NZQA registered unit standard
23645 version 2
Page 1 of 3
Title
Demonstrate knowledge of the nature of horses
Level
2
Credits
3
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate
knowledge of: the natural herd instincts of horses in relation to
their behaviour and needs; the senses, communication and
body language of horses in relation to horse behaviour and
handling; and the horse’s behavioural characteristics in relation
to handling horses.
Classification
Equine > Equine Training
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
Behavioural characteristics are flight, senses, reaction time, memory, and dominance
as described by Miller, Robert M., ‘Understanding Horses’. A video by Velocity
Production, PO Box K, Virginia City, Nevada, 889440, USA.
2
Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the Health and
Safety in Employment Act 1992, and its subsequent amendments.
3
All actions must be in accordance with the Code of Recommendations and Minimum
Standards for the Welfare of Horses (Wellington: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,
1993) available at http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of the natural herd instincts of horses in relation to their behaviour
and needs.
Range
social structure, social interaction, reproductive behaviour, developmental
stages.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Natural herd instincts of horses are described in relation to their behaviour and
needs.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
23645 version 2
Page 2 of 3
Outcome 2
Demonstrate knowledge of the senses, communication and body language of horses in
relation to horse behaviour and handling.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Senses of horses are described in relation to horse behaviour and handling.
Range
2.2
vision, hearing, taste, touch, smell.
Forms of communication used by horses are described in relation to horse
behaviour and handling.
Range
2.3
visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory.
Body language of horses is described in relation to horse behaviour and
handling.
Range
stance and positioning, facial and body gestures, fluency of
movement.
Outcome 3
Demonstrate knowledge of horse’s behavioural characteristics in relation to handling
horses.
Range
human-horse relationship, pressure, flight zones.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Behavioural characteristics of horses are described in relation to handling
horses.
Planned review date
31 December 2012
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
25 July 2007
13 December 2012
Revision
2
18 March 2011
N/A
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0018
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
23645 version 2
Page 3 of 3
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (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 granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Consent 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 Primary Industry Training Organisation standards@primaryito.ac.nz if you
wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016