Assist with the exercise and care for performance horses — BHS Qualifications Occupational Qualification Animal Care & Veterinary Revision

    This unit focuses on the practical skills and knowledge required to effectively exercise and care for performance horses, ensuring their fitness, health, a

    Topic Synopsis

    This unit focuses on the practical skills and knowledge required to effectively exercise and care for performance horses, ensuring their fitness, health, and welfare are maintained at optimum levels. Learners will develop competence in exercising horses using appropriate methods, monitoring their condition, and recording activities accurately, while adhering to health and safety legislation and promoting environmentally sustainable practices.

    Key Concepts & Core Principles

    Exam Tips & Revision Strategies

    Common Misconceptions & Mistakes to Avoid

    Examiner Marking Points

    Assist with the exercise and care for performance horses

    BHS QUALIFICATIONS
    vocational

    This element focuses on the practical skills and underpinning knowledge required to safely and effectively exercise and care for performance horses in a work-based environment. Learners must demonstrate competence in assessing the horse's condition, applying appropriate exercise routines, and maintaining meticulous records, while strictly adhering to health and safety legislation and environmental best practices. The content is directly applicable to roles such as grooms, riders, and yard assistants in competitive or professional equestrian settings.

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    Learning Outcomes
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    Assessment Guidance
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    Key Skills
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    Key Terms
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    Assessment Criteria

    Assessment criteria

    BHSQ Level 3 Diploma in Work Based Horse Care and Management
    EQL Level 3 Diploma In Horse Care and Management (QCF)

    Topic Overview

    The EQL Level 3 Diploma in Horse Care and Management (QCF) is a comprehensive qualification designed for individuals aiming to pursue a career in the equine industry. It covers essential aspects of horse care, health, and stable management, as well as business and supervisory skills. This diploma is ideal for those seeking roles such as yard manager, riding instructor, or equine business owner, providing both theoretical knowledge and practical competencies.

    The qualification is structured around core units including equine health and disease, nutrition, breeding, and estate management. Students learn to assess and maintain horse welfare, implement feeding programs, and manage breeding cycles. The course also emphasizes health and safety, biosecurity, and legal responsibilities, ensuring graduates can work confidently in professional environments.

    This diploma fits within the broader Animal Care and Veterinary sector by focusing on the specialized needs of horses. It bridges the gap between basic horse care and advanced management, preparing students for higher-level study or direct employment. The QCF framework ensures that credits can be transferred to other qualifications, offering flexibility for career progression.

    Key Concepts

    Core ideas you must understand for this topic

    • →Equine Health and Disease: Understanding common illnesses, vaccination schedules, and signs of ill health, including colic, laminitis, and respiratory infections.
    • →Nutrition and Feeding: Balancing rations based on age, workload, and condition, including forage types, concentrates, and supplements.
    • →Stable Management: Maintaining clean, safe stabling, including bedding types, mucking out routines, and fire safety protocols.
    • →Breeding and Reproduction: Knowledge of the mare's oestrous cycle, covering, pregnancy diagnosis, and foaling management.
    • →Business Management: Skills in budgeting, record-keeping, and customer service for running an equine enterprise.

    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • Be able to exercise and care for performance horses, Be able to maintain accurate records, Be able to promote health and safety and environmental good practice, Understand how to exercise and care for performance horses, Know how to maintain accurate records, Understand relevant health and safety legislation and environmental good practice
    • Be able to exercise and care for performance horses, Be able to maintain accurate records, Be able to promote health and safety and environmental good practice, Understand how to exercise and care for performance horses, Know how to maintain accurate records, Understand relevant health and safety legislation and environmental good practice

    Assessment Criteria

    Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio

    • Award credit for demonstrating correct handling and exercise techniques tailored to the horse's fitness level and discipline, including warm-up and cool-down procedures.
    • Expect precise and legible completion of daily exercise, health, and medication records, with entries signed and dated.
    • Credit given for identifying and mitigating hazards in the working environment, such as uneven surfaces or protruding objects, and for consistent use of appropriate personal protective equipment.
    • Look for evidence of environmental good practice, such as correct disposal of muck and used bedding, and minimising water and energy waste.
    • Assess the ability to recognise signs of fatigue, injury, or altered gait during exercise and take appropriate immediate action.
    • Award credit for demonstrating the ability to select and apply suitable exercise techniques (e.g., ridden work, lunging, horse walker) based on the individual horse’s fitness plan and performance goals.
    • Assessors should look for evidence of consistent and accurate record-keeping, including details of exercise type, duration, intensity, horse’s response, and any incidents or observations.
    • Credit evidence of proactive health and safety management, such as risk assessments before exercise, correct use of personal protective equipment, and safe handling practices.
    • Candidates must show understanding of relevant legislation (e.g., Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations) and environmental practices like muck management and waste disposal.
    • Award credit for demonstrating how to monitor the horse for signs of fatigue, injury, or illness during and after exercise, and taking appropriate action.

