VCE VET Equine Studies key terms

The main areas of paid work involving horses, including racing, breeding, performance and sport, recreation and trail riding, equestrian tourism, and equine health and welfare services.

The recognised routes a person can take to enter and progress in equine work, such as traineeships, apprenticeships, certificates, and entry-level stable or stud positions.

The legal and ethical responsibilities of anyone who owns, manages, or handles horses to provide adequate feed, water, shelter, health care, and humane treatment.

The legal obligation of an employer, worker, or volunteer to take reasonable steps to protect the health and safety of themselves and others affected by their work.

A structured process of identifying hazards in a task or workplace, judging how likely and how severe any harm could be, and deciding what controls are needed.

Any source or situation with the potential to cause injury or illness, such as a kicking horse, faulty gate, wet concrete floor, or unlabelled chemical container.

The ranked order of risk-control measures, from most to least effective: eliminate the hazard, substitute it, engineer changes, apply administrative procedures, then use personal protective equipment.

Items worn by a worker to reduce injury risk, such as an approved riding helmet, safety boots, gloves, and high-visibility clothing; it is the last line of defence.

A written document that sets out the steps of a high-risk task, the hazards involved, and the controls to be used, often required before work such as machinery operation.

The formal process of telling a supervisor or workplace safety representative about a hazard or near miss so it can be recorded, investigated, and controlled.

A documented procedure describing how people and horses are moved to safety during fire, flood, or other emergencies, including exits, assembly points, and assigned roles.

The space around a horse within which it will move away from a handler; understanding it allows a person to position themselves safely and direct movement calmly.

A handling technique in which gentle physical or visual pressure is applied to ask a horse to move, then removed promptly once the horse responds, teaching it to yield calmly.

Asking a horse to step its hindquarters away from the handler by applying pressure near the flank or hip, used for safe positioning and to control the hind legs.

Any method used to limit a horse's movement for safety or treatment, ranging from gentle handling and a halter to a twitch or stocks, always applied humanely and briefly.

A restraint device applied to the upper lip or ear to discourage a horse from moving during short procedures; it must be used correctly, briefly, and by a competent person.

A sturdy frame that holds a horse still for veterinary or farriery work, usually with a front gate and side bars, reducing the risk of injury to people and the horse.

The basic measurements used to assess a horse's health: temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, plus colour of mucous membranes and capillary refill time.

A standardised numerical rating, usually from one to nine, of how much fat and muscle a horse carries, used to judge whether feeding and health management are appropriate.

A general term for abdominal pain in horses, which may signal gut displacement, impaction, or other serious problems and is always treated as an emergency.

A shortage of body water that can follow sweating, diarrhoea, or reduced drinking; in horses it is assessed by skin tenting, capillary refill, and mucous membrane appearance.

A painful inflammation of the sensitive laminae inside the hoof, often linked to rich feed, obesity, or hormonal disease, causing lameness and requiring urgent veterinary care.

A stocked and checked collection of supplies kept on hand for minor wounds and emergencies, including dressings, bandages, antiseptic, scissors, gloves, and a thermometer.

The initial management of cuts and injuries: controlling bleeding, cleaning gently, covering appropriately, and seeking veterinary advice for deep, dirty, or punctured wounds.

A serious bacterial disease of horses and people that enters through wounds; it is prevented by vaccination and by prompt veterinary attention to contaminated injuries.

Fibrous feed such as pasture, hay, haylage, or chaff that forms the foundation of a horse's diet and supports normal digestion and gut health.

The amount of water a horse drinks, typically many litres per day and higher in hot weather or heavy work; monitoring it helps detect illness and dehydration early.

The planned daily amount and mix of forage, concentrates, and supplements given to a horse, calculated to match its body weight, workload, age, and condition.

Energy- and protein-rich feed such as grain, pellets, or compound mixes given in measured amounts alongside forage, especially to horses in harder work.

The regular daily schedule of mucking out, feeding, watering, checking horses, and turning out that keeps a stable clean and horses healthy and settled.

Material such as straw, shavings, or pellets spread on a stable floor to absorb urine, cushion the horse, and keep the resting area clean and dry.

The movement of fresh air through a stable or shed to remove dust, ammonia, and moisture, reducing the risk of respiratory disease in stabled horses.

Design and maintenance of horse-proof boundaries using safe materials and heights, avoiding sharp wire or gaps, and checking regularly for damage or hazards.

The sequence of brushing, picking out feet, and cleaning the coat and mane that removes dirt, checks for injury, and improves circulation and coat condition.

Regular picking out of feet and scheduled farrier visits for trimming and shoeing, which keep hooves balanced and help prevent lameness.

The cleaning, conditioning, and inspection of saddles, bridles, and other gear to keep leather strong and safe and to prevent rubs and equipment failure.

A planned timetable of injections, agreed with a veterinarian, that protects a horse against diseases such as tetanus and strangles and is recorded for the property.

Clear, respectful exchange of instructions, observations, and concerns between staff, supervisors, and clients, including reporting problems promptly and confirming tasks are understood.

Working cooperatively with others so tasks such as catching, holding, and treating horses are done safely and efficiently, with each person knowing their role.