Carry out post hoof trimming activities
Overview
This standard covers how to carry out post hoof trimming activities. This will be in accordance with a hoof care plan designed to achieve a range of identified activities for equine hoof health post hoof trimming. You need to be aware of your own limitations and confirm that you meet the relevant legal responsibilities for providing your duty of care under animal health and welfare legislation, codes of practice and policies of the business. The plan will be implemented by a responsible person. The responsible person can be anyone who has responsibility for the equine such as the owner, trainer, groom or hoof care practitioner. This standard is for UK Equine Hoof Care practitioners.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work professionally and ethically and within the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience 2. comply with the relevant animal health and welfare and animal-related legislation and associated codes of practice 3. carry out your work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, codes of practice and policies of the business 4. select and wear suitable clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) 5. maintain hygiene and biosecurity in accordance with the relevant legislation and business practice 6. review activities following the finished hoof trimming 7. assess the post hoof trimming condition of the equine’s gait and body condition score and discuss any changes to previous assessments with the responsible person 8. provide advice to the responsible person on activity levels to maintain equine welfare 9. provide advice to the responsible person on environmental conditions that may impact on hoof health 10. recognise matters requiring the attention of other equine professionals 11. discuss and agree any post hoof trimming changes to the hoof care plan with the responsible person 12. confirm the date and time of the next visit, if required, with the responsible person 13. maintain communication with all those involved in, or affected by your work 14. confirm that records are completed, maintained and stored as required by the relevant legislation and business practice
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- your professional responsibilities and the need to maintain professional competence 2. your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, codes of practice and the policies of your business 3. your responsibilities under current animal health and welfare legislation, other relevant animal regulations and codes of practice, and the legal limitations of the current Veterinary Surgeons Act with regard to diagnosis and treatment of disease or injury 4. the type of clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) suitable for the activity 5. the importance of maintaining hygiene and biosecurity and the methods for achieving these 6. how to recognise irregularities of basic locomotion and action 7. the type and amount of work the trimmed hoof is capable of in its current state of health 8. the impact of the equine’s environment on the hoof health 9. the impact of the equine’s nutrition on hoof health 10. the role and effect of equipment designed to improve hoof health 11. the role of topical hoof care products in hoof health, their advantages and disadvantages and how to use different types of products 12. the responsibilities associated with giving advice on products relating to hoof care, so that any advice is not seen as diagnosis and treatment 13. when an equine would benefit from input from another equine professional 14. the importance of maintaining communication with those involved in, or affected by, your work and how this should be done 15. the records that need to be kept and the importance of completing them in accordance with the relevant legislation and business practice
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
"Equine: a horse or other member of the horse family including donkeys, mules, hinnies and asses.
Body condition: obesity and emaciation will impact on equine health; it is imperative to keep an equine at its optimum body condition. Body condition score can be affected by a variety of factors such as feed intake, weather, exercise, metabolic diseases like equine metabolic syndrome, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, illness, tooth issues, parasitic infections, and reproduction."