    Assessment Guidance

    Guidance for achieving higher grades

    • 💡In practical assessments, clearly narrate your actions and decisions to demonstrate thorough underpinning knowledge, even if the skill is second nature.
    • 💡Maintain a well-organised portfolio of sample records (exercise sheets, health logs, risk assessments) to provide concrete evidence of your competence.
    • 💡Revise key legislation including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, COSHH, and the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and be prepared to explain how each applies to daily tasks.
    • 💡Practice observing and documenting subtle changes in a horse's movement or behaviour, as assessors value early problem detection and appropriate response.
    • 💡During discussions, link your practical work explicitly to the performance horse's training cycle and competition schedule to show contextual understanding.
    • 💡When providing evidence, always cross-reference your practical actions with relevant theoretical knowledge, showing you understand why specific procedures are followed.
    • 💡For record-keeping components, submit a variety of documents (e.g., work logs, charts, incident reports) that are fully completed, signed, and dated to demonstrate authenticity.
    • 💡In any observed assessment, verbalise your decision-making process, especially regarding health and safety and environmental considerations, as this can strengthen your evidence.
    • 💡Review key legislation and codes of practice; be prepared to explain how they apply to daily routines in the yard or stable environment.
    • 💡Use specific examples from your practical experience, such as a case study of a horse with colic, to demonstrate applied knowledge.
    • 💡Always link health and safety regulations to real yard scenarios, e.g., how the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 applies to stable cleaning.
    • 💡In nutrition questions, show calculations for feed rations and justify choices based on the horse's condition and workload.

    Common Mistakes

    Common errors to avoid in your coursework

    • Confusing general hacking with structured exercise sessions; failing to adjust work intensity based on the horse's current condition and performance goals.
    • Omitting vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration) or subtle behavioural changes from health records, reducing their clinical value.
    • Neglecting to check and adjust tack for each individual horse before exercise, leading to discomfort or injury.
    • Inconsistent use of personal protective equipment, particularly safety boots and gloves, during routine yard tasks.
    • Failing to comply with COSHH regulations when handling or storing cleaning agents, supplements, or medications.
    • Overlooking the importance of warm-up and cool-down routines, leading to potential injuries.
    • Inconsistent or incomplete record-keeping, such as omitting the horse’s vitals or failing to note abnormal behaviour.
    • Misapplying health and safety procedures, for example, not wearing appropriate footwear or hard hats when required.
    • Neglecting environmental responsibilities, such as improper disposal of manure or chemical wastage.
    • Misconception: Horses can be fed the same diet year-round. Correction: Nutritional needs change with workload, season, and health status; for example, laminitic horses require low-sugar diets.
    • Misconception: A horse's temperature is always 38.5°C. Correction: Normal range is 37.5–38.5°C; factors like exercise or stress can cause temporary rises.
    • Misconception: All horses need shoes. Correction: Many horses can be barefoot if hooves are well-maintained and workload is appropriate; farriery decisions depend on hoof health and terrain.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions students ask about this topic

    Before You Start

    Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

    • •Level 2 Diploma in Horse Care (or equivalent) to ensure foundational knowledge of horse handling and basic care.
    • •Basic understanding of animal biology, including digestive and respiratory systems.
    • •Practical experience in a yard environment (e.g., work experience or volunteering) to contextualize theory.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    • Be able to exercise and care for performance horses, Be able to maintain accurate records, Be able to promote health and safety and environmental good practice, Understand how to exercise and care for performance horses, Know how to maintain accurate records, Understand relevant health and safety legislation and environmental good practice
    • Be able to exercise and care for performance horses, Be able to maintain accurate records, Be able to promote health and safety and environmental good practice, Understand how to exercise and care for performance horses, Know how to maintain accurate records, Understand relevant health and safety legislation and environmental good practice

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