Stage 2 Care Syllabus | The British Horse Society

Stage 2 Care

Learning Outcome Assessment

Learning Outcome	Assessment Criteria	Guidance on the Content	Assessment Method
1. Know about the roles, rights, and responsibilities of an Assistant Groom	1.1 Describe the roles of the Assistant Groom	Roles to include: Caring for and meeting the needs of horses’ health and welfare Daily routine yard activity Communicating with others related to horse care and yard activity Working under supervision and according to instruction	Discussion
	1.2 Describe the responsibilities of the Assistant Groom	Responsibilities to include: Ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of the horse Responding to incidents and emergency situations (fire procedure and in the event of an accident) Reporting to the named responsible person, if appropriate Recognising deterioration in a horse’s quality of life Preparing and maintaining the stable environment Carrying out routine horse care tasks Storing and maintaining horse equipment	Discussion
	1.3 Describe a range of legal requirements when working on a stable yard	Range = 2 or more Legal requirements to include: Horse Welfare Employment rights: contract of employment, National Minimum Wage (NMW), holiday, rest breaks Health and Safety Safeguarding Equality, diversity, and inclusion Data protection	Discussion
2. Be able to fit tack and boots on a horse	2.1 Fit a bridle and hunting breastplate	Bridle: Snaffle bridles with different nosebands Fit: Adjust bridle to fit horse Adjust the breastplate to fit horse Breastplate secured to saddle correctly	Observation and discussion
	2.2 Put on a saddle and check the fit for comfort	Check fit for comfort, include: Suitable clearance over spine Saddle is not too narrow or too wide Check for any pinching Sitting level on horse’s back Fit the saddle with and without a numnah/saddle cloth	Observation and discussion
	2.3 Fit brushing boots and overreach boots	To include: Brushing boots Fastening or pull-on overreach boots	Observation and discussion
3. Be able to prepare a horse to travel	3.1 Fit travel equipment to the horse	Travel equipment to include: Head collar Travel boots Tail guard Tail bandage Rug, if required	Observation
3. Be able to prepare a horse to travel	3.2 Handle a horse safely in preparation for loading	Handle to include: Leading the horse to a loading area Control of horse Awareness of horse behaviour Awareness of others Leading the horse back to the stable Questions may be asked to check further understanding.	Observation and discussion
4. Know about horse behaviour	4.1 Describe normal behaviour	Normal behaviour to include: Relaxed Natural instincts Eating and drinking	Discussion
	4.2 Describe the signs of an unsettled horse	Signs may include: Flight – running away Calling – to other horses Fidgety and agitated Pacing and moving around Sweating Raised breathing Withdrawn	Discussion
	4.3 Outline the factors that may cause a horse to become unsettled	Range = 4 or more Factors may include: Stress Separation from others Unable to graze or move about freely Anxiety Temperature changes Change of environment Other horses Weather conditions Sign of illness	Discussion
5. Understand how to feed horses	5.1 Describe methods used to weigh a horse	Methods may include: Actual weight for example; weigh bridge Estimation of weight for example; weigh tape, visual estimation based on body condition, type and height	Observation and discussion
	5.2 Explain a range of factors that may affect a horse's weight	Range = 3 or more Factors: Type Age Workload Health Environment that the horse lives in Over feeding Under feeding Lack of nutrition Time of year	Discussion
	5.3 Describe how to estimate the amount of feed required for a horse	To include: 2% of bodyweight Interpretation of feed chart Amount of food in kilograms based on body weight of horse	Discussion
	5.4 Explain how different work levels may affect the type of feed required	Work levels: Maintenance Light work Medium/moderate	Discussion
6. Know about basic horse anatomy	6.1 Describe the function and components of the digestive system	Function: Digestion of food Components: Teeth Mouth Oesophagus Stomach Small intestine Large intestine Rectum Anus	Discussion
	6.2 Identify the location of a range of key organs	Range = 2 or more Key organs: Heart Lungs Kidneys Stomach	Observation and discussion
