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Identify the structure and function of horses' body systems and
associated problems
Level
4
Credits
10
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate knowledge of:
the components and function of horses' body systems; common problems
that can occur in or on the body or body systems; the way in which microbes
cause infectious diseases; the recognition and prevention of common
bacterial diseases; the recognition and prevention of common viral
conditions; and the immune system and the ways in which immunity is
achieved.
Subfield
Equine
Domain
Equine Health
Status
Registered
Status date
17 October 2008
Date version published
17 October 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
Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the Health and Safety
in Employment Act 1992, and its subsequent amendments.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Demonstrate knowledge of the components and function of horses’ body systems.
Range
circulatory, respiratory, reproductive, digestive, nervous, common integument.
Performance criteria
1.1
Description identifies individual organs which make up each of the horses’ body
systems, and the order in which they are mobilised.
1.2
Description identifies the primary function of each body system and their interrelationships.
Range
includes but is not limited to – oxygenation of tissue, supply of
nutrients, removal of waste products, reproduction, digestion,
locomotion, response to stimuli, temperature control.
Element 2
Demonstrate knowledge of common problems that can occur with horse’s body systems.
Performance criteria
2.1
Problems that can occur in the digestive system are described in terms of signs,
causes, and treatment options.
Range
2.2
Problems that can occur in the respiratory system are described in terms of
signs, causes, and treatment options.
Range
2.3
includes but is not limited to – viruses, pneumonia, laryngeal
hemiplegia, exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH),
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Problems that can occur in the circulatory system are described in terms of
signs, causes, and treatment options.
Range
2.4
includes but is not limited to – spasmodic colic, flatulent colic,
impaction colic, twisted gut, stomach bots, stomach worms
(redworm, roundworm), intestinal threadworm, tapeworm,
diarrhoea.
includes but is not limited to – anaemia, aneurysm, arrhythmia.
Skin problems are described in terms of signs, causes, and treatment options.
Range
includes but is not limited to – cracked heels, rain scald, mud
fever, ecto parasites, ringworm, urticaria (skin bumps).
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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2.5
Problems that can occur in the nervous system are described in terms of signs,
causes, and treatment options.
Range
2.6
includes but is not limited to – wobbler syndrome, stringhalt,
botulism, tetanus.
Problems that can occur in the reproductive system are described in terms of
signs, causes, and treatment options.
Range
includes but is not limited to – vulval aspiration, cryptorchidism,
endometritis.
Element 3
Demonstrate knowledge of the way in which microbes cause infectious diseases.
Range
microbes – bacteria, virus, fungus.
Performance criteria
3.1
Description identifies ways in which microbes enter the body.
Range
3.2
inhalation, swallowing, movement through mucous membrane,
open wounds, body contact.
Description identifies factors which affect the severity of infection.
Range
number present, condition of host, present level of immunity, age
of host.
Element 4
Demonstrate knowledge of the recognition and prevention of common bacterial diseases.
Range
strangles, tetanus, salmonella.
Performance criteria
4.1
Description identifies the visual signs of and treatment for bacterial diseases.
4.2
Description outlines vaccination schedules for bacterial diseases.
Range
may include but is not limited to – foal, yearling, mature horse.
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Element 5
Demonstrate knowledge of the recognition and prevention of common viral conditions.
Performance criteria
5.1
Description identifies the visual signs of and treatment for two viral conditions.
Range
may include but is not limited to – Equine Herpes Virus (EHV),
EHV I, EHV II, EHV III, EHV IV.
5.2
Description identifies the vaccination schedule for EHV I for viral conditions in
broodmares.
5.3
Description identifies the importance of biosecurity to New Zealand’s equine
industry.
Element 6
Demonstrate knowledge of the immune system and the ways in which immunity is
achieved.
Performance criteria
6.1
Description identifies the way in which the immune system functions to conquer
infection.
6.2
Description identifies ways in which types of immunity are achieved.
Range
active, passive.
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.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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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