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:

consistent timely completion of transportation procedures that safely, effectively and efficiently meet required outcomes

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that are to apply when supervising transportation of horses and dealing with difficult loaders

implementation of procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient transport of horses

working with others to undertake and complete transportation procedures 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, including transport vehicles relevant to assessing candidate's ability to supervise transportation of horses

safe handling 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).

Required skills

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses

conducting safety checks on vehicles and floats

communicating with employer, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to supervising transportation of horses

completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures

defensive driving and appropriate level of driving expertise

identifying and using different items of personal protective equipment

identifying horse behaviour problems

identifying signs of stress in horses

identifying symptoms and signs of illness or injury

identifying types of horse transport

operating a range of equipment and technology

reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including rules of racing

relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities

reporting problems promptly

written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge

air and sea transportation procedures

alternative loading techniques

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

common horse behaviour, social traits and vices

horse health status

horse illnesses and injuries

load capacity of vehicles and floats

logbooks

purpose of using appropriate personal protective equipment

procedures for operation and maintenance of equipment and technology

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

relevant rules of racing

road safety rules and regulations regarding transport of animals

signs of stress in horses

vehicle safety.

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 supervise the transportation of horses. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Types of transport may include:

air transport

floats:

angle loaders

back loaders

double:

extended front

extended height

goose neck

side loaders

single

straight end

sea transport

trucks:

cattle trucks with dividers.

Load capacity checks may include:

additional gear carried, such as bags of feed

brakes:

breakaway

hydraulic

parking

federal and state or territory road rules

gross and tared weight

load balancing

number of horses to be carried

position of single horse in double float

tyre suitability and pressure

weighbridge usage

weight of individual horses.

Driving techniques may include:

accelerating smoothly

adjusting to road camber

adjusting float brakes for simultaneous slowing with tow vehicle brakes

braking gradually and using gears to slow down

driving defensively

keeping vehicle centrally positioned and away from road shoulders

maintaining moderate speed

planning travelling times to minimise stress to horses on extremely hot days

providing rest stops for horses on long trips

reversing and turning vehicle and float combination

taking regular breaks to avoid driver fatigue.

Road conditions may include:

drains

gravel

ice and snow

plastic paint, for example white lines and zebra crossings

rain

sharp corners

steep hills

urban driveways

worn, shiny patches on roads.

Electrical equipment will include:

electrical sockets

head and tail lights

indicators

interior lights

wiring.

Exterior vehicle safety inspection will include:

brakes

coupling

electrical sockets

electrical system of tow vehicle

hitching height

jack and wheel brace

jockey wheel

latches and locks

lights and light globes

loading ramp

oil

rear opening cover

rear view mirrors

safety chains

side door

stabiliser bars

tow bar and ball

tyres

water

wheels.

Interior vehicle safety inspection will include:

chest bar

dividers and head partition

floor boards

floor mats

interior lighting

latches

padding

provision of absorbent floor covering

provision of fully maintained first aid kit

scrambler bars

ventilation

windows.

Loading problems may include:

horse barging on or off float

horse backing off float when loading

horse jumping off side of ramp

horse rearing

horse refusing to lead forward to load.

Controlling risks may include:

adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practices

adhering to responsibilities under national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare and transport of horses

being aware of Australian road rules and any relevant local rules

considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as:

fences and equipment

other persons or animals

vehicles

wind and noise

contributing to development of risk control measures

following safe operating procedures

identifying and reporting unsafe work practices

identifying emergency situations, for example:

gear breakage

horse getting loose

understanding individual horse behaviour

wearing personal protective equipment.

Application of alternative loading techniques may include:

loading from shed

lowering ramp

placing older, more experienced horse on float first

using bits for greater control

using britching ropes.

Evaluation of health status may include:

prior to travelling:

assessing vital signs

assessing horse for illness or injury

checking feed and water intake

ensuring horse is hydrated

observing manure and urine

picking out feet and checking status of shoes

after travelling:

checking brightness of eye and horse's head for injury

checking hooves for signs of heat

checking mucosal membranes inside mouth

checking for rubbing or abrasions on body

checking hydration levels by skin pinch

conducting capillary refill test

lifting hooves and checking shoes are not sprung or shifted

removing tail bandage and checking for evidence of diarrhoea

removing leg bandages or boots and checking for heat and swelling

taking horse's temperature

walking horse, observing action and listening to footfall

observing horse for 24 to 36 hours.

Poor travellers may include:

nervous sweaters

scramblers.

Signs of stress may include:

colic

dehydration

diarrhoea

elevated temperature

increased respiration rate

increased pulse rate

lameness

listlessness

pale mucosal membranes

slow capillary refill

sweating at neck and girth, for example high temperature

sweating at flanks

uncommon individual horse behaviour.

Horses may be stressed due to:

excessive dust

excessive noise inside float from passing trucks

high temperatures and humidity changes

horse placed next to another horse with existing respiratory infection

horse subject to bullying from other horses

poor float hygiene

poor driving techniques, for example speed and excessive braking

poor ventilation

slippery flooring

tying horse's head too high and too short

travelling horses before they cool down after strenuous exercise

travelling horses for longer than 12 hours

travelling without rest stops every four to six hours.

Signs of stress may be managed by:

dealing with potential illness promptly

reporting potential illness or adverse impacts on performance to relevant personnel, for example:

trainer or owner

race meeting stewards as required by rules of racing

seeking veterinary assistance as required.

Other illness indicators may include:

travel sickness, including:

pleuropneumonia

chest pain

depression

lack of interest in feed

painful stance, for example forelegs wide apart

reluctance to move

rapid but shallow respiration rate

suppressed, painful coughs.

Post-travelling care of horse may include:

checking shoes or plates for shifting

cooling down horses according to weather conditions

ensuring animal welfare principles are followed

providing feed and water

rugging as appropriate

treating illness or injury.