Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
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.
Risks to horse or handlers may include:
completing farriery tasks:
applying fillers and other treatments
cleaning and sharpening tools
exposure to noise, dust, skin and eye irritants
handling horses
manual handling associated with working with tools and metal
removing, replacing and fitting shoes
trimming feet
working with fire to shape shoes, shoe horses and weld
working with hazardous items (e.g. electricity, heat, gas and other flammables)
outside distractions:
noise
movement
other animals
vehicles
uneducated, stressed or difficult horses.
Restraints may include:
head collar or halter and lead
muzzles
anti-rearing bit
chemical sedatives prescribed by and administered under the supervision of a veterinarian
hobbles
leg ropes
twitch.

Note: The majority of horses are quiet, easily managed and require no restraint. Where restraint is required it must be the minimum necessary and should always be determined through consultation with the owner or responsible person.
Features ofgait and conformation may include:
gaits:
walk
trot
pace
canter
gallop
jump action
characteristic actions of various breeds and types of horses
common faults of the skeletal system, stance and their effects on gait
common injuries of the muscular system and their effects on gait
ideal action and alignment
relationship of the conformation of the foot and limb to the way of going.
Particular needs of individual horses may include:
horses used for special unusual or specific purposes:
donkeys
draught horses or carriage horses
endurance
hack and breed classes
harness and thoroughbred racing horses
Olympic disciplines
polo and polocrosse
specific breeds of horses (e.g. Shetland ponies)
sporting events
stage performances
steeple chase events
western events
working horses
needs of chronically lame or injured horses where hoof reconstruction may be required
particular needs of the horse may be determined through consultation with:
allied health service providers
equine veterinarians
owners, trainers, riders, drivers or grooms
others
condition of the foot should be assessed:
with the shoe on
with the shoe off.
Particular needs of foals and young horses may include:
appropriate approach by the farrier to avoid the development of bad habits in the horse
regular review to reflect growth and development
foals having their feet attended for the first time should be halter-broken and have received some preliminary training, including experience in having their legs manipulated, feet picked up, standing on three legs and having their feet tapped with a hammer
foals and young horses are not recommended to be shod although sometimes shoes may be glued to assist in conformational or injury problems
foot care plan or service is developed which may include corrective trimming.
Tools for removingand fitting shoes may include:
anvil
buffer
clenching tongs
nail pullers
pincers
pritchel
rasp
shoe shaper
shoeing hammer
hot shoe tools:
hot fit tongs
water bucket and water.
Relevant factors when assessing feet may include:
condition of the existing shoe
condition of the hooves
general condition of the horse
temperament of the horse
the approximate age of the horse
the work that the horse will perform
type of surface the horse will work on.
Implications of wear pattern may include:
indicators of uneven weight bearing:
variations in shoe thickness on ground contact surface
uneven hoof wear
shoe movement on foot
indicators of stumbling or other forms of interference
indicators of poor fit:
presence of bruising or corns
shoe is pressing on sensitive structures
clenches have risen.
Remedial or surgical shoes may include:
feather edged shoe
shoe with pads
three quarter bar shoe
bar shoe
bonded extension
diamond toed shoe
glue-on shoes
heart bar shoe
hospital plate
lateral extension
pattern rest
remedial or surgical shoes
rocker shoe
seated out shoe
shoe with set heel
three quarter shoe.
Toolsfor trimming feet may include:
hoof nippers or cutters
rasp
paring knife
toe knife.
Considerations required to safely trim and prepare feet may include:
growth rate of the shod versus the unshod hoof
trimming aims achieve a level bearing surface and a normal pastern foot axis, it involves:
study of the shape and proportions of the foot
identification and correction of any defects
balance of the foot in relation to the length of toe and height of heel
adjusting any irregularities or unevenness in the bearing surface
checking the balance of the foot in relation to the pastern foot axis
determining how much hoof needs to be removed in relation to a range of conditions:
achieving normal weight bearing in weak heels
any problems noticed by owner in relation to break over of hoof or interference
broken hoof and pastern angle
correctly dressing the upright foot
heels too high
heels too low
hoof wall reduction
medial or lateral growth
paring down the discoloured horn where there is a corn
reducing the side of the wall that is too high until a level bearing surface is obtained in the case of a twisted foot
removal of seedy toe and false quarter
toe too long.
Hoof trim considerations in relation to injury to the horse's feet may include:
a badly dressed foot is not only altered in shape but also in position relative to the leg, which in turn influences the action of the limb
injury may occur through the following faults in dressing the foot:
inadequate removal of excess hoof
overparing the frog
overparing the sole
over-lowering the toe
over-lowering the heels
over-lowering the bearing surface
uneven bearing surface
opening up the heels
rasping the wall and dumping the toe.
Hoof reconstruction may be undertaken:
