Assessor Resource

RGRPSH423A
Train horses for jumping racing

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit of competency supports supervisors, trainers and others in the thoroughbred racing industry responsible for training horses for jumping racing.

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 educate and develop the fitness of horses for jumping racing.

This unit also requires the practical care, management and flat training of racing thoroughbreds and the application of OHS standards in the workplace.

This unit of competency operates in work environments of racing stables, 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:

applying safe operating procedures to ensure the safety of horses, riders and others during the education and fitness development of horses for jumping racing

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that apply to overseeing the education of horses for jumping racing

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient education and fitness development of horses for jumping racing

working with others to undertake and complete 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, track and race meeting 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 thoroughbred horses that are currently in training for jumping racing

commercial racing training establishments, safe racetrack areas, race meetings and related facilities

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to plan and oversee the education of horses for jumping racing

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.

Where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons, at least one of whom should be approved by the State Principal Racing Authority.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role, for example:

RGRPSH502A Plan and implement education of horses for racing.

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 OHS workplace procedures

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses

assessing area conditions for safe jumping

assessing horse's aptitude for jumping obstacles

assessing horse's aptitude for jumping and jumping racing

identifying skills required by horses and riders for jumping racing

communicating with riders, owners, specialists and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to skill development in jumping racing for horses

complying with animal welfare policies in the care and management of horses

dealing with emergencies

evaluating risks associated with jumping horses

giving and receiving instructions

identifying behaviour traits of individual horses related to introducing and developing jumping skills

measuring jumping stride and adjusting obstacle distances for 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

selecting and adjusting distance and height of jumping equipment

selecting, fitting and maintaining horse tack for jumping

selecting suitable jumping exercises for level of experience, education and fitness of horses

supporting others in handling and providing education and exercise for horses learning to jump

written communication skills to compile and maintain records related to planning, implementing and reviewing jumping education and training.

Required knowledge

common horse behaviour traits related to jumping

common injuries related to jumping exercise and education

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

controlling techniques for horses

effective working relationships, including teamwork

emergency control measures

industry terminology related to jumps education and racing

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

relevant rules of racing related to jumping racing

signs of lameness in horses

stages of jumping education for horses

types of jumping obstacles relevant to education and competition in jumping racing.

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 train horses for jumping racing. Workplaces include harness or thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Flatwork skills may include:

responding to rider aids, including:

selection of gait

control of speed

direction of travel

turning signals

stopping

moving towards unusual objects.

Rider skills may include:

establishing and maintaining suitable tempo, stride length and control for jumping obstacles from poles on the ground to jumping racing fences

identifying when horse is not coping with task

reassuring nervous horse during exercise

remaining calm and positive while horse is learning new skills

riding in a balanced independent seat suitable for jumping

using positive and negative reinforcement to encourage horse to negotiate obstacles.

Tack and equipment may include:

jumping equipment, including:

cavaletti

ground poles

jump fill used to introduce jumping height and solid obstacles, including walls and ground line

jump materials to replicate fences used in jumping races, such as brush and ditches

jump wings suitable to build vertical and spread fences

jumping tack, including:

breast plates

martingales

specialist bits

specialist shoeing for jumping

protective equipment for horse, including:

bandages

brushing boots

overreach boots

sausage boots

splint boots

suitable arena with safe footing and reasonably level surface.

Planned jumping sessions may include:

frequency of jumping sessions per week when horse is learning to jump

length of sessions depending on fitness and experience in jumping

progression of jumping exercises, from learning to negotiate poles on the ground up to jumping racing obstacles

type of obstacles used at different stages of education and fitness for jumping.

Pole exercises may include:

random single poles on the ground negotiated at walk, trot and canter

grids of poles negotiated at walk, trot and canter on straight and curving lines at distances appropriate for gait and natural stride length of individual horses.

Cavaletti exercises may include:

random single cavaletti at various heights negotiated at walk, trot and canter

grids of cavaletti at various heights on straight and curving lines negotiated at walk, trot and canter at distances appropriate for gait and natural stride length of individual horses.

Aptitude for negotiating obstacles may be assessed by:

evaluating horse's:

ability to adjust stride height and length depending on height and distance of poles and cavaletti

ability to establish and maintain a suitable tempo

ability to maintain balance during pole and cavaletti exercises

ability to negotiate poles and cavaletti with a decreasing frequency of hitting the obstacles

willingness to approach obstacles

willingness to negotiate obstacles

consulting rider and other specialists on horse's potential for jumping racing.

Jumping exercises may include:

single obstacles of heights from 60cm to 1m, such as:

cross poles

natural obstacles

oxers

triple bars

vertical fences

walls

related distance jumping exercises of heights from 60cm to 1m, such as:

jumping two to three obstacles in a straight line

jumping two to three obstacles on a curving line

jumping obstacles on a line that changes direction

jumping six to eight obstacles to practise establishing and maintaining balance, style, tempo and speed.

Jumping racing courses may include:

jumping up to eight obstacles over a distance of 2400m (hurdle) or 2800m (steeplechase), including:

hurdle obstacles to 1m

steeplechase obstacles to 1.15m

jumps on undulating country.

Horse's welfare may include:

checking horse for injuries

deciding if it is safe to jump after assessing work area conditions

increasing workload according to horse's response to previous activities and rider reports

planning appropriate warm-up and cool-down procedures

preventing injuries by selecting appropriate safety and protective equipment

using legal therapies to control heat and swelling in limbs.

Aptitude for jumping racing may include:

establishing and maintaining an appropriate speed and tempo

willingness to negotiate jumping obstacles

willingness to jump in the company of other horses

approaching, jumping and leaving obstacles in balance

willingness to finish the race

ability to develop appropriate stamina for jumping racing.

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
Horse's flatwork skills are reviewed. 
Rider skills for introducing jumping to horses are prioritised. 
Horse tack and equipment for jumping exercises are selected. 
Horse jumps training sessions are planned . 
Pole exercises are introduced. 
Cavaletti exercises are introduced. 
Horse's aptitude for negotiating obstacles is reviewed. 
Single and related distance jumping exercises are introduced. 
Racing brush and hurdle fences are introduced. 
Jumping racing courses are introduced. 
Horse's welfare is monitored during jumping education and fitness development. 
Rules of racing related to jumping racing are reviewed. 
Jump racing trials are completed. 
Horse's aptitude for jumping racing is evaluated. 
Jumps races are selected that are aligned to individual horse aptitude. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

RGRPSH423A - Train horses for jumping racing
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

RGRPSH423A - Train horses for jumping racing

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: