BDS LEVEL 2 Harness Horse Groom’s Diploma Qualification Specifications

PATHWAY 3 – PRINCIPALS OF TRAINING HORSES TO WORK IN HARNESS

In order to achieve this Qualification you must achieve a minimum of 62 Credits from the Units which make up the qualification.  The Qualification is divided into two Groups:

Group 1   Horse Care and Stable Management Units

6 mandatory Units relating to routine horse care and stable management.  Total Credit Value: 17

Group 2   Units specific to training horses to work in harness; 9 mandatory Units; Total Credit Value:  45

GROUP 3   Optional Units.  You do not have to achieve these Units in order to achieve the Qualification, but will find them useful for other aspects of working with harness horses.

GROUP 1 HORSE CARE & STABLE MANAGEMENT UNIT SUMMARIES
6 mandatory Units, 17 Credits

Unit D/600/3484   Credit Value  2             

Provide feed and water to horses

Understand a feed chart/feeding instructions; prepare correct feed for individual horses; deliver feed safely and correctly to a horse in a stable and a group of horses in a field; check horses have eaten feed, understand importance; deliver water to horses; importance of water; clean water containers and tanks, feed bowls and equipment; importance of good hygiene to horse health; recognise different types of horse feed and understand their uses, nutritional value and likely effects on the horse; understand how to prepare, use and deliver various types of feed correctly; storage of feed; recognising if feed is sub-standard and should not be used; report on feed and water consumption; signs of weight loss or gain; implications of changes to feeding or drinking habits. Fill and hang haynets correctly, lift, carry, and push correctly and safely, using help as appropriate; report when stocks of feed need replenishing, and assist with re-stocking as appropriate.

Unit Y/600/3483   Credit Value  2             

Clean and Maintain Stables

Muck out and bed down stables, use forks, shovels, brooms, wheelbarrows, muck skips/sheets, etc, correctly and safely; lift, carry and push equipment and bales correctly and safely, using help as appropriate.  Recognise various types of horse bedding and understand their uses and management.

Unit M/600/3490   Credit Value  3

Clean and Groom horses for appearance

Groom, sponge stains, full wash and dry horses; check hooves and shoes; use grooming and washing kit correctly; importance of grooming and washing; standards expected for various purposes.

Unit T/600/3488  Credit Value  2  

Fit and Remove horse clothing

Put on and take off a range of rugs, tail and leg bandages, head-gear for leading and restraining; correct use of each item; work safely

Unit   F/601/7345  Credit Value  3 

Care for a harness horse after use

Check horse all over after driving for signs of sores, injury, damage or wear to hooves and shoes; recognise signs of impending harness sores; treatment of minor sores; veterinary treatment of sores and injuries; preventative measures. Importance of removing harness and sweat marks after use;  feeding, watering and resting horse after use.

Unit H/600/3485  Credit Value  5  

Routine care and monitoring health and well-being of horses

Recognise signs of health and ill-health in the horse; understand basic function of digestive, respiratory, circulatory systems, skeletal and muscular structure and structure of foot; symptoms of common health issues (colic, laminitis, etc); calling vet; handling for veterinary inspection; caring for sick or injured horses; administering veterinary treatment; preventative measures (worming, vaccination, foot care); reporting and recording health issues and treatment. 

GROUP 2 – PRINCIPALS OF TRAINING HORSES TO WORK IN HARNESS. 
9 mandatory Units, 45 Credits

Unit K/601/7338  Credit Value  2

Assemble and identify all parts of a set of traditional Single Harness

Assemble a set of traditional harness from component parts; name and describe normal function of each item; recognise and understand uses of different trace ends, tugs, bellybands; recognise differences between traditional and modern harness; fit hames to a full collar;

Unit  L/601/7347  Credit Value  4 

Harness up a Single horse and unharness after use

Select set of traditional style harness as instructed; check harness for wear, tear or damage; put harness on horse, checking all items fit correctly and comfortably; remove harness after use; correct order to put on and remove harness; putting on full and breast collars; types of bit and rein positions; differences between traditional and modern harness.

