Module Identifier RD19330  
Module Title HORSEMASTERSHIP 1  
Academic Year 2000/2001  
Co-ordinator Mrs Alison McCarthy  
Semester Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters)  
Other staff Ms Iola Phillips  
Assessment Assignment   Work programme assignment Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4   20%  
  Continuous assessment   Care and maintenance of horses Outcomes assessed: 1, 3   40%  
  Practical exercise   Assessment of practical skills (includes oral examination) Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5   40%  

Module description
This module is designed to develop the vocational skills which are essential to those intent on developing a career in the equine industry. It also serves to integrate many of the principles of equine management and science that are taught in other modules during the first year. The practical skills developed in this module are assessed and will provide a basic level of competence for students who are preparing for work experience in industry during the second year. The work experience period, and a more advanced level of Horsemastership in the final year will build on this module.

Outcomes
Outcome 1
Demonstrate competence in stable care, feeding and watering.
Performance criteria
a. The correct methods of handling horses are demonstrated.
b. A high standard of mucking out different types of bedding, bedding down, setting fair, is demonstrated and the use of different
types of bedding, deep litter and maintenance of a muck heap is appreciated.
c. Correct turning out of a horse is demonstrated.
d. The basic daily management of the horse at grass is appreciated.
e. The basic practical principles of feeding and watering are discussed.
f. The bandaging of horses is demonstrated.
Ranges:
Handling for shoeing and vet examination, cast horses.
Strapping, quartering, washing, trimming, plaiting. Intensive, extensive systems.
Compound feeds, straight feeds, grass and conserved feedstuffs.
Stable, travel, exercise bandages.
Mucking out, bedding down, general yard duties.

Outcome 2
Identify symptoms of ill-health, treat minor ailments and recognize the need for professional assistance.
Performance criteria
a. The signs of good health are recognised and the importance of early diagnosis is appreciated.
b. Primary treatment of injury is demonstrated in the form of poulticing, cold water treatment, control of bleeding.
Range
Main body functions, lameness.
Contagious, notifiable and hereditary diseases.
Poulticing: knee and hock bandages.

Outcome 3
Demonstrate competence in fitting items of saddlery and tack, and in lungeing and describe the uses and application of items of equipment.
Performance criteria
a. All major items of tack are named and their uses discussed
b. Items of tack are fitted correctly.
c. The principles of bitting are discussed.
d. Rugging up is demonstrated and the different types of rugs, their use and care is appreciated.
e. The use of common gadgets is appreciated.
f. The layout of a tack and rug room are discussed.
Ranges:
Saddle, bridle, double bridle, lunge equipment.
Families of bits
Day rugs, stable rugs, turnout rugs.

Outcome 4
Plan and undertake a training and exercise programme for horses for specific kinds of work.
Performance criteria
a. Requirements for the individual horse's future work programme are considered.
b. The principles of training the horse are understood and discussed in order to establish the horse as a suitable animal for the
proposed activity.
c. Different techniques for exercise are demonstrated as appropriate.
d. A training programme for a horse working up to a particular activity is prepared and carried out.
e. Enthusiasm, reliability and appropriate conduct towards a work programme are demonstrated.
Ranges
Preliminary handling, backing and subsequent training.
A novice horse trials, dressage, show-jumping, long distance ride.
Preparation and roughing off.
Conformation, schooling progressions, grids, related distances,

Outcome 5
Describe shoeing requirements and discuss the role of the farrier in normal and remedial shoeing.
Performance criteria
a. Normal shoeing requirements are discussed
b. The uses of remedial shoes are appreciated
c. Adjuncts to shoeing are discussed
d. The requirements of the unshod horse are discussed
Ranges:
Hunter shoes, wide-web shoe, rocker bar shoe, egg-bar shoe, heart-bar shoe, corn shoe.
Pads, studs.
Ponies, young stock, breeding stock, working, resting.
Methods of shoeing.