1: Care of paddocked horses
Relates to NZQA Unit Standard 1624
2: Clean & Maintain saddlery
Relates to NZQA Unit Standard 6579
3: Catch & Prepare horse for exercise
Relates to NZQA Unit Standard 1660
4: Groom a horse
Relates to NZQA Unit Standard 1656
5: General horse care
Parts relate to NZQA Unit Standard 1618 CONTACT for information/applications
Evelyn Cooper ph 06 3858466
6: Riding on the flat 2 Goldfinch St, Ohakune
Parts relate to NZQA Unit Standard 1651
ABOUT THE MODULES
Each module has its own study and assessment guide which you can now download direct from this site. Each module stands alone and they can be achieved in any order.
A range of learning and assessment methods is used - practical, question and answer, and assignments. Learning and assessment are self paced. Individual members and club members are welcome to be involved.
It is envisaged that most of the training can be done within the club. The Assessor will meet with interested members and demonstrate the practical sections and explain the theory sections. The club members will then get together practice and, when they are ready, the Assessor will return for an assessment session. Demonstrations of all the practical aspects and clear explanations are given before assessments.
All Modules -
are appropriate to caring for horses in the New Zealand environment
are designed to be user-friendly and self-paced
can be used for Recognised Prior Learning for NZQA qualifications
On completion of all six Modules a certificate of achievement is awarded, and a felt for the NZRC badge.
COSTS/FEES
Application fee to NZRC for each Module: $10
The Assessor's fee for the demonstrations and assessments is shared between the candidates and/or Riding Club. Assessor's fees are $25 per hour. Assessor's travel costs are 35c per km.
The exact fee will depend on the number of candidates, the hours involved, and the travel distances.
NEW HORSE CARE AND
RIDING MODULES SEMINAR
The NZRC's two day Seminar was held with near perfect facilities at Taupo RDA Centre on 8/9th September 2001.
This Seminar was free to everyone, even non-members and non-riders.
It covered -
:: the reasons for updating the whole qualifications system
:: the specific aims of the new system
:: exactly what is required to pass the Modules
:: How the Modules relate to NZQA and their relevance as qualifications in the Equine industry
:: how to train for them
:: what the Assessors will be looking for
and more! Including the practical details for organising a group to train for and take the Modules.
Jeanette Garret's feedback report:
The purpose of the seminar was to launch the NZRC's new Stage One modules for horse care and riding The first day was free and open to anyone interested in horses, their care and welfare. Forty such people attended. The NZRC's national instructors - Kevin Lawrence BHSI (South Island) and Jeanette Garrett BHSI (North Island) - explained and demonstrated the six new modules: 1 Care of paddocked horses, 2 Clean and care for saddlery, 3 Prepare for a ride, 4 Grooming, 5 General horse care, 6 Flat riding. The new concept and approach which has been designed to encourage and support horse owners and those caring for horses was enthusiastically received by those attending, who had a wide range of horse experience.
Sunday was devoted to assessor training. However, some people were keen enough to attend as observers. Six assessors from RDA, five from NZRC and one from NZEF, with several undertaking assessing roles for more than one organisation, worked together. A tremendous way to get different organisations to assess in the same style yet each retaining its own identity and purpose. All of the assessors took the opportunity to role play being an assessor and a candidate. The key points being to support the candidates to achieve with a transparent and user friendly approach.
Marking of oral and written questions, assignments and use of model answers was also covered.
The assessors were encouraged to give feedback with ideas for adjustments and improvements they would like to see in the module study guides and assessors guide booklets before they are printed and presented to possible sponsors.
A really positive approach was experienced with assessors from three organisations. Camaraderie, enthusiasm with a constructive atmosphere prevailed.
For more details on the modules, contact either:
E Cooper - Tel. 06 385 8466
MODULES FAQs
If you need any further help please let me know, but my advice is get in there and do it.
Evelyn Cooper
NZRC Training Sub-committee
1: What is in this for me?
Basically what you put in, you get out. They are very suitable for first time horse
owners showing proven safe methods of doing things both for your own well being and that of your horse.
Completion gives a very satisfying feeling knowing 'I did that and I can help myself and my horse'.
More experienced people can brush up on safety and possibly better ways of doing things, and learn a tip or two as well.
2: Why do I need to do this? I have owned horses for years.
See above, plus we never finish learning, or if we think we do, perhaps we are past caring about the horse who we expect to do all sorts of things nature never intended it to do.
3: What will I learn?
