ACMEQU216 — Check and treat 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 checked and treated at least two suitably educated, calm, consistent and obedient horses. Each horse must be checked on three separate occasions. For each horse, the individual must have:
• identified at least three different hazards, and assessed and controlled and/or reported associated risks
• selected, checked and correctly fitted appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
• demonstrated safe and low stress horse handling techniques
• checked horse vital signs, including temperature, respiratory rate, capillary refill, hydration status and heart rate
• checked horse for signs of discharge, including nasal, eye and genitalia
• monitored and reported basic horse health and identified signs of: ill health, injury or lameness; abnormal or depressed appetite; non-routine behaviour
• cleaned, checked and applied a hoof dressing
• checked for loose or damaged shoes if shoes are fitted to horse.
• In addition to the above, the individual must have treated two horses as directed, including:
• administered topical and oral medications
• bandaged a minor cut
• bandaged a minor injury or applied a poultice to a limb
• assisted as directed with the provision of first aid and/or other treatments, including: demonstrated safe handling and positioning of self to reduce risks to self and others; restrained horse by use of head collar and lead, holding a leg up, positioning of horse and/or twitch (skin or nose)
• safely disposed of materials used for treatments according to workplace health, safety and biosecurity requirements
• documented at least two different treatments provided to horses according to workplace requirements.

Knowledge evidence

• animal welfare requirements, including ethical and humane treatment
• industry terminology for points of horses
• horse vital sign checks, including temperature, respiratory rate, capillary refill, hydration status and heart rate
• signs of good health
• signs of common horse illness and injuries, including: lameness or soreness; hoof cracks and hoof capsule damage; heat or swelling in legs; distress in horses; elevated body temperature
• techniques for detecting signs of good health, illness or injury
• low stress and safe techniques for handling, leading and restraining injured and ill horses
• safe and low stress horse handling techniques and zones when treating horses
• routine horse health checks
• first aid for minor injuries in horses
• workplace reporting processes related to horse health
• tools and equipment used when treating common horse injuries and diseases, including personal protective equipment (PPE)
• features, purpose, effects, reactions and animal welfare considerations of common horse restraints used when treating horses, including: holding a leg up; nose twitch and skin twitch; crush; bits and bridles; chemical restraints
• record-keeping systems
• hazard identification, risk assessment and controls to minimise risks when checking and treating horses
• responsibility for reporting and controlling health and safety risks for own job role
• key features of biosecurity and infection control when checking and treating horses.

Foundation skills

• Reading: Interpret key information in horse treatment product labels
• Writing: Record data and information about checking and treating horses accurately
• Numeracy: Estimate and calculate quantity, weight, temperature, volume and ratio
• Oral communication: Use active listening and questioning techniques to clarify and confirm supervisor instructions

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 ACMEQU216