Toogoolawah SHS
Equestrian Program
We aim to develop excellence in equestrian skills, self
discipline, character development, sportsmanship
and teamwork.
( February 2005 ver 1.0
)
Content
Equestrian Team 2004
Purpose
Background
Issues
Hazards and Risk
Organisation and Participation
Student’s Responsibility
Activities
Squads
Location
Equipment
Equestrian Team 2004
·
To develop students knowledge and understanding of equestrian
skills and disciplines.
·
To build character through training and being part of
a team.
·
Extend competencies in identified areas.
·
Provide students with opportunities to compete in competitions.
·
Many students
are already involved in equestrian activities
such as the local Pony Club, showjumping,
camp drafting and polocrosse.
·
The School
has offers of help from community members
who are well qualified in various skills
areas, such as dressage, showjumping and
camp drafting.
·
We live
in a rural community where horses are
used for work and sport.
·
The trial
project during Term 4, 2004, showed strong
community support and a desire for a long-term
school equestrian team.
·
The High
School has teaching staff that have the
experience and qualifications to coordinate
and teach the equestrian team.
·
There is
desire from both parents and students
to be involved in equestrian competition
with other high school students.
·
Is the
viability of the project short-term or
long-term?
·
Project
requires large commitment from parents,
eg purchase and feeding of suitable horse,
transport to training days and/or competitions.
·
Availability
and commitment from local instructors.
·
Diversity
and level of skills available from the
local instructors.
·
Student’s
commitment to the project.
·
School
capacity to support with resources.
·
Impact
on core curriculum time for students.
Hazards and Risk
·
Skill and
competency of participating students.
·
Participation
in horse riding involves
high
risk (level
3) and
jumping (level 4).
·
Horse behaviour
is a potential hazard.
·
Hazards
that may be encountered in this activity
include:
a)
Horses
b)
Equipment (e.g. stirrup, girth)
c)
Terrain
d)
Adverse climatic conditions
e)
Construction of teaching aids and jumps
f)
Dressage arena pegs and other obstacles
g)
Overcrowding of horses in the one locality
·
As part of the process of self-regulation, all
persons engaging in the activity must
identify and manage additional hazards
that may arise.
·
The parent
will supply a horse that matches the age
and ability level of the student.
·
A sound
knowledge of the horse should be obtained
from the parents (i.e. abilities, temperament,
vices and general health and condition).
If there is any doubt about a horse's
suitability for student use, it should
not be used.
·
Parents
must be willing to sign declaration to
the above and accept they are responsible
for the care of their animals and equipment.
·
If in the
opinion of the instructors and the school
coordinator a horse is not considered
suitable, the school reserves the right
to refuse participation.
·
Costs of
horse and keep (veterinarian, medication,
competition fees, etc.) to be met by the
parents.
·
Parents
must provide or organise transport of
horse.
·
Students
will need to have their own
tack/protective equipment of suitable
Australian standards (eg helmet meeting
one of the following standards: NZS 8602,
AS 2063.3, PAS 015, BSEN 1384, EN 1384,
AS/NZS 3838 or ASTM F1163)
·
Parents
must supply any relevant information about
the student’s condition (e.g. physical
or medical) that may impact upon a student's
capacity to engage safely in horse riding.
This must be updated as circumstances
change.
·
Training
will be based at the Toogoolawah Showgrounds,
on a weekly basis, approximately 2.5 hours
each session.
Students will need to undertake
further training/practise at their own
homes to meet competition standards. Parents
are responsible for safety and organisation
of training at home.
Students must:
(a)
be committed to the team for one year and prepared to train
and compete for the school and demonstrate
active engagement in the full program. Must attend 90% of all activities or explain
in writing to the coordinator any reasons
for not meeting this.
(b)
meet all the requirements of their chosen subjects and catch
up on class work/homework that is missed
due to attending equestrian activities.
(c)
adhere to all instructions and directions given in relation
to the activity and use of equipment and
may be told to dismount and walk horse
back to yard and unsaddle.
(d)
meet appropriate dress requirements/team dress at all training
days and competitions. Also secure or
remove any loose apparel, jewellery or
other ornaments which may cause injury
to themselves or frighten the horse.
(e)
secure long hair so it will not impair vision or become entangled
in the equipment.
(f)
wear jodhpurs or long trousers (mole skins or jeans). Some competitions may have particular clothing
and presentation requirements. Trousers
that are not restrictive of movement and
that do not chafe are recommended.
(g)
only wear
spurs that meet the following standard:
Any spurs capable of wounding a horse
are forbidden. Only blunt spurs without
rowels may be worn at training days. Taped
rowels or jockey spurs will not be accepted.
Spurs must not be worn with the shank
facing upwards.
(h)
use sun
safety strategies to provide protection
from the sun.
(i)
provide for personal needs (eg drinks, food etc at training
and competition).
(j)
Advise
school coordinator if their horse is unavailable
for the activity due to injury.
·
The activities
will be tailored to match the experience
of riders and ability of horses.
·
Initial
focus will be to have all students achieve
a minimum competency standard.
·
The program
will be progressive and encourage sequential
skill development.
·
The activities
will include:
a)
care of horse eg feeding, washing, brushing and cleaning
hooves
b)
transport eg floating loading and unloading
c)
saddling and unsaddling
d)
mounting and dismounting
e)
gear check
f)
general leisure riding
g)
riding at a walk, trot and canter
h)
ground work, leading and lunging
i)
flat work
j)
jumping
k)
cattle work
l)
other horse related activities
m)
competitions (eg amongst our school, interschool, other
clubs and open events)
·
Students
will be divided into three groups – EFA,
Intermediate and Entry:
1.
The EFA Squad will be competing in a minimum of
3 Olympic disciplines in open competitions
in SE Queensland and one of the local shows. These students may need to attend further training
sessions/seminars.
Debbie Edwards and Karen Sullivan
will be the main instructors.
2.
The Intermediate Squad will be competing in at
least one of the local shows and a minimum
of 2 other equestrian events, eg. Hack
classes, polocrosse and camp drafting.
3.
The Entry Level Squad will be competing in at
least one of the local shows and a minimum
of 2 other pony club style events.
·
The main
training days will be held at Toogoolawah
Show Ground.
·
Please
park floats and trucks in the designated
areas. Students to assemble in the area
near the canteen and judges tower.
·
·
First aid
equipment and consumable items appropriate
to the activity will be readily available.
·
The main
arena or rodeo arena will be used for
most of the main riding as it is bordered
by rails and is appropriate for the activity.
·
Areas will
be suited to the experience of the riders.
·
Student
will also compete at other locations.
Equipment
·
The equipment
must be appropriate for the activity.
·
All students must wear helmets of
appropriate size and conforming to Australian
Standards specifications.
·
Helmets
must be fitted correctly.
·
All students
must wear shoes with a closed toe and
a raised heel. Riding boots are recommended.
·
All saddlery
equipment must be well maintained.
·
Stirrup leathers must be adjusted to
the correct length.
·
A surcingle
should be used for stock saddles and for
saddles with one girth point either side
of the saddle.
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