Assessor Resource

RGRPSH207A
Perform stable duties

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit of competency supports stablehands, strappers, leading hands, trainers and others authorised to perform routine stable duties.

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.

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to clean and maintain the stable environment, identify and report workplace hazards, provide feed and water to horses, groom horses and monitor basic horse health and welfare.

To undertake this unit the candidate will be able to apply safe horse handling skills and workplace OHS standards. It is recommended that RGRPSH201A Handle horses be delivered in conjunction with or before this unit of competency.

This unit of competency operates in workplace environments of racing stables, paddocks, yards, racecourses and public areas.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Check with your State Principal Racing Authority for current license or registration requirements.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.




Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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 performing stable duties

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of stable duties

working with others to undertake and complete stable duties that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of racehorses of different ages and sexes, and at different stages of preparation 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 perform stable duties

safe handling areas, such as racing stables and yards

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.

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

RGRPSH201A Handle horses.

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).


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses

catching, leading, handling and tying up horses

communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to performing stable duties

completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame

evaluating risks associated with working around horses

following directions

identifying and correctly using different items of grooming gear

identifying common horse illnesses or injuries

identifying horse behaviour, social traits and vices

identifying individual 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

written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge

basic industry terminology related to horse illnesses or injuries, feeding and grooming

bedding materials

characteristics of healthy horses

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

common horse behaviour, social traits and vices

common feedstuffs

effective working relationships, including teamwork

feed quality

grooming equipment

horse feeding and drinking patterns

purpose of using appropriate personal protective equipment

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

racing stable operations and reporting protocols

relevant rules of racing

workplace hazards, including chemicals, heavy loads, machinery, equipment, other people and horses.

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 perform stable duties. Workplaces include harness or thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Racing stable operations may include:

catching and tying up horses

cleaning boxes

cleaning drains

cleaning waterers, buckets and feedbins

cleaning grooming equipment

grooming horses

following instructions regarding order of operations

hosing horses

identifying and adapting to changes to routine in morning and afternoon shifts and when horses are racing or trialling

moving horses from boxes to saddling bays

preparing and providing feed and water

picking out hooves

replacing bedding

rolling horses

starting walking machines

sweeping feed rooms

sweeping or raking yards

walking horses pre and post-exercise.

Stable environment may include:

barns

boxes

courtyards

hosing docks

round yards

saddling bays

sand rolls

stables

walking areas

walking machines

yards.

Hazards in the workplace may include:

chemicals

heavy loads, for example bags of feed

horses

machinery and equipment

other people

unsafe work practices.

Feed and water preparation will include:

applying rules of cleanliness and hygiene

reading feed preparation lists

providing correct mix and quantity of feed to individual horses in line with factors that affect feeding regimes, including:

age and gender of horse

individual taste

level of work and racing status

metabolism

reporting contaminated feed.

Feed may be contaminated due to:

mould or water damage

rodent or other spoilage.

Contaminated feed must be reported :

promptly to nominated stable person to avoid dangers of feeding contaminated feed, including:

botulism

colic.

Feed additives may include:

bicarbonate of soda

common salt

Epsom salts

electrolytes

minerals

vitamins.

Consequences of incorrect use of additives may include:

accidental introduction of banned substances through use of additives and combinations of additives

some additives alkalise the blood level in performance horses (total carbon dioxide level [TCO2]), with alkalising agents including:

bicarbonates

lactates and citrates.

Horses may be positioned and tied up :

in a safe area, for example:

box

free from other horses and equipment, such as wheelbarrows

saddling bay

yard

ensuring immediate tying-up area is free from projections or rough edges which may mark the horse or catch on the head collar

using head collar and lead

removing bit and bridle if returning from exercise

if cross-tied, ensuring chains are encased in rubber

if tied to post ring, using baling twine to secure lead

using quick release knot.

Horses are groomed :

pre-exercise grooming, depending upon individual stable routine and climate, includes:

brushing mane and tidying tail

checking legs for injury or swelling and removing mud or dirt

ensuring head, girth and saddle regions are free from mud and sweat

picking out hooves and checking shoes

post-exercise grooming, depending upon individual stable routine and climate, includes:

rolling horse

removing sand

hosing, for example:

trace high or full body, using care with head

scraping horse

towelling horse and keeping hindquarters warm

checking legs for injury or swelling

nostrils and eyes cleansed

dock and sheath cleansed

body groomed

brushing mane and tidying tail

mane pulling as required and directed

picking out and dressing hooves and checking shoes.

Illness or injury horses may suffer include:

back soreness

colic

coughs or colds

epistaxis

exertional rhabdomyolosis (tying up)

shin soreness

tendon or ligament sprains

thrush

viruses

wounds, such as puncture wounds.

Signs observed indicating healthy or unhealthy horse may include:

bleeding

colic

discharges

favouring legs

hot or cold body parts, for example:

ears

legs

inappetence, including fluid intake

irregular temperature and respiration rates

listlessness

sweating

swelling.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Racing stable operations are complied with. 
Boxes are cleaned and bedding is replaced in accordance with stable routine. 
Stable environment and yards are cleaned, swept or raked. 
Hazards in the workplace are identified and reported to nominated person. 
Common feedstuffs are identified. 
Feed and water are prepared and provided in accordance with stable routine. 
Contaminated feed is identified, removed and reported. 
Variations to individual eating and drinking patterns are observed and reported. 
Importance of correct feed preparation and consequences of incorrect use of additives , such as alkalising agents, are understood. 
Horses are positioned and tied up in preparation for grooming. 
Horses are groomed according to instructions. 
Horses are checked for illness or injury during grooming and irregularities are reported. 
Grooming tools are cleaned and maintained. 
Horses hooves are cleaned and dressed following stable routine. 
Characteristics of a healthy horse are identified. 
Signs of a healthy or unhealthy horse are observed and reported. 
Stable hygiene and quarantine practices are followed. 
Horse's hooves and legs are checked for soreness, inflammation and lameness. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

RGRPSH207A - Perform stable duties
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

RGRPSH207A - Perform stable duties

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: