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: 

Care for sick and orphan foals 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
335741  Care for sick and orphan foals 
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  5 
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 learner credited with this unit standard will be able to care for sick and orphan foals up until weaning.

The qualifying learner will be capable of:
  • Caring for a sick foal and monitoring the mare's well-being.
  • Investigating options for fostering an orphan foal.
  • Hand feeding and weaning an orphan foal.
  • Maintaining the health status of an orphan foal. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Communication at NQF Level 3.
  • Equine welfare at NQF Level 3. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Care for a sick foal and monitor the mare's well-being. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Health of the foal is monitored and recorded according to stud farm procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Health issues include, but is not limited to: time spent nursing, temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, passing meconium, urinating and standing.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Medication is administered to the foal as directed by the veterinarian and in accordance with stud farm procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Medication includes, but is not limited to:
  • Enema, antibiotics and specific medication.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Facilities and apparatus are hygienically maintained according to stud farm procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Apparatus includes, but is not limited to:
  • Waterbed, paper bedding, teats and bottles.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Mare and foal are fed according to health requirements and stud farm procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Mare's health and well-being are monitored and required actions are taken according to stud farm procedures. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Investigate options for fostering an orphan foal. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Options for fostering an orphan foal are investigated according to standard industry practice. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Fostering considerations includes, but is not limited to:
  • Availability, implementation time, and cost effectiveness.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Methods available for locating a foster mother are investigated according to standard industry practice. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Methods include, but is not limited to:
  • Breed association, other stud breeders, Advertising and SA Studbook.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Methods used to encourage the bonding process between foster mare and orphan foal is explained according to stud farm procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Methods includes, but is not limited to:
  • Disguise smell, restrain mare to allow foal to drink, twitch mare and sedate mare.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Hand feed and wean an orphan foal. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Types of milk formulas available for foals are compared in terms of their nutritional value. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Milk formulas include, but are not limited to:
  • Cow's milk, goat milk and commercial foal milk replacer.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    A feeding schedule is drawn up in accordance with the orphan foal's body weight and stud farm procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Schedule considerations include, but is not limited to:
  • Amount, times and frequency.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The weaning process of the foal from bottle to self feeding is described according to standard industry humane practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    A balanced supplementary feed is assessed for an orphan foal according to standard industry humane practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Special precautions to be taken when caring for an orphan foal are explained in terms of the foal's needs and available resources. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Precautions include, but is not limited to:
  • Availability of colostrum, companionship, handling not spoiling, education, prevention of developmental orthopaedic disease, nutritional needs and quantities.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Maintain the health status of an orphan foal. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Routine health care programme for the orphan foal is described and documented in accordance with stud farm procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Aspects for a health care programme includes, but is not limited to:
  • Parasite control, disease control and hoof care.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Health of the orphan foal is monitored and treatment is implemented in accordance with stud farm procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Deviations from normal health patterns for a foal are reported in accordance with stud farm procedures. 


    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 relevant extracts of the following relating to the humane handling of horses:
  • The Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962.
  • The Performing Animals Protection Act 24/35.
  • The Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act 19 of 1982.
  • Powers of Seizure Regulation 468 as contained in the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962

    The qualifying learner will be able to understand and explain the following:
  • Stud farm procedures for care of orphan foal.
  • Methods and requirements for fostering an orphan foal.
  • Stud farm procedures for weaning an orphan foal. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems related to caring of sick and orphan foals in which responses display that critical thinking is used for responsible decision making. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organization or community in caring of sick and orphan foals. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively in caring of sick and orphan foals. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information about the sick or orphan foal in order to facilitate fostering. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using appropriate modes of oral and/or written persuasion in dealing with all internal and external role-players to foster an orphan foal. 

    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
    Elective  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.