Unit  R/601/8659   Credit Value  3 

Assist with putting to and taking out

Put a horse to a single vehicle and take out after use; position horse correctly; attach harness to vehicle, detach after use; balance a 2-wheel vehicle; importance of maintaining control of horse; specific risks associated with this task

Unit H/601/7337   Credit Value  14

Assist the driver of a horse drawn vehicle

Assist driver to prepare to drive; accompany driver when driving out, providing active and effective assistance to the driver; assist to maintain control, safety and welfare of the horse; safety of self and others; monitor and report to driver on activities of other road users, other animals and any area of concern; understand  possible reactions of harness horses in various situations, and take appropriate action as instructed; use initiative and common-sense; emergency procedures and actions.

Unit D/601/8664   Credit Value 5

Principals of Assisting with Training a horse to work in Harness

Principals of safe, humane and effective harness horse training; understanding and implementing a training programme; monitoring and evaluating the reactions of the horse, and evaluating the effectiveness of a training programme; principals of reviewing and revising training programme to meet the needs of the individual horse;  understanding how training programme is designed to meet the needs of the horse, horse owner/client, and intended future use of the horse; working safely and providing effective assistance; horse temperament and behaviour; recognising signs of stress or resistance in the harness horse in training;; risk assessment and management; emergency procedures; various  methods of introducing voice aids, lungeing and long reining, noises, traffic, items of harness, weight-pulling, and a vehicle to horses in training; your role in assisting with training horses to work in harness. Working with others as part of the horse training team

Unit J/601/7346   Credit Value 5

Long rein an experienced harness horse in an enclosed area under supervision

NB: you will also be able to lunge horses on a single rein. Prepare horses for long reining; work horse in a circle around you at the walk and trot, achieving transition between paces and achieving and maintaining a halt; long rein from behind; use effective voice aids to horse

Unit K/106/7565   Credit Value 4

Assist with introducing harness to a driving horse in training

Preparing the horse; selecting the harness to be introduced; understanding methods of introducing various items of harness; assisting with introducing selected items of harness to the horse; evaluating reactions of the horse; evaluating the effectiveness of each training session; risk management and emergency procedures; understanding own role in assisting with this activity; working with others

Unit M/601/8698  Credit Value 4

Assist with introducing pulling weight to a driving horse in training

Preparing the horse; selecting the harness and equipment to be used; assisting with introducing the horse to weight pulling; evaluating reactions of the horse; evaluating the effectiveness of each training session; risk management and emergency procedures; understanding own role in assisting with this activity; working with others

Unit T/601/8699   Credit Value 4

Principals of assisting with introducing a driving horse in training to a Single vehicle

Preparing the horse; selecting the harness and vehicle to be used; assisting with introducing the horse to the vehicle; evaluating reactions of the horse; evaluating the effectiveness of each training session; risk management and emergency procedures; understanding own role in assisting with this activity; working with others

GROUP 3 – OPTIONAL UNITS.  You do not have to achieve these Units in order to achieve the qualification, but will find them useful

Unit M/601/7339    Credit Value: 4

Clean and prepare harness

Routine checks and maintenance; clean harness for exercise and public appearance; use cleaning materials correctly and safely; dispose of waste after use; importance of checking harness; recognising and rejecting unsound items of harness; importance of cleaning harness; standards required for a range of uses

Unit  M/601/8653  Credit Value: 3

Assist with preparing and maintaining a horse drawn vehicle for use

Routine checks and maintenance; clean and prepare for exercise and for public appearance; understand standards required for a range of uses of traditional and modern vehicles

Unit H/601/7340  Credit Value: 3

Clean, maintain and store harness after use

Routine checks and maintenance, clean and store harness after use; use cleaning materials correctly, dispose of waste; recognise and report any damage or wear to harness

Unit  M/601/7342  Credit Value: 3  

Clean, maintain and store vehicles after use

Routine checks and maintenance; clean and store vehicle; apply lubrication; dispose of waste cleaning materials after use; importance of checking, cleaning and storing vehicles;

Unit  T/601/7343  Credit Value: 3

Clean, Maintain and store driving related equipment

Clean, maintain and store items such as lamps, whips, gloves, hats, livery coats, stocks, boots, upholstery, horn, horn basket, spare harness kit; methods of cleaning, maintaining and storing traditional and modern items

Unit K/601/7341  Credit Value:  4

Identify traditional and modern horse drawn vehicles

Identify the type and normal usage of a range of traditional and modern horse drawn vehicles; name the parts of a two and four wheeled horse drawn vehicle and explain the function of the parts