Safe and efficient ways of handling, caring for and riding horses.
4: Do I need a horse to do the Modules?
You do not need to own a horse, but you need to have access to one for most of the Modules. You can share with a friend, hire one from a commercial establishment, borrow your child's pony or go along to a Riding Club or Pony Club - MOST of whom will be willing to help.
5: Are the Modules NZQA recognised?
Not in their present form, but they can be used for 'recognised prior learning' towards NZQA qualifications, making it cheaper to go further.
6: No-one in my club wants to do the Modules, can I still do them on my own?
Of course you can, the only trouble being you will have to bare the cost of the Assessors fees by yourself instead of sharing them with others. This could be eased by doing more than one Module at a time but that would need careful consideration so you do not make the work load too heavy.
7: I am not a Member of a Riding Club (or there is not one near me), can I still do the Modules.
Yes, but you would need to become a member of NZRC. If you can not join a local club, or a far away club as a 'sleeping' member (you would have to find their subscription fees), you can join as an individual. This Individual membership direct to the National body is $15 per individual per year,
8: I have never heard of the Modules before, why?
Maybe your Club Secretary does not pass around the Riders Round-Up at meetings, where they are often mentioned, either just giving details or information on a coming seminar about them. Ask to see the Riders Round-Up at each meeting or if necessary even purchase your own copy direct from the Editor. They are recognised by the RDA as well as NZRC.
There have been a couple of reports in the Horse and Pony Magazine also. They are usually available to view at NITE or National Committee meetings, which are open to everyone.
Write to the NZRC secretary, or the Examination secretary or visit the web site.
9: How can I become a NZRC Assessor for the Stage I Modules?
Attend a Seminar about the Modules and be assessed by our Chief Instructor.
Or co-assess with the National Instructor to be assessed.
If you have Assessing techniques already through assessing for the NZEF or are a
Pony Club examiner you will be well on the way to be eligible as a NZRC
assessor.
10: Why are the Modules a better option than the NZPCA or NZQA qualifications? Pony Club qualifications (on the non teaching side) are only available to those under 25 years of age, and not everyone has had the chance to go to Pony Club. NZQA qualifications are 3 to 5 times more expensive than the Modules. You also need to find a Moderator or Assessor who is willing to tutor you.
11: What qualification does the NZEF Racing Industry offer?
They do have programmes but it would be best to ask them, be it for the racing or breeding side.
12: Why do Modules? I have been through the NZPCA system to 'C' or 'C+' level.
Your need may not be as high as for others, but you could be a great help to others in your club who would like to do them, either to coach them or work along side them. There are aspects in the Modules however that expand upon the Pony Club system, as we are talking about adults instead of younger riders.
13: They are much more expensive than the NZPCA certificates, how do they compare with anything the NZQA has to offer?
NZPCA certificates can be free until the higher levels are reached, but it does depend on the pony club, some clubs do charge their riders quite a lot to cover the Examiners expenses.
NZQA see question 10 above. NZRC Modules cost $20 per Module, plus Assessors expenses (these can be shared between candidates), but each NZQA unit can cost $100 or more.
14: Many NZRC members have a series of the old NZRC Certificates, can they be cross credited?
Yes. The Chief Instructor would need to sanction this, in conjunction with the Examination Secretary confirming you have a particular certificate, unless you can produce proof, by forwarding your certificate, to the Chief Instructor, if you still have it!
15: Are further Stages being offered? I would like to start at a higher level.
We would dearly love to proceed further, but unless more interest is shown in Stage I our Chief Instructor cannot afford to do the hours and hours of voluntary work to produce more. A start has been made on Stage2, but it is on hold for the above reason.
16: Should we approach more 'Riding Schools' and the like? As many of their pupils do not have access to their own horse, and often want to help with the horses as well as ride, the Modules would help all parties.
A good idea, but the ideal would be for people near such establishments, especially assessors, to approach them individually and 'drum up' interest. It has been done, by our Chief lnstructor, and worked well and is one way of including 'horse crazy' older children as well as the adult who may not have had earlier opportunities.
17: Will they benefit me if I want to do a Polytechnic equestrian course?
Most definitely if you are new on the equestrian scene. If you have had practical experience with horses 'all your life' maybe not.
18: I just want to work with horses in a Training Stable will the Modules be of any financial benefit or will the pay still be 'the pits'?
Knowledge is never wasted. Most people would sooner employ a horse knowledgeable person than a beginner, but wages are as often tied to age as to experience so it would depend on the prospective employer and employee.
