Horse Care Fundamentals

The Horse Care Fundamentals short course is comprised of 10 modules covering the principles of working in the equine and horse care industry. You will be required to study the topics listed below:

• Module 1 – Working in the Horse Industry
  Discover potential career paths within the horse industry. This module sheds light on topics such as animal welfare, biosecurity, and the transmission of zoonotic diseases in horse care facilities.

• Module 2 – Understanding Horse Behaviour
  Learn how horses’ innate behaviours, including the flight response, social structures within herds, special senses, and communication, shape their interactions. This module also delves into problem behaviours, often termed as ‘vices’.

• Module 3 – Working Safely with Horses
  Develop a comprehensive understanding of workplace health and safety, covering hazards, risks, and emergencies specific to horses and their care facilities. It includes safe handling techniques such as approaching, catching, leading, tying up, and releasing horses, as well as horse restraint and transportation.

• Module 4 – Terminology, Characteristics, and Identification of Horses
  Gain a foundation of knowledge on horse breeds and types, along with points, different gaits, and methods of identification based on sex, coat colour, and markings, both natural and acquired.

• Module 5 – Housing of Horses
  Explore various housing options like stables and paddocks, discussing appropriate bedding, stable routines, agistment, and Australian regulations pertaining to horsekeeping.

• Module 6 – Routine Husbandry
  Understand the importance of grooming, foot care (including the application of boots and bandages), hosing, clipping, rugging, exercising, and maintenance of tack and saddlery equipment in routine horse care.

• Module 7 – Nutrition and Feeding
  Identify horses’ complex nutritional needs, including digestive anatomy, food types, handling, storage, body weight and condition assessment, and formulation of daily rations.
• Module 8 – Horse Health
  Learn the essential factors for horse health, methods of assessment, vaccination schedules, and common health concerns like lameness, colic, dental issues, and parasitic infections.
• Module 9 – Assessing Horses’ Suitability for Specific Uses
  Learn how to assess horse conformation and suitability for specific purposes based on conformation, action, breed, type, and other characteristics.
• Module 10 – Lunge Educated Horses
  Explore the basics of how to safely lunge an educated horse, including equipment, techniques, and troubleshooting strategies.