overtime and may include:
reducing the side of the wall that is too high until a level bearing surface is obtained
achieving normal weight bearing in weak heels
removal of damaged hoof wall
cleaning and debraiding the hoof wall
applying acrylic or polyurethane composites using appropriate personal protective equipment including:
face mask
gloves.
Quality outcomes of foot preparation may include:
achieve optimal conformational relationships between angles of leading wall of hoof line, long axis of pastern and angle of shoulder
avoidance of reaching sensitive tissue
checking angles and shape of foot
the weight is evenly distributed over the foot
toe clip is cut in balance with hoof shape if clip is required
when viewed from behind, both heels are the same height and the base of the frog just touches the ground
when viewed from the side, the toe, quarters and heels are proportionate and the pastern foot axis is in a straight line.
Shoe selection considerations may include:
characteristics of the horse:
assessment of horse's action
conformation
shape of its feet
size and weight
wear patterns of existing shoes
work it performs
shoe types in various sizes and weights fitted hot or cold:
bar shoe
diamond toed shoe
egg bar shoe
feather edged shoe
graduated shoe
heart bar shoe
raised heels
rocker bar shoe
seated out shoe
shoe with quarter clips, heel clips and/or side clips
shoe with set heel
side weights
square toe
three quarter bar shoe
three quarter shoe
other considerations in shoe selection
Rules of Racing shoe requirements
other sport and working horse requirements:
breed requirements
carriage and draught horse shoes
endurance
hacking, dressage
mule or donkey shoes.
polo and polocrosse
showjumping, eventing, hunting
working stock horse and western events.
Ancillary features may include:
bar
extra clip
extra nail holes
pads
seating out shortening or lengthening heel
stud holes.
Final adjustments may include:
hot or cold shoes may be fitted:
surface fitting, where the foot surface has to be adapted exactly to the bearing surface of the hoof
outline fitting, which means adaptation of the shoe to the length and breadth of the hoof with the outer border of the shoe corresponding to the outline of the bearing surface
checking and adjusting shoe to reduce the risk of:
close fitting
wide fitting
checking length of shoe to assess if:
heels are too long
heels are too short.
Relevant factors may include:
nailing on a shoe should avoid:
nail bind
pricks
sole pressure
holding horse's leg at a comfortable angle during nailing to:
discourage horse from moving away during nailing
enable horse to stand in a balanced position
prevent injury to farrier due to poor manual handling techniques.
Factors taken into account when finished job is assessed may include:
securing shoe to foot:
using an appropriate number of nails to secure shoe
selecting nails of appropriate size and length for hoof quality and shoe type
setting nails in appropriate position around hoof
nailing on the shoe in sequence
clenches even, flat and broad, nails driven to standard height
nails driven home, with heads fitting the countersinks
with foot on the ground assess:
front and hind feet are pairs, the same size and shape and the same pastern foot axis
no excessive rasping of the wall
no dumping of the wall (making the foot fit the shoe)
clips low and broad and the toe clip centred with correct angle to the hoof wall
shoe fits the outline of the foot and heels are of correct length
with foot off the ground assess:
no unnecessary paring of the frog and sole
heels not opened up
toe clip centred and in line with the point of the frog
sole eased at the seat of corn
no daylight between the foot and the shoe
shoe fits the foot and the heels do not interfere with the function of the frog
shoe is properly finished off
horse shows no sign of lameness when trotted up.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
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 competence in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
assess the shoeing needs of individual horses with particular needs that may be addressed by the farrier
report conditions requiring higher-level treatment to other farrier or to veterinarians involved with hoof care as required
discuss shoeing options with clients
fabricate or modify a range of remedial or surgical shoes to assist in the correction and/or alleviation of a horse's problem
select and fit appropriate pairs of shoes to horses exhibiting with chronic lameness, damage or engaged in particular sporting, working or other activities and assess quality of outcomes
provide advice on future hoof care requirements and maintain records of service provided.

The skills and knowledge required to accommodate special needs of particular horses through farriery techniques must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in worksites, where routine farriery tasks are performed, or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access to a range horses for assessment and fitting of pairs of shoes as well as the appropriate equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.

Method of assessment
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategy must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:
written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge
observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks
simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions
case study analysis
third-party evidence
workplace documentation
portfolio.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.

Guidance information for assessment
Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).