	6.3 Identify a range of major bones of the skeletal system	Range = 5 or more Major bones: Skull (mandible, cranium, temporal bone) Vertebrae (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, coccygeal) Ribs Forelimb (scapula, humerus, radius, ulna, cannon bone) Hind limb (pelvis, femur, tibia, patella, cannon bone) Sesamoid Long/short pastern Navicular Pedal	Observation and discussion
7. Understand horse fitness	7.1 Describe the signs of an unfit horse	Signs may include: Soft condition Slow recovery rates Lethargy Tiring easily Raised respiration Early onset of sweating	Discussion
7. Understand horse fitness	7.2 Explain the reasons for maintaining fitness	Reasons to include: Horse welfare Preventing injury Improving performance	Discussion
8. Be able to maintain a horse’s health	8.1 Explain a range of routine health procedures	Range = 2 or more Routine health procedures: Worming/tests for worms Vaccinations Teeth Shoeing/trimming	Discussion
	8.2 Demonstrate how to administer an oral horse treatment	Administer to include: Restrain the horse Measure quantity Administer to horse	Observation and discussion
	8.3 Describe signs of lameness	Signs may include: Reluctance to weight bear Pointing a toe on a front leg Nodding of head Uneven hind leg movement	Discussion
	8.4 Describe a range of common types of wounds	Range = 2 or more Common types: Puncture Open (lacerated/incised) Grazes Bruises Pressure sores	Discussion
	8.5 Explain a range of basic first aid procedures for wounds	Range = 2 or more Basic first aid procedures: Cleaning Cold hosing Poulticing Tubbing	Discussion
	8.6 Put on stable bandages	To include: Securing horse Prepare bandages and padding Apply and secure on front and hind legs Identify issues of applying the bandage	Observation and discussion
	8.7 State instances when a vet needs to be called	Instances may include: Uncontrollable bleeding Severe wounds Colic Lameness Prolonged abnormal behaviour Suspected contagion/infection Wound to eye	Discussion
	8.8 Describe a range of common health problems	Range = 2 or more Common problems: Colic Acute skin conditions Respiratory Laminitis	Discussion
	8.9 Explain how to care for horses that are unwell	Care to include: Monitor Rest Maintain fluids Adjust diet Record keeping Isolation, if applicable	Discussion
9. Be able to prepare a horse for presentation	9.1 Describe a range of trimming procedures	Range = 3 or more Trimming procedures: Tidying manes and tails Trimming feathers, jaw, tail and bridle path Where not to trim	Discussion
9. Be able to prepare a horse for presentation	9.2 Plait a mane	To include: Securing/holding the horse Dampening mane Dividing into even sections Using appropriate tension Using bands	Observation and discussion
10. Understand how to care for a horse’s feet	10.1 Explain the reasons for shoeing and trimming a horse’s feet	Reasons: The health and wellbeing of the horse Protecting and maintaining the condition of hoof The environment and the work the horse is doing Maintaining the balance of the foot Removing hoof growth	Discussion
	10.2 Describe how to remove a shoe from a horse	To include: Identification of the tools and how to use them Positioning of self and horse Action required to remove a shoe	Observation and discussion
	10.3 Describe the signs of a well-cared for foot	Signs: Level of foot on the ground Hoof/pastern axis Shoe is secure Clenches flush to hoof wall Hoof wall level with shoe Correctly trimmed	Discussion
11. Understand the environment for keeping horses	11.1 Explain a range of requirements for a turn out area	Range = 2 or more Requirements: Fencing/boundaries Gates Water Shelter Grass or access to forage	Discussion
	11.2 Identify a range of potential hazards in a turn out area	Range = 4 or more Potential hazards: Unsafe fencing Litter Poisonous plants (ragwort, foxglove, yew, sycamore, oak, laburnum, deadly nightshade) Security Footpaths Access for public to feed horses	Discussion
	11.3 Explain a range of requirements for a stable	Range = 3 or more Requirements: Size Fittings Doors Windows Ventilation Bedding Drainage	Discussion
	11.4 Explain a range of potential hazards in a stable	Range = 2 or more Potential hazards: Protrusions of fixtures and fittings Floor surface Insufficient bedding Narrow entrance/exit Poor ventilation	Discussion