Animal Care & Veterinary Revision — British Driving Society Vocationally-Related Qualification
Complete British Driving Society Vocationally-Related Qualification Animal Care & Veterinary specification revision resources. Tailored syllabus coverage with topic breakdowns, quizzes, and practice questions.
Specification Topics
- Principals of planning commercial horse drawn services on the public highway
- Monitor and maintain stocks of feed and bedding
- Manage horses when turned out
- Harness up, put-to and drive a Single horse on the public highway
- Be responsible for cleaning and preparing horse drawn vehicles or implements to a standard suitable for use
- Select, prepare, maintain and store harness
- Assemble and identify all parts of a set of traditional Single horse harness for use
- Contribute to introducing a harness horse in training to a Single vehicle
- Develop and Implement a cleaning and maintenance regime for driving related equipment
- Harness up, put-to and drive a Pair of horses on the public highway
- Clean and groom horses for appearance
- Plan diets and implement feeding regimes for horses
- Assess harness for suitability for use
- Contribute to the design and implementation of a work programme for horses
- Be responsible for cleaning, grooming and preparing harness horses for public use
- Contribute to introducing harness to a horse in training under supervision
- Prepare and use experienced working horses to transport agricultural loads
- Introduce weight-pulling to horses in training under supervision
- Promote the health and well-being of horses
- Contribute to cultivating land for arable crops using horses and horse drawn equipment
- Harness up, put to and drive a Single horse in an enclosed area under supervision
- Drive Single horses for passenger carrying purposes
- Assess and self-certify horse drawn vehicles for suitability for use
- Carry out routine checks and maintenance on horse drawn vehicles or agricultural/land-based implements prior to and after use
- Contribute to harvesting crops using horses and horse drawn equipment
- Assess harness horses for suitability for use
- Drive Pairs of horses for commercial purposes
- Assemble and identify parts of a set of Pair horse harness
- Care for a harness horse after use
- Plan routes for providing commercial harness horse services
- Be responsible for cleaning and preparing harness to a standard suitable for use
- Long-rein an experienced harness horse in an enclosed area for exercise, schooling, and training
Top Exam Board Tips
- When submitting a plan, always include a dynamic risk assessment that shows how you will adapt to changing conditions during the service.
- Explicitly reference the specific legislation and codes of practice you are complying with in your documentation to demonstrate underpinning knowledge.
- Use case studies or real-world examples to illustrate your planning decisions, as this shows applied learning and impresses examiners.
- In written assessments, link feed management practices to specific welfare codes (e.g., Animal Welfare Act 2006, DEFRA Horse Care Guidelines) to demonstrate applied knowledge.
- For practical observations, narrate your actions clearly to the assessor, explaining why you chose a particular bedding type for a horse with a history of coughing.
- When calculating stock levels, show your working and reference the number of horses, their workload, and seasonal variations to evidence forward planning.
- Prepare to discuss the consequences of poor feed storage, such as mycotoxin poisoning, and how you would mitigate risks through regular inspection and cleaning.
- Structure your evidence portfolio around a daily turnout checklist that covers all safety, health, and environmental control points, demonstrating consistency and thoroughness.
- Explicitly reference key legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 2002, and the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 when discussing risk management and animal welfare.
- In practical assessments, verbalise your hazard awareness as you work—comment on fence tension, gateway mud, and horse behaviour to show proactive management.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to consider the impact of varying road surfaces and gradients on the horse’s physical effort and safety.
- Overlooking the need for periodic rest stops and water for the horse during extended services, risking welfare breaches.
- Assuming that public highways are always suitable for horse-drawn vehicles without assessing real-time traffic or temporary obstructions.
- Confusing concentrate feed types and feeding inappropriate energy levels to working harness horses, leading to excitability or lack of stamina.
- Neglecting to check expiry dates or visual quality of feed, resulting in feeding spoiled products that cause colic or other health issues.
- Storing new stock in front of old stock without rotation, causing hidden spoilage and financial loss.
- Underestimating bedding depth and absorbency requirements, leading to ammonia build-up, hoof problems, and respiratory irritation.
- Failing to wear appropriate respiratory protective equipment when handling dusty bedding, disregarding COSHH regulations.
Key Terminology & Definitions
- Be able to book, prepare and plan commercial harness horse services, Work in a way which maintains the safety of self and others and the welfare of the horse(s), Follow legislative requirements and codes of practice, Understand how to plan the provision of commercial harness horse services and carry out risk assessments
- Be able to monitor and maintain stocks of feed and bedding, Be able to promote health and safety, Understand how to monitor and maintain stocks of feed and bedding, Understand relevant health and safety legislation
- Be able to manage horses when turned out, Be able to promote health and safety and environmental good practice, Understand how to manage horses when turned out, Understand relevant health and safety legislation and environmental good practice
- Be able to harness up, put-to and drive a Single horse on the public highway, Be able to maintain health and safety of self and others and welfare of the horse whilst working, and minimise environmental damage, Follow legislative requirements,codes of practice and any additional requirements, Know and understand how to harness up, put to and drive a Single horse on the public highway
- Be able to be responsible for cleaning and preparing horse drawn vehicles or agricultural/land-based implementsto a standard suitable for use, Be able to maintain and use relevant equipment, Be able to maintain health and safety of self and others whilst working; minimise environmental damage and dispose of waste correctly, Know how to be responsible for cleaning and preparing a horse drawn vehicle to a standard suitable for use, Understand the reasons for maintaining equipment
- Harness inspection and fault identification
- Safe working practices
- Harness cleaning and conditioning
- Correct storage techniques
- Environmental waste disposal
- Personal protective equipment usage
- Be able to assemble and identify all parts of a set of Traditional, Use and maintain equipment correctly and safely, Know how to assemble and identify a set of traditional Single horse harness for use, Know and understand the importance of maintaining equipment, Know how to maintain the health and safety of self and others
- be able to contribute to introducing a harness horse in training to a Single vehicle, Work in a way which maintains the health and safety of self and others and the welfare of the horse, Follow relevant legislation, codes of practice and any other requirements whilst working, Understand how to contribute to introducing a harness horse in training to a Single vehicle, Understand how to maintain health and safety of self and others and the welfare of the horse, Understand legislative requirements and codes of practice and any other requirements
- Harness and vehicle maintenance routines
- Health and safety in the workshop