Required skills

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

administering or supervising administration of prescribed medication

applying safe handling and work practices when caring for and treating horses

assessing and responding to illnesses or injuries in horses

caring for and treating horses

communicating with stable staff horse health specialists and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to relating anatomical and physiological features of horses to their care and treatment

evaluating risks associated with catching and handling horses

giving and receiving instructions

identifying and correctly using different therapies or medications

identifying features and functions of body systems

identifying common illnesses and injuries

reading and interpreting workplace documentation including relevant rules of racing and material safety data sheets

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

using or supervising use of technology related to therapy

Required knowledge

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

common horse behaviour social traits and vices

common illnesses and injuries in horses

handling and restraining techniques for horses

impact of medications or therapies

industry terminology related to caring for and treating racehorses

key features and functions of horses body systems

prohibited substances

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements including safe operating procedures

relevant rules of racing

signs and symptoms of illnesses and injuries

types of medications and therapies

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 key features and functions of the skeletal muscular respiratory circulatory digestive and reproductive systems of horses

knowledge of common illnesses and injuries of the skeletal muscular and respiratory systems of horses

implementation of procedures and timely techniques to relate anatomical and physiological features to the care and treatment of horses that meet required outcomes

working with others to undertake and complete care and treatment tasks 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 relevant to assessing candidates ability to relate anatomical and physiological features to the care and treatment of horses

safe handling areas such as racing stables yards 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 andor oral assessment of candidates required knowledge

observed documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidates 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

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector workplace and job role is recommended for example

RGRPSHA Manage horse health and welfare

RGRPSH408A Manage horse health and welfare.

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

The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to relate anatomical and physiological features to the care and treatment of horses. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Components of skeletal and muscular systems will include:

Components of respiratory system will include:

Components of circulatory system will include:

Components of digestive system will include:

Components of reproductive system will include:

Common illnesses and injuries may include:

Healing processes may include:

Medications may include:

Therapies may include:

Directions related to care and treatment of racehorses will include: