist with participant's disclaimer where required 1.2. Select trail ride route suitable for participants and identify rest stop locations to minimise impact on the terrain and other trail users according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 1.3. Assess the capacity to acquire additional or new horses, as required according to organisational policies and procedures. 1.4. Access relevant sources to interpret detailed weather and environmental information to determine plan for the ride. 1.5. Identify potential hazards associated with the ride and. determine how they can be overcome or avoided. 1.6. Determine food and water requirements for participants according to principles of nutrition and contextual issues of the ride. 1.7. Develop a plan for the ride, according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures, to meet participants' needs. 1.8. Identify and plan for corralling or tethering requirements for horses according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 1.9. 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 and train suitable horses as pack horses according to organisational policies and procedures 2.3. Select and access equipment according to contextual issues and organisational policies and procedures. 2.4. Select and pack first aid supplies for horse and rider 2.5. Perform and document appropriate safety checks suitable for the ride, according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 2.6. Adjust and fit equipment to ensure personal comfort. 2.7. 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. Provide information to participants regarding horses and their behaviour patterns and characteristics 3.3. Demonstrate correct horse handling and riding techniques. 3.4. Check riders abilities to control their horses and follow instructions 3.5. Establish a suitable communication system for participants to use during the ride. 3.6. Outline safety procedures and safe areas and or boundaries for the activity. 3.7. Check and confirm participants are properly equipped for the ride. |
4. Lead a ride in a remote area. | 4.1. Provide clear and concise direction and advice to group during the ride. 4.2. Monitor riding conditions, horse performance and riding techniques to ensure a safe environment for rider and horse and provide advice as appropriate. 4.3. Monitor participant and horse performance and identify signs of difficulty according to organisational policies and procedures. 4.4. Implement appropriate modifications to activity in response to all variable factors that are monitored. 4.5. Identify and respond to problems resulting from interaction between horses and riders or between horses quickly and appropriately to ensure client safety 4.6. Monitor equipment for signs of wear and breakage and take corrective action as required. |
5. Select and maintain a temporary site. | 5.1. Assess and select suitable sites for stops and overnight stays to minimise impact on the local environment 5.2. Explain relevant minimum impact practices to group and monitor their compliance according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 5.3. Return site to an equal or greater standard on departure |
6. Complete post trip responsibilities. | 6.1. Notify relevant authority of ride 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 to remote areas 6.6. Review own performance and identify potential improvements. |
Required skills |
communication skills to: consult with participants to plan rides to remote areas that meets 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 interact with participants and management during ride problem-solving skills to: plan a suitable riding activity according to participant's needs and abilities and terrain assess different variables affecting the ride respond appropriately to non routine situations manage the group effectively planning and organisation skills to: source, allocate and coordinate resources, equipment select a suitable trail ride route to a remote area with access to a suitable temporary site for stopovers language and literacy skills to: produce a plan for the riding activity complete post-activity participant and self evaluations river reading skills, such as direction and speed of flow, currents, eddies and other hydrological features that may impact on safety during the ride navigation skills to lead a group on a planned horse riding activity along a certain route and or to a chosen destination in a remote area 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. ability to use pack saddles and store weights evenly with appropriate loads for the pack horses advanced horse riding skills to manage horses in remote environments |
Required knowledge |
relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of the riding activity minimal impact codes to enable protection of the environment horse handling techniques to enable safety of participants and horses factors affecting choice of horses including size, age, health, tractability, absence of vices, temperament, fitness, experience and behaviour patterns to enable horses to be matched to participant abilities symptoms, treatment and prevention of hypothermia, hyperthermia and dehydration to assist in planning riding times and distances and assist participants in self monitoring area specific information to assist in the planning process and enable management of potential hazards and any special restrictions applying to the area characteristics and purposes of equipment and gear used to control and handle horses to enable its safe and efficient selection, use and maintenance clothing requirements for rides in remote areas, such as wet weather gear to maintain warmth and sun protection to minimise sunburn and heat stroke care and maintenance of riding equipment to ensure prolonged life span and safety requirements 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 riding activity for horses and people weather and environmental information to identify forecast conditions and their effect on the riding activity hazards, obstacles and risks commonly experienced when undertaking rides to remote areas and ways to avoid or negotiate these 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 rides to remote areas with steep or difficult terrain within activity constraints applies effective group management techniques to guide and monitor participants according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures monitors the progress of the ride and applies effective contingency management techniques to make adjustments in response to changing conditions, such as negotiating hazards and changing weather conditions encourages and responds to group feedback and evaluates and reflects on own performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure planning and leading a ride to a remote area with steep or difficult terrain that is of sufficient duration and breadth 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 ride to a remote area with steep or difficult terrain for a variety of participants suitable horses a route or location with steep or difficult terrain suitable for the conduct of a horse trail ride a suitable temporary site, if required a group of participants to take part in the ride horse riding equipment such as saddles, navigation equipment 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 oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of rides to remote areas with steep or difficult terrain observation of dealing with contingencies such as changing weather conditions and equipment failure portfolio of 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: SISOEQO412A Manage horse illness and injuries in remote areas |
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 | skill level previous experience fitness level and physical capabilities age injuries and illnesses condition on the day of ride. |
Trail ride route may include: | bushland arid areas alpine areas rainforest beaches. |
Relevant legislation may include: | occupational health and safety permits or permission for access environmental regulations. |
Organisational policies and procedures may include: | occupational health and safety assessment procedures selection of horses 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. |
Terrain may include: | steep ascents and or descents dense vegetation numerous obstacles and hazards untracked areas exposed areas with inherent dangers due to environmental extremes. |
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. |
Hazards may include: | temperature extremes slippery or unstable terrain dangerous animals and insects stinging trees and nettles dense vegetation group management hazards. |
Food and water requirements may include: | range of foods perishability storage. |
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 activities group size |
Plan may include: | date, time and duration of ride location, planned route and or destination guide and participant ratios group management resources equipment food and water weather details safety requirements contingency plan permits. |
Appropriate authorities may include: | authorities supervisors. |
Equipment may include: | horse equipment maps and compass watch ropes knife communication equipment such as Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons bedding. food and water |
First aid supplies may include: | gun axe knife hoof pick farrier equipment first aid for personal use and for horse torch. |
Relevant information may include: | logistical details safety procedures symptoms, treatment and prevention of hypothermia, hyperthermia and dehydration behaviour patterns and characteristics of horses equipment requirements preventative measures for risks horse handling and riding techniques rules and codes responsible and safe behaviour. |
Communication system may include: | calls radio hand signals whistles. |
Safety procedures may include: | serviceable equipment correctly fitted equipment communication systems wearing of helmets use of safety and rescue equipment. |
Signs of difficulty may include: | riding technique riding pace and space fatigue negotiation of hazards use of equipment horse stress overheating. |
Variable factors may include: | change of weather equipment failure participant's needs horse's needs riding conditions. |
Minimum impact practices may include: | using single file zig-zagging up and down hills avoiding soft terrain avoiding trampling or camping near waterways preventing horses from eating tree bark varying stopping areas watering horses on rocky banks using designated trails. |
Relevant aspects may include: | objectives planning process activity site weather equipment selection clothing selection food selection instructional content instructional technique assessment technique group feedback directing techniques rescue techniques employed |
Outdoor Recreation
This unit contains employability skills.
No licensing, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.