This qualification is designed for competent operators who are involved with horses in unsupervised roles as Sporthorse Stable Attendants, Harness Racing, Sporthorse Competitors, or Jockeys.

This qualification contains all the standards in the National Certificate in Equine (Stable Procedures) (Level 3) with strands in Harness Racing Stable Assistant, Sporthorse Stable Assistant, Thoroughbred Racing Stable Assistant, and Thoroughbred Racing Track Rider [Ref: 0654], as well as additional skills and knowledge required when moving from a supervised position to a competent operator position within a particular sector.

The Core Compulsory section recognises the skills involved with caring for a horse, cleaning and maintenance of saddlery; identification of health, ill health, common ailments, and lameness; emergency care; identification of anatomy and conformation; preparation for travel, travel, and care of horses in short-term accommodation; preparation for exercise, handling, and feeding.

People will also have knowledge of bringing a horse back into work and letting down, horse anatomy, horse feed analysis, emergency care, a career in the equine industry, horse gear, and procedures used for horse exercise.

The Core Elective recognises the generic skills required to communicate in the workplace, be interviewed, participate in interviews with media, manage own use of alcohol, use banking and financial services, develop strategies for dealing with stress, and produce a budget. People will also have knowledge of stress and stress management, financial management relevant to professional sportspersons, and the responsibilities involved with owning and operating a private motor vehicle. People will select the skills required for their own personal development.

The strands recognise the specialist skills required to work as competent operators in one of the sectors - harness racing, sporthorse as a stable attendant, sporthorse as a competitor, thoroughbred racing or advanced track rider.

They comprise compulsory and elective sections. Details of the skills and knowledge recognised by the compulsory sections are given below. The elective sections are made up of DAS Electives and standards from the Common Elective. The Common Elective allows people to tailor the qualification towards the requirements of particular workplaces or geographical location by selecting relevant Equine standards. The DAS Electives allow people to credit skills and knowledge that they may have already gained towards the requirements of this qualification.

The Sporthorse Stable Attendant strand recognises the skills to prepare a horse for show; clip a horse, care for a horse's paddock, and horses in the paddock; fit and remove studs from horses shoes; lunge a horse for training; evaluate a horses' conformation and action; identify the structure and function of horses' body systems and associated problems; teach horses to lunge; and select and fit gear on a horse for riding. Holders of the qualification with this strand will also have knowledge of the conditioning and feeding requirements of horses; potentially poisonous plants and trees, and the history and evolution of equestrian sport.

The Harness Racing strand recognises the skills required to select and fit gear on standardbred horses; nominate a horse for a race, attend to a horse and owner at the races; prepare and drive a standardbred horse in training; and to represent and/or assist an owner at harness raceday or trials. Qualification holders will also have knowledge of harness racing, the handicapping system, the racing industry judicial system, problem gambling and drug use in the racing industry, the harness racing industry structure, and the New Zealand Rules of Harness Racing and Regulations and their application.

The Sporthorse Competitor strand recognises the skills to prepare a horse for show; clip a horse, care for a horse's paddock, and horses in the paddock; fit and remove studs from horses shoes; lunge a horse for training; evaluate horses' conformation and action; identify the structure and function of horses' body systems and associated problems; teach horses to lunge and lunge a horse for training; select and fit gear on a horse for riding; ride movements with the horse on the bit on the flat, over fences; build a simple showjumping course; and demonstrate schooling exercises. Qualification holders will also have knowledge of potentially poisonous plants and trees, and the history and evolution of equestrian sport.

Elective 1 in the Sporthorse Competitor strand recognises the skills to ride ESNZ Novice Dressage Test 2.4, or a showjumping course 90 cm to 1.1 metres in height, or to lead a group of riders on a ride across undulating country.

The Jockey strand recognises the skills to exercise thoroughbred racehorses in an exercise saddle, ride thoroughbred horses in pacework on public training tracks, in barrier practice, at jump outs, in fastwork, at Official Trials to obtain a raceday licence, and on raceday; seek raceday rides; and attend to horses at the races and handle during swabbing. Holders of the qualification with this strand will also have knowledge of nutritional requirements for a jockey, the racing industry judicial system, thoroughbred racing industry structure and judicial system, Racetrack Bylaws; and problem gambling and drug use in the racing industry.

The Advanced Track Rider strand recognises the skills to exercise thoroughbred racehorses in an exercise saddle, ride thoroughbred horses in pacework on public training tracks, in barrier practice, at jump outs, in fastwork, and attend to horses at the races and handle during swabbing. Holders of the qualification with this strand will also have knowledge of the feed and exercise requirements for racehorses, the racing industry judicial system, thoroughbred racing industry structure and judicial system, Racetrack Bylaws; problem gambling and drug use in the racing industry; and how to design and implement a health and safety plan in the workplace.

This qualification builds on the National Certificate in Equine (Stable Procedures) (Level 3) with strands in Harness Racing Stable Assistant, Sporthorse Stable Assistant, Thoroughbred Racing Stable Assistant, and Thoroughbred Racing Track Rider [Ref: 0654]. Strands in both qualifications are designed to build on each other. The Harness Racing strand in this qualification builds on the Harness Racing Stable Assistant strand. The Sporthorse Competitor strand in this qualification builds on the Sporthorse Stable Assistant strand. The Jockey and Advanced Track Rider strands in this qualification build on the Thoroughbred Racing Track Rider strand, depending on whether the individual chooses to ride competitively or to care and assist in the training of racehorses.

This qualification also builds on the National Certificate in Equine (Care and Handling) (Level 3) [Ref: 1540].

Completion of this qualification can lead to the National Certificate in Equine (Stable Management) with strands in Harness Racing, Thoroughbred Racing, and Breeding [Ref: 1541]. Candidates will select the strand which builds on their existing skills from strands selected in this qualification.