Elements and Performance Criteria

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.
Health care protocols
Health care protocols may include:
advice to other organisations, as required by legislation, regulations and/or enterprise policy
horse management
comprehensive record keeping
routine health checks
equipment and gear cleanliness
handling and monitoring horses
hazard identification
maintaining first aid and treatments stores
notifiable diseases
zoonotic diseases
permissible medication and treatments
quarantine measures
veterinary or specialist advice and assistance
stable and yard cleanliness
risk control measures:
controlling insects and rodents
disinfection and hygiene measures
fire drills
health programs
isolation or quarantine of sick horses
monitoring movement of horses
vaccinations and boosters
waste disposal
staff management:
access to and administration of treatments
communication procedures
emergency drills
literacy and numeracy skills
training.
Emergency care protocols
Situations requiring emergency care may include:
acute illness (eg. colic)
acute lameness including fractures
acute respiratory distress
arterial blood loss
being cast, trapped or entangled in wire fencing or other situations
eye injury
fire
inability to rise or walk
trauma.
Safe horse handling procedures
Safe horse handling procedures may include:
being prepared to say no to handling an uneducated, stressed or difficult horse
establishing a safe working environment
following safe work practices for:
completing inspection tasks
infection control (biosecurity) precautions
horse catching, handling, controlling and restraining methods using safe manual handling procedures
using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
recognising possible symptoms of and risks of zoonotic diseases such as Hendra virus and required reporting procedures
safe horse transport procedures including welfare and adherence to current legislated recommendations.
Health status of individual horses
Health status of individual horses is assessed:
by routine health checks
prior to travelling
upon arrival at new premises
when illness or injury is suspected
Health status may be determined by:
checking for signs of illness, injury, distress, lameness, heat, swelling, soreness
assessing breeding status
checking for quality and quantity of manure and urine
monitoring feed and water intake
monitoring vital signs
observing behaviour.
Infectious diseases
Infectious diseases may include, but are not limited to:
Exotic:
African horse sickness
anthrax
contagious equine metritis
dourine
epizootic lymphangitis
equine encephalomyelitis (Eastern, Western, Venezuelan)
equine influenza
glanders
Japanese encephalitis
Endemic:
equine herpes virus
hendra virus
salmonellosis
strangles
Indicators of infectious disease may include:
blisters, ulceration or erosions
dead horses
nervousness or other behaviour changes
profuse, bloody diarrhoea
rapid spread of signs and symptoms throughout stable
recent overseas contact
unexplained lethargy, listlessness or depression
unusually high numbers of sick horses
severe hacking cough.
Nutrient elements
Nutrient elements may include:
glucose
carbohydrates
fat
fibre
protein
vitamins and minerals
electrolytes
water.
Structures of the digestive system
Structures of the digestive system will include:
mouth and teeth
salivary ducts and glands
stomach
small and large intestine
hepatic structures.
Impact of an unbalanced or deficient diet
Impact of an unbalanced or deficient diet may include:
health problems related to feeding:
orthopaedic problems including laminitis
gastrointestinal problems
developing a dull or rough coat
exertional rhabdomyolosis (typing up)
parasite burdens
poor appetite/eating (anorexia versus dysphagia)
predisposition to infectious conditions
vitamin and mineral deficiencies
behaviour problems including wood chewing, crib biting and coprophagy
condition of horse:
losing or gaining weight
muscle wasting/atrophy.
Health records
Health records should include:
dates and times of:
arrival at stables
assessing vital signs
illness or injury
treatments and vaccinations
features of horse identification
name of horse
name of person administering treatment
prescribed treatments administered
treatment instructions
vital signs at rest.
Health care and management
Health care and management may include:
administration of treatments
communication procedures when horses are treated
disease prevention and control
programmes for vaccination, worming and hoof and dental care
emergency care
emergency phone numbers, for example veterinarian or fire department
permissible treatments
procedure for recording treatments
procedure for recording and reporting vital signs
routine health checks
replenishing supplies of first aid kits
system of referral for injury treatment
staff access to first aid treatments and materials.
Common illnesses or injuries
Common illnesses or injuries may include:
illnesses:
circulatory disorders
gastrointestinal disorders
metabolic disorders
musculoskeletal disorders
neurological disorders
respiratory disorders
skin disorders
injuries:
bruises
falls
girth galls
joint injuries
sprained ligaments or tendons
strained muscles
tack rubs
wounds.
Professionals
Professionals may include:
chiropractors
veterinary dentists
farriers
massage therapists.
Veterinary assistance
Need for veterinary assistance may include:
diagnosis and advice on treatment and management of the problem
horse may:
be insured
have to be treated with competition prohibited substances
have to be withdrawn from competition
require prescription medication
require stitching or specialist injury management or treatment
illness may be:
contagious condition
notifiable disease
passed on to humans
illness or injury may be:
life threatening or have consequences to ongoing career of horse
result of neglect or non-compliance with duty of care.
Pharmaceutical and therapeutic treatments
Pharmaceutical treatments may include:
antibiotics and other anti-infective agents
anthelminthics
prescribed medications
inhalants
injectibles
oral medications and pastes
poultices
topical medications
vaccines
Therapeutic treatments may include:
acupuncture
chiropractic
electromagnetic
exercise
hydrotherapy
ice and heat
laser
massage
rest
ultrasound.

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:
undertake health management programs for horses
determine emergency care procedures
ensure provision of safe, compliant and secure housing arrangements for horses
apply safe horse handling procedures
evaluate the impact of an unbalanced or nutrient deficient diet on horse health and behaviour
follow workplace health and safety and animal welfare requirements
implement infection control procedures
determine horse health problems and treatment options in consultation with veterinarians and professionals as required
administer treatments as directed and monitor horse's progress
accurately document and maintain appropriate records.
The skills and knowledge required to maintain and monitor horse health and welfare 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 for this Unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in a an equine industry workplace with access to a variety of horses of different ages and sexes, safe horse handling areas and the appropriate materials and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.
Method of assessment
To ensure consistency of performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than two occasions over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities and 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
third-party evidence
workplace documentation
case studies
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).