This qualification is designed for people who are involved with horses in supervised roles as harness racing stable assistants, sporthorse stable assistants, thoroughbred racing stable assistants, or thoroughbred racing track riders. People will already have some prior knowledge and skills at an entry level in the equine industry prior to entry to this qualification.

The Core Compulsory recognises the knowledge and skills involved with care of the horse and saddlery; identification of health, ill health, anatomy, and conformation; preparation for travel; and preparation for exercise, handling, and feeding. It also recognises knowledge of bringing a horse back into work and letting down, horse feed analysis, emergency care, a career in the equine industry, and horse gear and procedures used for horse exercise and the skills involved with working safely, performing calculations, and dealing with sexual harassment.

The Core Elective recognises the generic skills required to communicate in the workplace, manage own use of alcohol, use banking and financial services, and produce a budget. It also recognises knowledge of stress and stress management, and the responsibilities involved with owning and operating a private motor vehicle. People are able to select the skills relevant to their own personal development.

The strands recognise the specialist skills required to work as assistants in one of the sectors - harness racing, sporthorse, thoroughbred racing stable practice, or thoroughbred racing track riding. Strands in this qualification are designed to lead to strands in the National Certificate in Equine (Level 4) with strands in Sporthorse Stable Attendant, Harness Racing, Sporthorse Competitor, and Jockey [Ref: 0216]. The Harness Racing Stable Assistant strand leads to the Harness Racing strand. The Sporthorse Stable Assistant strand leads to the Sporthorse Competitor strand. The Thoroughbred Racing Track Rider strand leads to the Jockey strand.

Strands 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 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 Harness Racing Stable Assistant and Sporthorse Stable Assistant strands also include DAS Electives. These allow people to credit skills and knowledge that they may have already gained towards the requirements of this qualification.

The Harness Racing Stable Assistant Compulsory recognises the skills to prepare and drive a standardbred horse in training, and to represent and/or assist an owner at harness raceday or trials. It also recognises knowledge of 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 Stable Assistant Strand Compulsory recognises the skills to prepare a horse for show; care for a horse's paddock, and horses in the paddock; fit and remove studs from horse's shoes; and lunge a horse for training. It also recognises knowledge of potentially poisonous plants and trees, and the history and evolution of equestrian sport.

The Thoroughbred Racing Stable Assistant Strand Compulsory recognises the skills to attend to horses at the races, and handle during swabbing. It also recognises knowledge of problem gambling and drug use in the racing industry, the thoroughbred racing industry structure, and the New Zealand Rules of Racing.

The Thoroughbred Racing Track Rider Strand recognises the skills to attend to horses at the races, and handle during swabbing; exercise thoroughbred horses in pacework on public training tracks; ride a thoroughbred horse in an exercise saddle; and ride elementary pacework, barrier practice and jump outs on a thoroughbred racehorse. It also recognises knowledge of the thoroughbred racing industry structure and judicial system; and Racetrack Bylaws.

This qualification is one of a series of equine qualifications for people who wish to pursue a career in the equine industry. It builds on the skills and knowledge covered in the National Certificate in Equine (Introductory Stable Skills) (Level 2) [Ref: 0215], but completion of Ref: 0215 is not a requirement for entry to this qualification.

Completion of this qualification can lead to other equine industry qualifications, including the National Certificate in Equine (Level 4) with strands in Sporthorse Stable Attendant, Harness Racing, Sporthorse Competitor, and Jockey [Ref: 0216]; and the National Certificate in Equine (Stable Management) with strands in Harness Racing, Thoroughbred Racing, and Breeding [Ref: 1541].