Required skills

communicating with trainer staff horse health specialists and others to gather and relay information related to implementing exercise programs for horses

complying with animal welfare policies when assisting in the management of horses in race preparation

complying with directions of officials and rules of racing

dealing with emergencies

ensuring OHS workplace procedures are followed

following trainers conditioning and training program for individual horses

identifying positive and negative responses to exercise

identifying benefits and disadvantages of various methods of exercising and conditioning horses for racing

investigating possible causes of poor performance

monitoring horse behaviour and response to exercise and reporting to trainer

predicting potential impact of factors that can affect performance in 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

written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports

Required knowledge

common illnesses and injuries of racing horse

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

industry terminology related to preparing horses for racing

OHS obligations and racing industry safe operating procedures

racing industry animal welfare requirements

roles and responsibilities of trainers staff and officials in the care exercise and management of racehorses

rules of racing

signs and symptoms of normal and distressed behaviour in horses

stable protocols and procedures for pre and postexercise or race care of horses

stages of fitness and skill development that racehorses must undergo before they are ready to race

types of conditioning and training programs for racehorses

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 training trialling and racing horses

demonstration of procedures and timely techniques for the safe effective and efficient implementation evaluation and modification of exercise programs for racehorses

working with others to implement 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 harness or thoroughbred horses that are currently in training

commercial racing training establishments and training and racetracks

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidates ability to monitor and record trackwork and racing performance and relay information on training and racing horses to trainer staff and specialists

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

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

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

RGRPSHA Identify factors that affect racehorse performance

RGRPSH304A Identify factors that affect racehorse performance

RGRPSHA Provide first aid and emergency care for horses

RGRPSH308A Provide first aid and emergency care for horses

RGRPSHA Implement feeding programs for racehorses under direction

RGRPSH309A Implement feeding programs for racehorses under direction.

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 participate in implementing racehorse exercise programs. Workplaces include harness or thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Methods used to evaluate performance include:

Indicators of poor adaptation include:

Factors affecting performance may include:

Stages of training programs may include:

Methods used to condition horses may include:

Racing jargon may include:

Daily training plan may include:

Status of horse may include:

Methods and equipment may include:

Horse's recovery is assessed by:

Race performance may include: