Title
Version 1
3
Qualification type Certificate
Credits 40-55 Level
NZSCED 050105
Qualification developer
Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies > Agriculture >
Animal Husbandry
Primary ITO
Next review
Approval date
December 2019
October 2014
Strategic purpose statement
Graduate profile
Qualification Reference 2376
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the equine industry with individuals who have the skills and knowledge to assist in the stabling, care, and/or exercise of horses in the performance horse sectors of the equine industry.
The qualification is stranded to reflect the specialist skills required to work either in the harness racing industry in a driving role, the thoroughbred racing industry in either riding or nonriding roles, or the sporthorse industry in a riding role.
This qualification is targeted at people who have some experience handling horses in the equine industry and who wish to further develop their skills in a specific sector.
Graduates will benefit by having a qualification that provides recognition of their skills and a pathway to further qualifications in the equine racing or sporthorse industry.
The industry will benefit from this qualification by having qualified staff who are able to contribute effectively in the workplace.
Graduates will be capable of working under limited supervision with responsibility for work outcomes.
Graduates of this qualification will be able to:
- attend to the routine day to day requirements of horses in training
- apply skills and knowledge in the routine identification, reporting, and treatment of problems of horses in training, and respond appropriately to emergencies involving horses
- communicate effectively with team members and clients.
Page 1 of 7

Education pathway
Employment pathway
Qualification Reference 2376
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Graduates of the Harness Racing Stable Assistant strand will also be able to:
 apply skills and knowledge in preparing and driving standardbred horses in trackwork, and attend to horses ’ requirements before and after trackwork and racing.
Graduates of the Thoroughbred Raceday Strapper strand will also be able to:
- apply correct procedures in the routine preparation of horses and gear for trials and racing, and attend to horses requirements before and after trials and racing.
Graduates of the Thoroughbred Racing Track Rider strand will also be able to:
- apply skills and correct procedures when riding thoroughbred racehorses, as instructed, in pacework and fastwork on public training tracks , and attend to horses’ routine requirements before and after trackwork
- apply skills and correct procedures when riding thoroughbred racehorses for barrier practice and jump outs.
Graduates of the Sporthorse Stable Assistant strand will also be able to:
- apply routine procedures when exercising and training horses for a sporthorse discipline
- conduct the routine preparation of a horse for an event, and attend to horses ’ and riders’ requirements at the event.
This qualification builds on from the relevant strand of the New
Zealand Certificate in Equine Skills (Level 2) [Ref: 2375].
The Harness Racing Stable Assistant strand of this qualification can lead to the Harness Racing Driver/Trainer strand of the New
Zealand Certificate in Equine Racing (Level 4) [Ref: 2374].
The Thoroughbred Raceday Strapper strand, with significant further industry experience, can lead to the Racing Stable
Foreman strand of the New Zealand Certificate in Equine
Management (Level 5) [Ref: 2380].
The Thoroughbred Racing Track Rider strand of this qualification can lead to the Thoroughbred Racing Jockey strand of the New
Zealand Certificate in Equine Racing (Level 4) [Ref: 2374].
The Sporthorse Stable Assistant strand of this qualification can lead to the New Zealand Certificate in Equine Skills (Sporthorse
Groom) (Level 4) [Ref: 2377].
Graduates of this qualification will have the skills and knowledge to be employed as harness racing stable assistants, thoroughbred raceday strappers, thoroughbred racing track riders, or sporthorse stable assistants, depending on the strand completed.
With further work experience and study, graduates may gain
Page 2 of 7

employment as thoroughbred racing jockeys, harness drivers/trainers, harness racing drivers, or sporthorse grooms.
Qualification award
Evidence requirements for managing consistency
Credit transfer and recognition of prior learning arrangements
This qualification may be awarded by the Primary ITO as the qualification developer and the industry training organisation arranging training leading to the qualification under section 5 of the Industry Training Act 1992.
This qualification may also be awarded by an education organisation accredited under section 250 of the Education
Act 1989 to deliver an approved programme leading to this qualification.
The formal document certifying the award of this qualification will display the NZQF logo and may also include the name and/or logo of the awarding education organisation.
All education organisations offering programmes leading to the qualification must engage with arrangements for managing consistency, including covering actual and reasonable related costs.
Each education organisation is responsible for deciding what specific evidence it will provide to demonstrate how well its graduates meet the graduate profile outcomes of the qualification.
Evidence of the following must be provided:
• Student feedback on course delivery and qualification achievement, their perception of the value of the training, and suggestions for improvements
• Feedback from employers on the level of skills, knowledge and behaviour demonstrated by graduates of the qualification
• Evidence of effective internal quality assurance systems
• Portfolios of work and/or assessment samples demonstrating the range of student performance within a programme
TEOs can also provide any other relevant evidence that supports the consistency review.
Education organisations must have policies and procedures in place for managing credit transfer, and assessing recognition of prior learning and recognition of current competency. These policies and procedures, and information about associated fees, must be available to the candidate prior to enrolment.
To facilitate credit transfer, education organisations must clearly demonstrate the equivalency or comparability
Page 3 of 7 Qualification Reference 2376
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014

