SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Assess conformation and movement of a horse 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
335731  Assess conformation and movement of a horse 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Equine Management and Equestrian Instruction 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 02 - Culture and Arts Sport 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  10 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The qualifying learner will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the skeleton, superficial muscles and tendons of the horse in order to determine the related conformation of a horse's body and legs and assess a horse's action. It will equip the learner with the skills necessary to assess the make, shape and movement of the horse.

Qualifying learners will be capable of:
  • Assessing overall shape, form and type of a horse.
  • Assessing conformation of a horse.
  • Assessing a horse's movement. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that a learner will be competent in:
  • Communication at NQF Level 3.
  • Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 3.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of equine welfare at NQF Level 3. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Assess overall form, shape and type of a horse. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    External form of the horse is evaluated in terms of proportions. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Equine terminology related to form includes, but is not limited to:
  • Quality, first impressions, temperament, attitude and bone.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Size of the horse is determined according to standard industry practice. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Determinants include, but is not limited to:
  • Height in hands, height in centimetres, body weight and condition.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Phenotype of horse is identified according to standard industry practice. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Phenotypes include, but is not limited to:
  • Hunter, hack, pony, cob and weight carrier.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Assess conformation of a horse, using equine terminology. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Head and neck conformation are identified in accordance with type and use. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Equine terms related to head and neck conformation includes, but is not limited to:
  • Nose-dished, arched, roman; straight. Head-small eyes, lop ears, small nostrils, parrot mouth, undershot jaw, thick through throatlatch; set of head. Neck-ewe, swan and bull.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Body conformation is identified in accordance with type and use. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Equine terms related to body conformation includes, but is not limited to:
  • Chest-narrow, wide. Withers-prominent, flat.Body, slab sided, wide barrel, well sprung, deep girth, herring gutted.Back-long, short, sway, roach. Shoulder-upright, sloping, loaded. Hips-narrow, uneven. Hindquarters-goose rumped, well rounded, stifle-tied in and turned out.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Leg conformation is identified in accordance with type and use. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Equine terms related to leg conformation includes, but is not limited to:
  • Gaskin-short, undermuscled. Forearm-short, undermuscled tied in at elbow. Cannon bone-short, long, offset. Stance-base wide, base narrow, toed in, toed out, stands under, stands out (fore and hind), over at the knee, back at the knee, sickle hocks, straight behind, cow hocked and bow legged.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Faults of hoof conformation are identified in accordance with type and use. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Equine terms related to hoof conformation includes, but is not limited to:
  • Narrow, boxy, splay footed, pigeon toed, club foot, flat, dropped soles, weak or sheared heels, contracted heels, soft, shelly or brittle feet, small frog, convex sole, underrun heels and mismatched feet.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Conformation faults are described in terms of the way in which they affect the appearance, performance and function of the horse. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Assess a horse's movement. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Sequence of footfall is identified according to breed type and pace. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Ways in which straightness of action can be assessed is described according to breed and type. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Straight action is identified in relation to assessment of a horse's action. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Deviations from straight action are identified in relation to assessment of a horse's action. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Deviations include, but are not limited to:
  • Dishing, paddling, plaiting, pointing, forging, over reaching, speedy cutting, daisy cutting, brushing and wide behind.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The relationship between conformation and action is described for a given situation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Quality of movement and attitude are recognised and described in terms of their purpose. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Terms related to movement and attitude include:
  • Balance, rhythm, Impulsion and cadence.
     
    		•


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this Unit Standard must be accredited by the relevant ETQA.
  • External Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA at its discretion.
  • The accredited Training Provider will oversee internal moderation of assessment.
  • Internal and external moderation should encompass achievement of competence described in the specific outcomes of the unit standard as well as the integrated competence described in the purpose of the unit standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The qualifying learner will be able to understand and explain the following:
  • Horse types and characteristics.
  • Assess conformation of a horse.
  • Assess movement of a horse. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems associated with assessing the conformation and movement of a horse by employing responsible decision-making and creative thinking. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group or role-players in assessing the viability of a horse for a specific purpose. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Understand that organising and managing oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively are necessary in the discharge of one's duties. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using appropriate modes of oral and/or written persuasion in dealing with all internal and external role-players when assessing the viability of a horse for a specific purpose. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  71469   Further Education and Training Certificate: Equine Practices  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  CATHSSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.