Laid down as a regulation by the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training on 8 February 2008 as delegated in a letter of 26 September 2005 from the Ministry of Education and Research pursuant to the Act of 17 July 1998 no. 61 relating to primary and secondary education (Education Act) Section 3-4 first paragraph.
Gjelder fra: 2008-08-01T00:00:00 +2
Gjelder til: 2023-07-31T00:00:00 +2
Purpose
The use of horses for work and competition has long traditions. Horses are being used more and more in traditional and modern contexts. There is an increasing demand for skilled professionals who can handle and care for horses and who can guide and instruct the public and fellow tradesmen. Skilled equestrian workers are in demand in fields like harness racing, horseriding and buggy rides and gallop racing. There is also a need for equestrians at stud farms and companies that use horses for activities related to health, tourism and leisure activities.
Equestrian studies shall prepare the apprentice to become a skilled equestrian. The subject shall give the equestrian knowledge of horses and the different areas where horses are used and the skills necessary for handling and using them. The subject shall emphasise the distinctive characteristics of working with animals, and the requirements set for ethics and environment, health and safety for the subject. Furthermore, learning in the subject shall promote an understanding of human and horse interaction. Learning in the subject shall help give insight into how one can develop new business ventures related to the use of horses.
Through a multitude of activities, learning in the subject shall arrange for the apprentice to experience mastery, develop interpersonal skills and learn professionalism with a thought to animal welfare, the natural environment and ethics. Learning in the subject shall promote an understanding of working with animals that requires decisions-making skills and creativity. Learning in the subject shall lay the foundation for further specialisation in equestrian studies.
Training completed and passed in the subject will lead to a Trade Certificate. The professional title is Equestrian.
Structure
Equestrian studies are composed of three main subject areas, which complement each other and should be viewed in relation to one another.
Overview of the main subject areas:
Year level | Main subject areas | ||
Vg3 / In-service training at a training establishment | Horse stable operations and business studies | Activities with horses | Horses and horse management |
Main subject areas
Horse stable operations and business studies
The main subject area covers working processes and professional work in horse stable operations. This includes daily operations based on the needs of the horses and based on the requirements set for financial management and quality assurance. Furthermore, the subject covers work techniques and the selection and use of equipment and tools, in addition to basic supervision and maintenance of these. The main subject area also covers the relationship between the work itself, the working environment and economy. Rules, regulations and norms for working life, safety, environmental measures and quality of processes and products belong to the main subject area.
Activities with horses
The main subject area covers working processes and daily work with horses central to this occupation. Included in this subject are caring for and handling horses, buggy driving, horseriding, and other equestrian activities that form this occupation.
Horses and horse management
The main subject area covers horse anatomy, physiology, behaviour and needs. Theory of horse training, preventive health work and learning about animal disease, feeding and breeding all belong to this subject. The main subject area also covers professional handling, animal welfare and issues related to ethical work.
Basic skills
Basic skills are integrated into the competence aims for this course in areas where they contribute to the development of and are part of the subject competence. In Equestrian studies, basic skills are understood as follows:
Being able to express oneself orally in Equestrian studies involves understanding and substantiating choices and presenting processes and products for clients, government authorities and the general public
Being able to express oneself in writing in Equestrian studies involves reporting, documenting and presenting processes and products. It also involves keeping a training journal.
Being able to read in Equestrian studies involves using instruction manuals and data sheets for environment, health and safety, as welll as feeding schedules and selected subject matter. Furthermore, the subject will mean reading and understanding appurtenant regulations and following debates about the equestrian trade and business interests in the daily news and other media.
Numeracy in Equestrian studies involves reckoning volume, surface space, length, weight, speed, time and distance. It also means reckoning feed amounts, the need for storage space and costs related to running the stables. Furthermore, this subject involves taking basic measurements of physical and chemical parameters, and setting up and interpreting tables, diagrams and simple statistics.
Digital literacy in Equestrian studies involves understanding and presenting products and services, and gathering and exchanging information. Furthermore, the subject involves making calculations and using financial management tools. It also involves using digital tools for planning and execution of training plans.
Competence aims
After Vg3
Horse stable operations and business studies
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- plan, carry out and evaluate daily supervision and maintenance of stalls, installations, exercise yards, fencing and training areas, and document operations in line with current regulations
- evaluate the design of buildings, installations and sites for keeping and training horses with a thought to horse welfare and what needs and interests users have
- work with horses according to current rules and standards for animal husbandry
- supervise and maintain equipment, tools and aids used at horse stables
- evaluate the risks of stable operations and handling horses, and carry out measures that ensure environment, health and safety for animals and humans
- prepare a quality assurance system and work this into the daily stall operations
- use professional terminology related to the equestrian industry, and communicate about horses with veterinarians, equestrian personnel and the general public
- deal with customers for marketing and sales of products and services the stall provides
- give an account of the organisation, tasks and development of the company and of one's own areas of responsibility in horse stable operations
- give an account of the relationship between effort and economic result of horse stable operations
- work according to the rules and agreements that regulate employment conditions in the equestrian trade, and give an account of the rights and obligations of employers and employees
Activities with horses
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- plan, carry out, evaluate and document one's own daily work with horse care
- handle horses of different ages and in different circumstances according to current rules and regulations for safety and ethical guidelines
- prepare horses and equipment for transport, and load horses onto trailers
- mount and ride horses in a safe manner along trafficked roads and on trails
- be able to ride a horse in walk, trot and transitions between these
- ride horses in all kinds of natural gaits, and in the transitions between these
- evaluate breed, age and training, and how suitable a horse is for different tasks
- analyse level of performance of horses and give an account of how performance can be improved
- train horses based on a regular training programme
- substantiate choices of exercise and training methods based on a horse's particular level and age
- give an account of the different areas where buggy rides and horseriding can be used, and point out the opportunities for developing business strategies
- select equipment and adapt its use to the horse and activity
- prepare horses for shows, exhibitions and veterinary visits
Horses and horse management
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- give an account of what normal horse behaviour and appearance are, and point out deviations
- identify common diseases and injuries, and evaluate when it is necessary to call a veterinarian
- perform basic treatment for sores and administer medicines to horses
- plan and carry out feeding of horses with a point of departure in breed, age and the horses' uses
- evaluate how feeding, care, daily outdoor exercise and training can prevent diseases and injuries
- evaluate how horses shall be shoed based on horseshoe wear patterns and uses
- change frost nails, pull seams and remove horseshoes
- give an account of animal reproduction for horses and do work related to horse breeding
- evaluate the different training methods and how these influence and affect a horse
Assessment
Vg3 Equestrian
Provisions for final assessment:
Main subject area | Provision |
Horse stable operations and business studies Activities with horses Horses and horse management | All apprentices shall sit for a Trade Examination, which is normally carried out over a period of three working days. |
The provisions for final assessment are stipulated in the regulations of the Norwegian Education Act.