Application
This unit of competency supports drivers who have attained jog work driving skills and are ready to drive trackwork in less controlled conditions with a range of horses. This unit can be contextualised for other industries while also maintaining the integrity of the unit. |
Prerequisites
Develop driving skills for trackwork | ||
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Follow trainer's instructions. | 1. Exercise instructions are confirmed with trainer. 2. Warm up and cool down is appropriate for trainer's and individual horse's exercise requirements. 3. Post-exercise care of horses and gear is carried out according to stable procedures. 4. Horse welfare is monitored during and after exercise. 5. Horse response to trackwork is reported to trainer. |
Horses are exercised in pacework. | 6. Gear is selected and fitted for pacework. 7. Pacework speed is achieved and maintained for exercise period. |
Follow trainer's instructions for fast work. | 8. Gear is selected and fitted for fast work. 9. Fast work speed is achieved and maintained for exercise period. 10. Racing skills of horses are developed. |
Required Skills
Required skills |
applying aids to control speed and direction of a horse at walk, trot and pace applying safe work practices and handling and driving skills when working with horses assessing hazards and obstacles related to horse exercise areas being aware of relevant road safety rules communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers and public venue employees using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to developing pacework and fast work driving skills completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame complying with horse welfare directives when responding to indicators of injury or fatigue of horses during or after exercise driving horses singly and in company fitting horse gear and driving apparel, including personal protective equipment following instructions identifying and correctly using different items of gear and assessing their condition in terms of fit and condition identifying and following exercise area rules and regulations identifying gait and speed at which a horse is working maintaining driving etiquette maintaining fast work and pacework speed throughout exercise period identifying poor response to exercise that may indicate horse injury or fatigue preparing horses for exercise and providing post-exercise care to horses reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including relevant rules of racing relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities reporting horses' response to exercise to trainer and others understanding and complying with safe zones when driving horses using numeracy skills to measure distance and time working safely with other stable employees. |
Required knowledge |
aids to control speed and direction of a horse communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry driving etiquette gear and equipment paces of horses private road and track rules purpose of using appropriate personal protective equipment racing industry animal welfare requirements racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures relevant rules of racing safe zones for driving. |
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 developing driving skills for pacework and fast work demonstration of driving skills to establish and maintain pacework and fast work speeds according to trainer instructions demonstration of driving skills to avoid or prevent potential accidents at speed implementation of procedures and timely techniques to complete driving skills safely, effectively and efficiently working with others to undertake and complete driving skills that meet required outcomes. Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of well-educated harness 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 horses that are being educated and trained in a commercial racing stable under the care of a licensed trainer and the required resources. 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 horses that are currently in training commercial racing training establishments, and training and racetracks materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to practise pacework and fast work driving skills 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 and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks. 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. Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended. |
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 drive horses in pacework and fast work. Workplaces include harness stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas. | |
Exercise instructions may include: | achieving and maintaining speed for each section of exercise period duration of exercise exercise venue pace, including walking and jogging specific gear and equipment to be used. |
Horse welfare monitoring may include: | feeling consistent contact on reins identifying unexplained drop-off in horse speed, power or attitude to work listening to breathing pattern listening to footfalls measuring heart rate observing sweating pattern. |
Gear selected will include: | horse gear: anti-rearing bit bandages burrs bits boots breastplate blinkers bridle crupper harness head check leading bit saddle shadow rolls spreaders tail tie tongue tie driver gear: approved Australian Standard helmet, clothing and footwear sulky. |
Pacework speed may include: | establishing and maintaining speeds of 2.20 minutes per mile maintaining line on track for efficiency of movement using track markers, stopwatch and other indicators to measure distance and speed. |
Fast work speed may include: | establishing and maintaining speeds of 2.10 to 2.08 minutes per mile maintaining line on track for efficiency of movement using track markers, stopwatch and other indicators to measure distance and speed. |
Racing skills may include: | driving horse from front of field driving horse from behind driving horse in company to encourage horse to maintain or better position on track judicious use of the whip within animal welfare rules of racing to control speed and line on track practising score-up procedures practising standing and mobile starts working close to other horses at fast work speeds. |
Sectors
Unit Sector | Harness racing code |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor