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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Protect safety and welfare of people and horses.
  2. Provide pre-exercise care of horse.
  3. Apply basic driving skills.
  4. Provide post-exercise care of horse.

Required Skills

Required skills

applying aids to control speed and direction of a horse at walk and trot

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses

applying safe basic driving skills

communicating with employer supervisor coworkers and public venue employees using assertive communication techniques to gather interpret and relay information related to performing basic driving tasks

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

following instructions

identifying and correctly using different items of driving apparel

identifying and correctly using different items of gear and assessing their condition in terms of safe use and need for repair

identifying gait at which horse is working

identifying and following venue rules

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

Required knowledge

aids to control the speed and direction of a horse

basic industry terminology related to driving horses

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

common horse behaviour social traits and vices

purpose of using appropriate personal protective equipment

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements including safe operating procedures

relevant rules of racing

relevant road safety rules

Evidence Required

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 practising basic driving tasks

demonstration of control of a quiet harness horse in basic driving manoeuvres in a controlled area

implementation of procedures and timely techniques to complete basic driving tasks safely effectively and efficiently

working with others to undertake and complete basic driving tasks that meet required outcomes

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of welleducated harness horses 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 or simulated environment 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 welleducated harness horses

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidates ability to practise basic driving skills

safe handling and controlled driving areas such as racing stables and training or 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 andor oral assessment of candidates required knowledge

observed and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidates application of practical tasks

simulation exercises

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

RGRCMNA Follow OHS procedures and observe environmental work practices

RGRCMN201A Follow OHS procedures and observe environmental work practices

RGRPSHA Handle horses

RGRPSH201A Handle horses.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands eg literacy and numeracy demands and the needs of particular target groups eg 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


Range Statement

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 basic driving tasks. Workplaces include harness stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Safety and welfare 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

adhering to rules of training arena and public venues

being aware of relevant road safety 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 hazards or unsafe work practices

identifying emergency situations, for example:

gear breakage

horse fall

horse getting loose

understanding horse behaviour traits as they relate to practising driving tasks, for example:

senses

social behaviour

fight or flight response

understanding risks associated with handling horses, including:

bites

horse injury

personal injury

trampling

using approved gear for horses

using approved driving aids

wearing personal protective equipment, including approved Australian Standard helmet, clothing and footwear.

Venue-specific requirements may include:

rules and regulations of training tracks

relevant rules of racing.

Potential hazards may include:

distracting events or behaviours caused by people with no horse sense

distracting events or situations due to natural causes, such as wind

driver or horse falls

driver illness due to weather conditions or other reasons

driver injury due to getting clothing or body parts caught in gear

gear failure

hazards of:

driving alone

driving horses with bad habits

driving inexperienced horses

driving too close to other horses

horse's behaviour and possible reactions, such as:

horse's ability to learn and remember routines and locations, such as:

areas where previous incidents have occurred

home stables

track entry or exit points

horse's natural instinct to:

rear, bite or kick if it feels threatened, excited or in pain

run if frightened

want to stay with other horses

horse's lack of reasoning ability to rely on driver signals alone to discriminate between safe and unsafe stimuli

horse's response to loud or unusual noise or other stimuli, including machinery and other animals

horse injury.

Pre-exercise care may include:

checking disposition of horse

grooming to instructions, for example:

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

moving safely and calmly around the horse

positioning horses in tie-up or in stable or yard for harnessing

removing bandages or poultices

selecting gear, checking for wear or damage and fitting as directed.

Designated gear may include:

bits, for example:

snaffle

rubber

boots, for example:

scalping boot

shin or tendon

pastern boot and bell boot

breastplate

bridle

crupper, for example:

standard

rubber dock

harness

saddle

standard overcheck or head check

tail tie.

Basic driving skills will include:

driving horses singly or in company

ensuring an assistant is available to untie horse from tie-up rail after driver gets into cart and to secure horse back to tie-up rail after work

fitting gear for comfort and safety

stopping and changing direction

understanding and correctly using aids

warming up horses as instructed.

In accordance with supervisor's instructions may include:

getting into cart and taking control of horse before assistant releases horse from tie-up rail

moving off, stopping or turning as directed

warming up and cooling down horse

staying at nominated distance from other horses

staying at nominated speed

staying in nominated gait

maintaining control of horse when work is completed until assistant has secured horse and before dismounting.

Effective driving position may include:

control of body posture

keeping even pressure on reins unless otherwise directed

placing feet in foot rests.

Aids may include:

natural aids, including:

hands

voice

artificial aids that require experience and moderation when used, including:

bits

block blinds

burrs

dolly vardons.

Horse post-exercise care may include:

ensuring animal welfare principles are followed

checking horse for injury and soreness

grooming horses

inspecting gear and equipment for wear and breakage

warming down horses following stable procedures.

Post-exercise grooming may include:

brushing

cleaning hooves

hosing

rolling

scraping

sheath cleaning

towelling.

Signs of gear wear and breakage may include:

gear slippage

frayed reins

perished rubber or plastic

rubbed hair or skin

rusted buckles and bits

worn bit joints

worn padding

worn stitching.