Profession groom

Grooms provide practical daily horse care to ensure the horses health, welfare and safety. They take part in exercising horses, cleaning and maintaining the stables, buildings and territory.

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Personality Type

  • Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

  • Livestock species

    Livestock species and relevant genetics.

  • Equine dental diseases

    Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dental diseases for horses.

  • Animal welfare legislation

    The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.

  • Biology

    Tissues, cells, and functions of plant and animal organisms and their interdependencies and interactions with each other and the environment.

  • Training equipment for riding

    Training equipment used in different riding styles such as saddles, bits/curb straps, neck sweats, athletic boots, etc. 

  • Transportation vehicles for horses

    Types of transportation vehicles for horses and their safe methods of using.

  • Young horses training

    Principles and techiques of educating young horses important simple body control exercises.

  • Breed-specific behaviour of horses

    The behaviour and specificities of different horse species.

  • Livestock reproduction

    Understand natural and artificial reproduction techniques, gestation periods and birthing for livestock. Understand the humane destruction of relevant animals in accordance with national legislation.

  • Animal nutrition

    Aspects of how different animal species are fed and provided water. Different types of animal food, the quality criteria for animal food and methods to feed and give water to animals.

Skills

  • Clean stalls

    Clean stalls to remove all soiled bedding to prevent moisture and fumes from building up and to cut down on potential parasite problems.

  • Perform farm equipment hygiene

    Clean and sanitise equipment used in milking: milk storage tanks, collection cups, and udders of the animals. Ensure that procedures for the sanitary handling of milk are followed.

  • Control animal movement

    Direct, control or restrain some or part of an animal's, or a group of animals', movement.

  • Control livestock disease

    Control the spread of disease and parasites in herds, by using vaccination and medication, and by separating sick animals.

  • Teach young horses

    Socialise young horses (cleaning, collaring, bridling, raising feet, etc.), taking into account the safety and welfare of the horse and teacher.

  • Assist animal birth

    Assist in animal births, and care for newborn livestock.

  • Provide nutrition to animals

    Provide food and water to animals. This includes preparing food and water for animals and reporting any changes in the animal feeding or drinking habits.'

  • Train horses

    Harness, dress and train horses as per the instructions provided. Take into account the age and breed of the horse and the preparation purposes.

  • Keep task records

    Organise and classify records of prepared reports and correspondence related to the performed work and progress records of tasks.

  • Maintain pastures

    Ensure that animals on pastures or grazing lands have enough feed. Employ pasture-conservation measures such as grazing in rotation.

  • Supervise hygiene procedures in agricultural settings

    Ensure that hygiene procedures in agricultural settings are followed, taking into account the regulations of specific areas of action e.q. livestock, plants, local farm products, etc.

  • Operate agricultural machinery

    Operate motorised agricultural equipment including tractors, balers, sprayers, ploughs, mowers, combines, earthmoving equipment, trucks, and irrigation equipment.

  • Conform to health and safety regulations

    Carry out all work in accordance with relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements and company policies. Take the necessary health and safety precautions during work including posture the body well, safely operate tools and machinery, and wear the right clothes and protection for the climate.

  • Transport horses

    Transport horses using safely special vehicles for horse transportation; lead horses to vehicles taking into account the safety of people and horses.

  • Breed stock

    Breed and raise livestock such as cattle, poultry, and honeybees. Use recognised breeding practices to strive for continuous improvement in the livestock.

  • Maintain the farm

    Maintain farm facilities such as fences, water supplies, and outdoor buildings.

  • Maintain farm equipment

    Use oil, grease guns, and hand tools to lubricate, adjust, and make minor repairs to farm equipment.

Optional knowledge and skills

make farrier tools and supplies assess the footcare requirements of the equid prepare equid hooves agritourism agricultural business management manage horse events attach horseshoes assess requirement for horseshoes analyse animal locomotion clean horse's legs assess lameness in horses provide care for horses safe horseback riding principles project management principles advise horse owners on farriery requirements

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