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Recognise signs of good health, ill health, common ailments, and
lameness in horses
Level
3
Credits
8
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of
the anatomy of horses; demonstrate knowledge of the life cycle of internal
and external parasites, their effect on horses’ health, and implementing
preventative health measures; recognise signs of good health and ill health in
horses, and report suspected ill health; identify and report common horse
ailments; and Identify and report lameness in horses.
Subfield
Equine
Domain
Equine Health
Status
Registered
Status date
23 April 2008
Date version published
23 April 2008
Planned review date
31 December 2013
Entry information
Open.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and
industry.
Standard setting body (SSB)
Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0018
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1
Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the Health and
Safety in Employment Act 1992, and its subsequent amendments.
2
Stable procedures are the documented practices and polices required within a
particular workplace, and do not contravene the Code of Recommendations and
Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Horses (Wellington: Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry, 1993) or available at http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/animalwelfare/codes/horses/index.htm.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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3
For this unit standard the practical assessment evidence must be provided in the
context of a commercial business operation under normal working conditions.
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Demonstrate knowledge of the anatomy of horses.
Performance criteria
1.1
Points of the horse, and external body parts are identified by name and location.
Element 2
Demonstrate knowledge of the life cycle of internal and external parasites, their effect on
horses’ health, and implementing preventative health measures.
Performance criteria
2.1
Life cycle of at least three internal and two external parasites, and their effect on
the horse, are described.
2.2
Drench families are identified and appraised in terms of their potential impact
upon worming programmes.
Range
includes but is not limited to – active ingredients, age, stocking
rates, seasons, pasture management, dose rates, frequency.
Element 3
Recognise signs of good health and ill health in horses, and report suspected ill health.
Performance criteria
3.1
The five senses of the horse are explained in relation to horse behaviour and
handling.
Range
3.2
sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch.
Appearance and behaviour of healthy horses are identified in terms of the
horse’s observable signs and behaviour.
Range
includes but is not limited to – alert, ribs covered, coat condition
according to climate, loose skin, bright eye, warm ears, tendons
and ligaments free of swellings and cool to touch, level and even
stride, lying down occasionally, regular breathing, hearty appetite,
excretion.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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3.3
Appearance and behaviour of unhealthy horses are identified in terms of the
horse’s observable signs and behaviour.
Range
3.4
includes but is not limited to – drooped head, tucked up, excess
body condition (fat or thin), abnormal change to coat, tight skin,
dull eye, discharges, cold ears, legs hot and/or puffy, heat in feet,
short and/or uneven stride, lying down excessively, laboured
breathing, refusing or dropping food, dehydration, stance,
excretion.
Suspected ill health in horse is reported in accordance with stable procedures.
Range
includes but is not limited to – observations, symptoms, location of
pain or inflammation, vital signs.
Element 4
Identify and report common horse ailments.
Performance criteria
4.1
Observation identifies common ailments.
Range
4.2
may include but is not limited to – colic, tying up, strangles,
respiratory infections.
Common ailments of horses are reported in accordance with stable procedures.
Element 5
Identify and report lameness in horses.
Performance criteria
5.1
Observation of features of a horse's action identifies the lame limb.
Range
5.2
Observation and touch identifies the site of lameness.
Range
5.3
heat, pain, swelling, loss of function.
External foot problems which may cause lameness are identified in terms of
their probable cause.
Range
5.4
forelimb, hindlimb.
stone bruise, punctured sole, thrush, cracked heels, pricked foot,
sandcracks, corns, seedy toe.
Lameness is reported in accordance with stable procedures.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation standards@primaryito.ac.nz if
you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016