Application
This unit of competency supports trackwork riders, senior stablehands, horse trainers, harness drivers, apprentice jockeys and others to identify the factors that affect racehorse performance. Competencies attained in this unit apply to the harness and thoroughbred codes of the industry. Consequently when performance criteria are applied they will relate to the harness or thoroughbred code and statements of attainment will reflect this distinction. This unit can be contextualised for other industries while also maintaining the integrity of the unit. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Understand factors that affect horse movement. | 1. Features of racehorse conformation are identified. 2. Gaits of racehorses are identified and described. 3. Lameness and other abnormalities are identified and reported. 4. Reasons for use of corrective gear are identified and options to improve horse performance evaluated. 5. Factors that influence speed and strength are explained. |
Recognise signs of fitness in racehorses. | 6. Behavioural and physical indicators of fitness are identified. 7. Signs and symptoms of distress in working horses are recognised and reported. 8. Horses' post-exercise recovery is observed and reported. |
Required Skills
Required skills |
applying safe work practices when handling, and driving or riding horses checking signs and symptoms of distress when handling or working horses communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to identifying factors that affect racehorse performance completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame following instructions identifying behavioural or physical indicators of horse fitness identifying signs and symptoms of distress in working horses identifying different items of corrective gear identifying and describing normal and abnormal gaits observing and reporting horses' post-exercise recovery relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities recognising factors that influence speed and strength in racehorses reporting problems promptly taking action in a safe manner should horses suffer distress when being exercised. |
Required knowledge |
communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry common horse behaviour, social traits and vices corrective gear features of racehorse conformation gaits of a horse horse fitness indicators lameness in horses racing industry animal welfare requirements racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures relevant rules of racing signs and symptoms of distress in working horses. |
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package. | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following: knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that are to apply when identifying factors that affect racehorse performance implementation of procedures and timely techniques to safely, effectively and efficiently complete identification of factors that affect racehorse performance working with others to undertake and complete tasks related to the identification of factors that affect racehorse performance that meet required outcomes. Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of well-educated thoroughbred horses of different ages and sexes in racing stable and track environments. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to the required resources or simulated environment approved by the relevant State Principal Racing Authority. Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints. It is to comply with relevant regulatory requirements or Australian Standards requirements. Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills. The following resources must be available: a variety of harness or thoroughbred horses materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to identify factors that affect racehorse performance safe handling and driving or riding areas, such as racing stables, and training and racetracks work instructions and related documentation. |
Method of assessment | Assessment methods must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Racing Training Package. The suggested strategies for the assessment of this unit are: written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks simulation exercises conducted in a State Principal Racing Authority approved simulated environment. Evidence is required to be demonstrated over a period of time, therefore where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons. This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role. Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: RGRCMN201A Follow OHS procedures and observe environmental work practices. |
Guidance information for assessment | Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds). |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the performance criteria is detailed below. The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to identify factors that affect racehorse performance. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas. | |
Features of racehorse conformation may include: | balance and proportion body type front leg features that may impact on performance hind leg features that may impact on performance shoulder and pastern angle. |
Gaits of racehorse may include: | abnormal gait: brushing cross firing forging getting down on bumpers over reaching plaiting speedy cutting stumbling winging footfalls at each gait normal gait: walking or trotting on loose rein towards, past or away from observer cantering and galloping action. |
Lameness and other abnormalities will include: | bone chips bone spavin bowed tendon heat or swelling in limbs muscle strain or sprain navicular disease pelvic, back and neck injuries sesamoiditis shin soreness splints stifle joint lameness suspensory ligament injury tendonitis. |
Corrective gear may include: | approved gear, including: bits blinkers boots head checks hopples lugging poles nosebands rings shadow rolls shoeing techniques tongue ties winkers. |
Factors that influence speed and strength may include: | basic structure and function of muscle body type, for example: fast twitch or slow twitch muscle fibre proportions sprinter stayer climatic conditions hydration status individual horse's action overheating track conditions and surface training programs turns or jumping from barriers warm up and cool down. |
Behavioural and physical indicators of fitness will include: | behavioural: alert manner good appetite keen to work physical: bright eye good exercise recovery less or clearer sweat muscle development rib and hindquarters well-defined shoulders and hindquarters more bulky (sprinters) shiny coat sound action: noise of uneven footfall (lameness) vision of sound action feel of sound action. |
Signs and symptoms of distress in working horses may include: | circulatory distress: bleeding prolonged increased heart rate metabolic distress: colic exertional rhabdomyolosis (tying up) thumps musculo-skeletal distress: heat in limbs lameness reluctance to bear weight on all legs swelling wounds nervous distress: colic dehydration diarrhoea kicking muscle cramps overheating shivering twitching exertional rhabdomyolosis (tying up) respiratory distress: bleeding (lung) chronic coughing dry coat prolonged blowing of nostrils and heaving of flanks post-exercise slow recovery time post-exercise roaring signs of unfit horses may include: blowing up dull coat inappetence listlessness overly fat or thin poor exercise recovery swollen joints. |
Horses' post-exercise recovery may include: | indicators of health and fitness return to normal range: breathing pattern horse's interest in eating and drinking temperature of legs ease of movement of horse around stable or yard indicators of poor recovery: inappetence colic heat, swelling or blood on legs reluctance to move or bear weight timing of checks post-exercise according to trainer instructions. |
Sectors
Unit Sector | Harness and thoroughbred racing codes |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor