ACMEQU314 — Provide non-riding exercise to horses

Elements & performance criteria

Performance evidence

• An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.
• There must be evidence that the individual has handled and provided non-riding exercise to two different well-educated, calm, consistent and obedient horses. Each horse must be exercised on at least two different occasions. On each occasion, the individual must have completed one of the following:
• • exercised a horse for at least ten minutes on mechanical exercise equipment, including: • carried out pre-operational checks of equipment • identified emergency procedures • safely loaded and unloaded the horse on equipment • operated the equipment and adjusted speed according to program requirements and horse performance
• or • exercised a horse in a wading and/or swimming activity for at least two minutes, including: • led the horse safely into and out of water • controlled and monitored horse during exercise in water.
• For each horse exercise activity, the individual must have:
• • identified at least three different hazards, and assessed and controlled risks prior to starting exercise
• • monitored horse health and behaviour before, during and after exercise, and reported signs of distress, illness or injury
• • followed safe work practices for at least one of the following: • the operation of mechanical exercise equipment • the use of aquatic facility or environment
• • selected, fitted and cared for horse gear and equipment for non-riding exercise tasks
• • selected, checked and correctly fitted personal protective equipment (PPE)
• • carried out post-exercise care of horses, including cooling down using at least one of the following: • hand walking • hosing • ice application • grooming techniques
• • cleaned exercise equipment and/or horse gear
• • updated exercise program records and reported horse performance and condition.

Knowledge evidence

• purpose, principles and techniques for non-riding exercise of horses, including exercise using: • mechanical walkers • treadmills • wading and swimming facilities or environments • water walkers
• workplace procedures for non-riding exercise to horses, including pre-exercise, during exercise and post-exercise procedures
• types and purpose of horse working gear required for mechanical exercise equipment and for wading and swimming horses
• workplace communication procedures for conducting horse exercise programs that involve wading, swimming and mechanical equipment
• common horse behaviour and management related to exercise routines and fitness
• signs of horse injury, fatigue and distress related to exercise involving wading, swimming and mechanical equipment
• likely injuries that may be sustained by horses and handlers during horse exercise involving wading, swimming and mechanical equipment
• safe and low stress horse handling techniques and zones when wading and swimming horses, and exercising horses using mechanical exercise equipment
• operation of emergency flotation devices and water rescue equipment for handlers and horses
• requirements for checking and maintaining horse working gear and exercise equipment used for non-riding exercise
• key features of exercise programs for horses at various stages of fitness, on mechanical exercise equipment and during wading and swimming
• common workplace health and safety requirements and practices relating to non-riding horse exercise, including: • hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control • types and purpose of PPE, including PPE for working in water and around electricity • handling, restraining and working with horses in water and on exercise machines • safe storage, handling and disposal of treatments, chemicals and cleaning agents
• horse welfare considerations related to non-riding exercise, including: • weather, including wind and temperature • fatigue and stress • health status, including current injuries
• workplace horse exercise and condition reporting systems and procedures.

Foundation skills

• Reading: Interpret horse exercise program requirements
• Oral communication: Use active listening and questioning to clarify and confirm supervisor instructions • Use industry terminology to describe and report horse non-riding exercise activities and condition
• Numeracy: Measure and calculate weight, temperature, time, distance, speed and gradient

Unit content sourced from training.gov.au — © Commonwealth of Australia, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Auditori is not affiliated with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

Questions about assessing ACMEQU314