Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to control a horse under saddle that is suitably educated for a beginner rider. It focuses on walking, trotting and cantering calm, obedient and consistent horses that are suitable for the level of rider experience, during controlled, supervised horse riding activities.

It covers knowledge of potential risks when working with and around horses, and the application of industry guidelines and procedures to ensure the welfare and safety of the individual, other participants and horses.

The unit applies to individuals who have limited or no horse riding experience, and who are developing skills needed to ride horses for work tasks. They undertake defined routine activities under supervision with limited responsibility for their own work. Working environments may include exercise yards and fenced horse riding areas or arenas.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication, except for the racing industry, where licensing or registration varies between states and territories. Users working in the racing industry are advised to contact the relevant Principal Racing Authority for advice on current requirements.

NOTE: The terms 'occupational health and safety' (OHS) and 'work health and safety' (WHS) generally have the same meaning in the workplace. In jurisdictions where the national model WHS legislation has not been implemented, RTOs must contextualise the unit of competency by referring to current OHS legislative requirements.

Pre-requisite Unit

The prerequisite units of competency for this unit is:

• ACMEQU202 Handle horses safely.

Note the following chain of prerequisites that also applies to this unit.

Unit Sector

Equine (EQU)

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.

Unit Mapping Information

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

An individual demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria of this unit.

There must be evidence that the individual performed horse riding skills at walk, trot and canter, on at least two different horses assessed as suitable for rider skills and experience. The individual must have ridden each horse on at least three different occasions, with and without other horses and riders in the immediate vicinity, during which the individual has:

• discussed with instructor current skill level and suitability of chosen horse prior to riding
• used and correctly fitted personal protective equipment (PPE)
• fitted gear and equipment for nominated horses, including:

• saddle
• saddle cloth
• bridle
• accessory gear

• mounted horse using a stirrup mount, mounting block, leg-up assisted mount
• controlled horse under saddle at all times in the following tasks:

• demonstrating an effective riding position at walk, trot (or jog) and canter (or lope) according to chosen discipline
• using hand, seat and leg aids according to discipline
• using transitions or increasing and decreasing speed within a gait according to chosen discipline
• following arena figures of circles, straight and diagonal lines and changes of direction
• cantering for a continuous distance of a minimum of 200 metres

• dismounted using a stirrup dismount and a vault dismount
• dealt with risks associated with riding horses around others
• accepted and applied feedback from riding instructor
• reported progress and discussed future personal riding skills needs with riding instructor.

Knowledge Evidence

An individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge required to perform the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. This includes knowledge of:

• basic process for assessing horse suitability and matching to own skills
• purpose and use of different items of gear, including accessory tack and equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE)
• purpose of appropriate aids to communicate with a horse
• safe group riding techniques
• safe horse handling techniques
• key animal welfare principles and practices for handling horses
• basic work health and safety (WHS) risk assessment and control principles relating to interacting with horses, riding in an arena and with others
• how to address common undesirable horse behaviours including:

• travelling too fast
• reefing and pulling
• jogging sideways
• running backwards

• risk factors that influence riding horse behaviour, including:

• other horses
• vehicles, fences and equipment
• other people or animals
• wind, noise and environmental hazards
• riding with others

• factors that influence horse ability to respond to rider position and application of the natural and artificial aids.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment of skills must take place under the following conditions:

• physical conditions:

• confined arena in a workplace or an environment that accurately represents workplace conditions

• resources, equipment and materials:

• various calm, consistent and obedient horses assessed as suitable for the experience and skill of the individual
• other riders
• appropriate tack for walk, trot and canter riding activities suitable for horse, rider and discipline
• correctly fitted PPE for the individual, including riding boots, safety vest and Australian standard or equivalent compliant helmet.

Training and assessment strategies must show evidence of the use of guidance provided in the Companion Volume: User Guide: Safety in Equine Training.

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.

The following specific assessor requirements apply to this unit. The assessor must:

• hold a current, recognised qualification for instructing or coaching horse riding and handling skills (refer to User Guide for details), and
• have three years of experience organising groups and responding to different types of riders and horses in order to prevent incidents that could lead to injury of rider or horse.

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103