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.
Appropriate personnel may include:
employers
supervisors.
Nutritional principles may include:
nutrients:
protein
fat
trace elements
fibre
minerals
energy
grain and roughage balance.
Individual needs of horses may include:
work requirements
individual taste
behaviour
condition
age
environment
workload
stage of training.
Food rations may include:
local varieties or species of grass or pasture, hays and fodders
pre-packaged food or bulk base food.
Organisational policies and procedures may include:
use of standing feed
horse welfare
selection of feed products
use of additives and supplements
documentation requirements.
Supplementary feed may include:
vitamins
oils
calcium
electrolytes
potassium citrate
iron
hoof hardener
molasses
mineral salt lick
herbal remedies.
Relevant legislation may include:
occupational health and safety
permits and permission for access
environmental regulations.
Criteria may include:
quality
nutritional value
economic value
active ingredients
price
nutritional needs for specific horses.
Individual feeding regimes may include:
size
time and frequency
age effects
gender effects
level of work
individual taste
location of work and feeding
normal habitat
metabolism.
time of year and available natural feeds

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 factors affecting the nutritional requirements of different horses in the work environment, including the effects of additives and supplements, to prepare and provide balanced diets and food for horses demonstrating an understanding of quality, type and value of feed and needs of individual horses
completes tasks within nominated time frames and applies safe work practices when determining nutritional requirements of horses
applies effective contingency management techniques to make adjustments to feeding regimes in response to changing conditions, such as signs of problem eating displayed by individual horses
documents and maintains feed records and adjusts in response to changing requirements.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure carrying out and monitoring feeding regimes individual horses on multiple occasions to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.
Assessment must also ensure access to:
a commercial or private horse riding establishment with a variety of horses in various stages of preparation including paddocked horses
information about the properties of additives and supplements
appropriate feed, additives and supplements and feeding equipment
organisational policies and procedures in relation to feeding horses
appropriate personnel.
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 interaction with horses during assessment of nutritional needs, and implementation and monitoring of feeding regime
oral and or written questioning to assess knowledge of factors affecting the nutritional requirements of a range of horses
portfolio of feeding records
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:
RTE2121A Provide daily care for horses.