Assessor Resource

RGRPSH209A
Attend horses at race meetings and trials

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit of competency supports stablehands, strappers, trainers and others authorised to strap horses for race meetings and trials.

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 prepare horses for race meetings and trials, attend race meetings and perform post-race meeting duties.

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 strapping horses for race meetings and trials

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient attendance of horses at race meetings and trials

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

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of racehorses 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. 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 attend horses at race meetings and trials

safe handling areas at racing stables, racetracks and race meetings

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, 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

assisting with saddling or harnessing process

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses

caring for horses

cooling down horses

communicating with employer, supervisor, trainer, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to attending horses at race meetings and trials

following instructions of trainer and working autonomously when necessary with regard to attending horses for race meetings and trials

following stable procedures

grooming horses

identifying race gear

identifying and using grooming tools

identifying irregularities with horses

parading horses

preparing horses for race meetings

performing post-race procedures

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 irregularities with horse or gear to trainer.

Required knowledge

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

common racehorse behaviour traits

common race injuries

effective working relationships, including teamwork

industry terminology

irregularities with horses and gear

personal presentation

post-race procedures

pre-race duties

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

race gear

relevant rules of racing

saddling or harnessing procedures.

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 attend horses at race meetings and trials. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Horses are prepared prior to race meetings by:

checking horse for illnesses or injuries

checking feed and water intake

checking manure quantity and quality

fitting floating bandages, boots and tail guards

grooming

mane pulling as directed

picking out feet

shampooing as directed

tail trimming as directed.

Race gear may include:

anti-rearing bit and double clip lead (selected)

bandages, elastoplast and vetwrap

blinkers, pacifiers, tongue ties and nosebands as needed

buckets

colours

cotton wool or gamgee wraps

grooming kit

needles, thread and tape

race bridles

rugs

shampoo

spare leads

stencils for quarter marks

sulkies

towels.

Personal presentation may include:

dress

grooming

jewellery

personal behaviour.

Instructions from officials will relate to:

changing order of place in parade ring

giving unruly horse over to clerk of course

holding horse for identification check

holding horse for presentation following race

taking horse to swab box

walking horse for inspection.

Pre-race or pre-trial duties will include:

attendance to animal welfare in stalls

assisting in swabbing process

preparation of horses for racing, including:

applying quarter marks

bridling at appropriate time

grooming

keeping horse calm

shampooing

taping or bandaging

warming up.

Parading horses will include:

adhering to safe work practices

awareness of other horses in enclosure or birdcage

following directions from officials

holding horse for jockey or driver to mount

identifying potential hazards, including:

horses

other people

gear and equipment

physical environment

unsafe work practices

keeping horse calm

listening for mount-up instructions

leading horse onto track and unclipping lead promptly

maintaining safe space between horses

parading in numerical order

walking in correct direction.

Post-race or post-trial procedures may include:

assisting with swabbing

cooling horse down

holding horse for presentation or photos

leading horse from enclosure

observing semaphore for placing and meeting horse and rider in correct location

observing horse for signs of heat stress

walking horse in quiet area while presentation preparations are made.

Injury may include:

cuts and wounds

heel or sole injury from shifted or sprung plates

jarring up

muscle damage

tendon or ligament damage.

Horses may be cooled down by:

allowing small drinks of water

hosing down

placing towel or quarter sheet on loins

scraping to remove excess water

walking horse for up to 30 minutes.

Horses and gear may be prepared for return to stables by:

collecting and packing gear

ensuring horse is properly cooled down before being loaded for transport

fitting bandages and boots.

Returned to stables procedures may include:

checking again for illness, injury or distress

checking shoes

feeding and watering horse according to stable routine

reporting irregularities

rolling and hosing horse, depending upon climate

rubbing down

rugging horse

storing gear

walking horse after floating if horse is boxed.

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
Horses are prepared prior to race meeting or trial according to instructions. 
Race gear is selected and packed according to instructions. 
Workplace requirements for personal presentation are followed. 
Instructions from officials are followed. 
Pre-race or pre-trial duties for care of horses are demonstrated. 
Horses are groomed prior to race or trial. 
Assistance is provided in saddlingor harnessing horses. 
Horses are paraded prior to race. 
Post-race or post-trial procedures are completed according to race result. 
Horses are inspected for injury and cooled-down according to stable routine. 
Horses and gear are prepared for return to stables according to instructions. 
Horses are returned to stables and re-checked for post-race injury. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

RGRPSH209A - Attend horses at race meetings and trials
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

RGRPSH209A - Attend horses at race meetings and trials

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: