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Ride a horse in a balanced position at different gaits on the flat and over 50 to 60 cm fences

Level / 2
Credits / 4

PurposePeople credited with this unit standard are able to: maintain an independent and balanced position in the saddle at different gaits; carry out movements on a horse in a school situation; carry out adjustments while mounted; and ride over poles on the ground, raised poles, and small fences.

Subfield / Equine
Domain / Equitation
Status / Registered
Status date / 18 July 2008
Date version published / 18 July 2008
Planned review date / 31 December 2013
Entry information / Open.
Accreditation / Evaluation of documentation by NZQA and industry.
Standard setting body (SSB) / Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0018

This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.

Special notes

1Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, and its subsequent amendments.

2Accepting the bit as defined in Lawrence, Kevin, Pony Club Manual 2 (revised edition) (Havelock North: New Zealand Pony Clubs Association, 2007). ’The horse going freely forward, calm and attentive, with a steady head and even contact on the bit, accepting all the rider's aids without resentment or evasion’.

3Candidates must not contravene the Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for Welfare of Horses (Wellington: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 1993), available at http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/animal-welfare/codes/horses/index.htm.

Elements and performance criteria

Element 1

Maintain an independent and balanced position in the saddle at different gaits.

Rangeschool situation, flat or undulating country.

Performance criteria

1.1A steady position is demonstrated at gaits with stirrups, and reins held in both hands maintaining a contact.

Rangewalk, rising trot, sitting trot, canter.

1.2A steady and balanced position is shown when riding with stirrups, and reins held in one hand maintaining a contact.

Rangewalk, rising trot.

1.3The rising trot is ridden on both left and right diagonals, while maintaining a steady and balanced position.

1.4The horse is ridden on a long rein while maintaining even rhythm and calmness.

Rangewalk, rising trot.

1.5The horse is ridden uphill and downhill, the rider in a steady and balanced position, and the horse in a steady rhythm at all gaits.

Rangewalk, rising trot, canter.

Element 2

Carry out movements on a horse in a school situation.

Performance criteria

2.1Smooth transitions are demonstrated with the horse accepting the bit.

Rangewalk to rising trot, rising trot to canter, canter to rising trot, rising trot to walk, walk to halt.

2.2Turns are made to the left and right at the walk and trot, and in 20 metre circles with the horse balanced, flexing, and accepting the bit.

2.3The horse is cantered in a 20 metre circle with the horse balanced, flexing, and accepting the bit on both reins.

2.4Natural and/or artificial aids are used to reinforce leg aids when necessary.

Element 3

Carry out adjustments while mounted.

Performance criteria

3.1Stirrups are altered by the rider to an appropriate length while rider is mounted and in control of the horse at all times.

3.2The girth is adjusted, to keep saddle secure while rider is mounted and in control of the horse at all times.

3.3Hinged gate is opened, the horse walked through, and the gate is shut while the rider is mounted and in control of the horse at all times.

Element 4

Ride over poles on the ground, raised poles, and small fences.

Performance criteria

4.1The horse is ridden over poles, on the ground and raised, while rider maintains a balanced position and contact with the horse.

4.2A balanced position and suitable contact are maintained when riding over 10 fences of 50 to 60 cm height.

Rangeuprights, parallels, related fences, spreads, fillers.

4.3A balanced position and suitable contact are maintained when jumping fences on slopes and ditches, with fences of 50 to 60 cm height.

Please note

Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.

Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.

Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.

Comments on this unit standard

Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.

 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2019