between each of the outcomes in the graduate profile, and the assessment components of their programmes.
Minimum standard of achievement and standards for grade endorsements
Entry requirements (including prerequisites to meet regulatory body or legislative requirements)
The minimum standard of achievement required for award of the qualification will be the achievement of all graduate outcomes in the graduate profile through successful completion of an NZQA approved programme.
Roles that involve riding in the thoroughbred or sporthorse industries require learners to have basic riding experience prior to entry to programmes leading to this qualification.
Overarching conditions relating to the qualification
Conditions for programme structure
Learners must complete the core outcomes and at least one of the strands.
Conditions for programme context
None
Other conditions
All outcomes in this qualification require aspects of workplace health and safety which should be considered as part of the assessment process.
The behaviours that contribute to compliance with workplace procedures, and general observation, reporting and/or recording are inherent in the performance of the qualification’s outcomes and must be considered as part of the assessment process.
Harness drivers are required to work according to the New Zealand
Rules of Harness Racing of the Harness Racing New Zealand Inc.
Thoroughbred racing track riders and strappers are required to work according to the New Zealand Rules of Racing of the New Zealand
Thoroughbred Racing Inc.
Specific conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Conditions
Qualification outcomes
Mandatory or Optional
Mandatory 1 Attend to the routine day to day requirements of horses in training
Credits 10
Programmes must include the following topics:
 Stable vices – signs, causes, prevention
 Implementing health requirements

Reporting stable consumables
 Preparation of feeds, problems of feeding
2 Apply skills and knowledge in the routine identification, reporting, and treatment of
Programmes must include the following topics:
 Anatomy, conformation, action
Mandatory
Qualification Reference 2376
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Page 4 of 7

3 problems of horses in training, and respond appropriately to emergencies involving horses
Credits 10
Communicate effectively with team members and clients
Credits 5
4 Harness Racing Stable
Assistant strand
Apply skills and knowledge in preparing and driving standardbred horses in trackwork, and attend to horses’ requirements before and after trackwork and racing
Credits 30
 Body systems

Hoof care and associated problems
 Administration of treatments
 Care following injury
 Actions to take in an emergency
Programmes must include the following topics:

Communication protocols

Listening and providing feedback
 Role expectations

Response and referral
Mandatory
Programmes must include the following topics:

Gear bag content and preparation
 Travel gear and correct fitting
 Loading and unloading the horse and equipment

Correct fitting of gear
 Rules of Harness Racing
 Track bylaws

Timing of pacework
 Owner representation at raceday
Mandatory
5 Thoroughbred Raceday
Strapper strand
Apply correct procedures in the routine preparation of horses and gear for trials and racing, and attend to horses requirements before and after trials and racing
Credits 15
Programmes must include the following topics:

Gear bag content and preparation
 Travel gear and correct fitting
 Travel requirements including loading and unloading the horse
 Raceday protocol
 Horse gender considerations when handling
 Pedigrees and race records
Mandatory
Page 5 of 7 Qualification Reference 2376
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014

6 Thoroughbred Racing Track
Rider strand
Apply skills and correct procedures when riding thoroughbred racehorses, as instructed, in pacework and fastwork on public training tracks, and attend to horses’ routine requirements before and after trackwork
Credits 25
7 Apply skills and correct procedures when riding thoroughbred racehorses for barrier practice and jump outs
Credits 5
Programmes must include the following topics:

Rules of Racing
 Track bylaws
 Timing of pacework
Mandatory
8 Sporthorse Stable Assistant strand
Apply routine procedures when exercising and training horses for a sporthorse discipline
Credits 20
Programmes must include the following topics:

Preparation for exercise
 Exercise and training techniques
 Riding on the flat with the horse accepting the bit

Lunging
 Types of gear for exercise and correct fitting

Protective gear for exercise and correct fitting
Mandatory
9 Conduct the routine preparation of a horse for an event, and attend to horses’ and riders’ requirements at the event
Credits 5
Programmes must include the following topics:
 Types of gear for performance and correct fitting

Protective gear for performance and correct fitting
Mandatory
Page 6 of 7 Qualification Reference 2376
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014

Replacement information This qualification replaced the National Certificate in Equine (Stable
Procedures) (Level 3) [Ref: 0654].
Trainees currently enrolled in programmes leading to the replaced qualification may either complete the requirements as specified below, or transfer their results to this replacement qualification.
The last date for entry into programmes leading to the replaced qualification is 31 December 2017. The last date for award of the replaced qualification is 31 December 2019 at which time it will be designated as discontinued.
It is the intention of Primary ITO that no existing trainee should be disadvantaged by these transition arrangements. Any person who considers they have been disadvantaged may appeal to the Primary ITO.
Version 1 of this qualification was republished in June 2016 to extend the last date for entry from 31
December 2016 to 31 December 2017.
Version 1 of this qualification was republished In February 2015 to update the Evidence requirements for managing consistency.
Qualification Reference 2376
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Page 7 of 7