Assist with the day to day care of performance horses — City & Guilds Limited Occupational Qualification Animal Care & Veterinary Revision

    This element focuses on the daily care routines essential for maintaining the health, welfare, and performance of competition horses. Learners will develop

    Topic Synopsis

    This element focuses on the daily care routines essential for maintaining the health, welfare, and performance of competition horses. Learners will develop competency in handling, grooming, feeding, and turnout specific to performance horses, while maintaining safe and hygienic stable environments. Adherence to health and safety legislation, including risk assessment and COSHH, underpins all practical tasks.

    Key Concepts & Core Principles

    Exam Tips & Revision Strategies

    Common Misconceptions & Mistakes to Avoid

    Examiner Marking Points

    Assist with the day to day care of performance horses

    CITY & GUILDS LIMITED
    vocational

    This element focuses on the daily care routines essential for maintaining the health, welfare, and performance of competition horses. Learners will develop competency in handling, grooming, feeding, and turnout specific to performance horses, while maintaining safe and hygienic stable environments. Adherence to health and safety legislation, including risk assessment and COSHH, underpins all practical tasks.

    1
    Learning Outcomes
    5
    Assessment Guidance
    5
    Key Skills
    1
    Key Terms
    5
    Assessment Criteria

    Assessment criteria

    City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Work-based Horse Care

    Topic Overview

    The City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Work-based Horse Care is a vocational qualification designed for individuals working or volunteering in the equine industry. It covers essential practical skills and knowledge required for the safe and effective care of horses, including feeding, grooming, stable management, and health monitoring. This diploma is ideal for those aiming to become stable hands, grooms, or assistant yard managers, and it provides a solid foundation for further study at Level 3.

    The qualification is structured around mandatory units such as 'Maintain the Health and Well-being of Horses' and 'Prepare and Maintain Horse Tack and Equipment', alongside optional units like 'Assist with the Exercise of Horses' or 'Support the Care of Young Horses'. Assessment is through practical observations, written assignments, and online tests, ensuring students can demonstrate competence in real-world settings. Mastery of these topics is crucial for ensuring horse welfare and safety, as well as for career progression in the equine sector.

    This diploma fits within the broader Animal Care and Veterinary field by focusing on the day-to-day management of horses, which is distinct from veterinary nursing or animal science. It emphasizes hands-on, work-based learning, making it highly relevant for those already employed in livery yards, riding schools, or stud farms. Understanding horse behavior, nutrition, and first aid are key components that directly impact the quality of care provided.

    Key Concepts

    Core ideas you must understand for this topic

    • →Routine health checks: knowing how to assess temperature, pulse, respiration, and capillary refill time, and recognizing signs of colic, lameness, or injury.
    • →Correct feeding practices: understanding forage-to-concentrate ratios, feeding according to workload, and recognizing signs of poor nutrition like weight loss or dull coat.
    • →Stable management: maintaining clean, safe stables with appropriate bedding, ventilation, and drainage, and implementing fire safety and biosecurity measures.
    • →Tack fitting and care: identifying correctly fitted saddles, bridles, and bits, and performing daily cleaning and monthly deep cleaning to prevent rubbing or injury.
    • →Safe handling and restraint: using techniques such as leading, tying up, and using a headcollar correctly, and understanding horse body language to avoid accidents.

    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • Be able to assist with the day to day care of performance horses., Be able to assist with maintaining facilities, Be able to work safely, Know how to assist with the day to day care of performance horses, Know relevant health and safety legislation

    Assessment Criteria

    Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio

    • Award credit for demonstrating correct grooming techniques for a performance horse, including checking for injuries, heat, or swelling, and adjusting routines based on the horse’s workload.
    • Award credit for safely handling and restraining a performance horse using appropriate methods (e.g., head collar, lead rope, and tying up correctly) during routine care activities.
    • Award credit for completing a daily stable checklist to standard, including mucking out, replenishing bedding, water, and feed, with attention to the specific needs of a performance horse (e.g., dust-free bedding).
    • Award credit for identifying and accurately reporting any changes in the horse’s condition, such as signs of lameness, skin issues, or abnormal behaviour, to the responsible person.
    • Award credit for maintaining cleanliness and order in the yard, including tack, equipment, and feed storage areas, following yard protocols and safety guidelines.

    Assessment Guidance

    Guidance for achieving higher grades

    • 💡Keep a detailed daily log of all tasks performed, noting any variances from standard procedures and the reasons, as this provides evidence of reflective practice.
    • 💡During observations, clearly verbalise your actions and the rationale behind them, especially safety-critical steps, to demonstrate your underpinning knowledge.
    • 💡Thoroughly review the yard’s specific health and safety policy, risk assessments, and emergency procedures before assessment, and be prepared to discuss them.
    • 💡Practice handling performance horses in a calm, consistent manner; assessors will be looking for confidence and minimal stress during routine tasks.
    • 💡Familiarise yourself with the early signs of common performance horse injuries (e.g., tendon issues, heat in hooves) and know the immediate reporting and action procedures required.
    • 💡When demonstrating grooming, always start with a curry comb to loosen dirt, then use a dandy brush for body, and finish with a soft brush for sensitive areas. Examiners look for a logical, thorough sequence that minimizes dust and discomfort.
    • 💡In written assessments, use correct terminology such as 'cannon bone' instead of 'leg', and 'poll' instead of 'top of head'. This shows depth of knowledge and can earn extra marks.
    • 💡For practical observations, always explain what you are doing as you do it. For example, when checking a horse's pulse, say 'I am placing my fingers on the facial artery under the jaw' – this demonstrates understanding, not just rote action.

    Common Mistakes

    Common errors to avoid in your coursework

    • Assuming all horses require the same amount and type of feed without considering individual workload, body condition, and performance demands.
    • Not securing the horse safely when mucking out or grooming, increasing the risk of escape, injury, or the handler being kicked.
    • Using inappropriate bedding for a performance horse with respiratory issues, such as straw, without considering dust-free alternatives.
    • Failing to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) or follow COSHH guidelines when handling cleaning agents, disinfectants, or medications.
    • Neglecting to check for subtle signs of overtraining or injury, such as filling in legs or sensitivity over the back, which are critical in performance horses.
    • Misconception: 'Horses can be fed haylage just like hay.' Correction: Haylage has higher moisture content and can spoil quickly; it must be used within days of opening and is not suitable for horses with respiratory issues due to dust.
    • Misconception: 'A horse's temperature is taken under the arm.' Correction: The correct method is rectal temperature using a digital thermometer, with normal range 37.5–38.5°C. Underarm readings are inaccurate.
    • Misconception: 'All horses need shoes.' Correction: Many horses can be barefoot if their hooves are well-maintained and workload is low; shoeing is only necessary for protection on hard surfaces or for corrective purposes.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions students ask about this topic

    Before You Start

    Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

    • •Basic understanding of horse behavior and handling, typically gained through work experience or a Level 1 qualification in Horse Care.
    • •Literacy and numeracy skills at Level 1 or equivalent, as the diploma requires reading care plans and calculating feed rations.
    • •A current tetanus vaccination and suitable yard clothing (e.g., steel-toe boots, hat) for practical sessions.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    • Be able to assist with the day to day care of performance horses., Be able to assist with maintaining facilities, Be able to work safely, Know how to assist with the day to day care of performance horses, Know relevant health and safety legislation

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