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 planning and adapting training and conditioning programs for racehorses

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient planning adapting, evaluating and modifying of training and conditioning programs

working with others to implement and complete programs 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 horses that are being educated and trained in a commercial racing stable under the care of a licensed trainer andthe 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:

access to commercial racing training establishments, training and racetracks, and a variety of harness or thoroughbred horses that are currently in training

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to plan, adapt and modify training and conditioning programs for racehorses

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:

RGRPSH401A Relate anatomical and physiological features to the care and treatment of horses

RGRPSH408A Manage horse health and welfare

RGRPSH409A Determine nutritional requirements for racing 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).

Required skills

adapting exercise and training programs according to individual animal responses and specific stages of racing preparation

applying horse health and emergency care procedures

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses

communicating with stable staff, horse health specialists and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to training and conditioning programs for racehorses

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

dealing with emergencies

evaluating horse response to exercise

identifying normal, abnormal and distressed horse behaviour

identifying symptoms and signs of adaptation and adaptive failure response to training and conditioning programs

identifying, fitting and explaining purpose of corrective gear and equipment

identifying, fitting and explaining purpose of protective gear and equipment

maintaining OHS workplace procedures

measuring trackwork times and distances and comparing performance to racing requirements

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

supporting others in applying training and conditioning programs to horses in appropriate manner

written communication skills to document training and conditioning programs and record observations post-exercise.

Required knowledge

classes and types of racing in Australia

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

current industry performance requirements for racing

current trackwork times for various distances and stages of racing preparation

impact of nutrition and general health on horse performance

industry terminology related to racing horses

OHS obligations and racing safe operating procedures

protocols for trackwork on public tracks

racing industry animal welfare requirements

variations in conditioning program requirements for various ages and classes of 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 plan and adapt training and conditioning programs for racehorses. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred racing stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Types of behavioural indicators include:

horses are eating up their feed and drinking sufficient water

horses are willing to complete work tasks and activities

horses are settled in stables or yards

horses are showing signs of lameness or pain.

Physiological indicators of fitness include:

absence of signs or symptoms of inadequate cooling

absence of signs or symptoms of physiological distress, such as:

colic

exertional rhabdomyolosis (tying up)

thumps

absence of signs or symptoms of swelling, heat or soreness

blood and other test results are within normal parameters

horse's weight is within appropriate parameters

temperature, pulse and respiration are within normal parameters.

Performance indicators used to evaluate a horse's response to current workload include:

horses are able to complete work and exercise tasks

horses are recovering to resting temperature, pulse and respiration after work or exercise tasks within acceptable time frame

work or exercise tasks are completed within acceptable time frames.

Factors to consider for horses in their first preparation for racing include:

exercise speed and duration are appropriate for fitness status, giving consideration to the need to avoid overexcited animals working faster or longer than was planned

horse's ability to settle into training environment

length of time between breaking and commencing first training period

length of time in training before a spell to allow recovery and adaptation time as well as a mental break from a racing routine

more conditioning time is required to allow for physical adaptation of musculo-skeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems

physical maturity of horse

track or exercise facility conditions, for example:

track rating

track surface condition.

Considerations for horses returning from injury include:

consultation and monitoring under veterinary supervision

length of time out of training since injury

location of injury and tissue damage sustained

need for controlled exercise to aid recovery

need for ongoing therapy or management of injured tissue

options of using alternative methods of exercise, including swimming

prognosis for returning to competitive racing performance post-injury

significance of track conditions to the type of injury sustained, for example:

heavy or deep tracks

wet or slippery surfaces.

Options for adapting training programs include:

changing training venue:

changing climatic location, for example:

lower humidity

more or less rain

change in size of training enterprise, for example large versus small training establishment

change in racing direction

introducing variation in exercise types, for example:

hacking out

jogger

riding (harness)

ponging

swimming

treadmill or walker

training from paddock rather than from stable

training on or away from race meeting venues

varying length of time or frequency of exercise periods

working horses in company or alone

working horses with a pacemaker.

Preparing conditioning programs for horses includes:

horse's confidence working close to others

individual horse's current stage of fitness

individual horse's personality and behaviour

length of training session

type of work included over a week, for example:

in water

on beach

on hills

on public or private track.

Factors to consider when reviewing trackwork times and behaviour include:

are trackwork times within acceptable parameters for a particular track and conditions

is horse willing to go past others during trackwork

is horse willing to work close to others

is horse worked with others or alone to gain these times.

Corrective or remedial gear may include:

assorted bits

blinkers or hood

harness specific:

ear muffs

head check

lugging pole

nosebands

spreaders

thoroughbred specific:

barrier blanket

ear muffs

martingale

nosebands.

Factors to consider when diet is reviewed include:

access to fresh pasture

appropriate volume of feed

balance of concentrates and roughage in diet

changed eating patterns

drinking appropriate volume of water daily

horse's appetite

levels of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals in the diet

presence of potentially diet-related illnesses, including:

colic

deficiency in electrolytes indicated in blood tests

excessive sweating or insufficient sweating

exertional rhabdomyolosis (tying up)

horse being diagnosed with ulcers

teething conditions leading to inability to eat hard feed temporarily.

Performance compared to racing goals includes:

a more effective assessment of horse readiness to run may be required, for example:

blood tests

fast workout with another known horse or group of horses

fitness test

animal welfare and racing guidelines for the amount of work

does horse need a few trials and/or races to reach peak performance

expected time frame to first trial or race

hormone control, for example:

mares

stallions versus geldings

race class or type that horse is being prepared for

specialist advice required to review fitness, for example:

farrier

therapist

veterinarian

trainer style, methods and size of establishment versus horse response.