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 managing horse health and welfare

implementation of procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient provision of horse health and welfare

working with others to implement and complete horse health and welfare procedures that meet required outcomes

consistent timely completion of horse health and welfare management procedures that safely, effectively and efficiently 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 candidate's ability to manage horse health and welfare

safe handling areas, such as racing stables 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 and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks

inspection of completed work

simulation exercises conducted in a State Principal Racing Authority approved simulated environment.

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:

RGRCMN401A Maintain and monitor OHS procedures and environmental work practices.

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

applying OHS workplace procedures

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses

administering medication and treatments

assessing vital signs of horses

assessing and responding to illnesses or injuries in horses

calming and restraining horses

communicating with employer, stable staff, horse health specialists and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to managing health and welfare of horses

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

developing health and emergency care protocols and programs

dealing with emergencies

discussing treatment options

evaluating risks associated with catching and handling horses

giving and receiving instructions

identifying behaviour of individual horses

identifying and using different treatments in accordance with directions

identifying illnesses and injuries

incorporating safe work practices into all horse handling activities

reporting horse irregularities to stable nominated person

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 handling and providing treatment to horses in the appropriate manner

written communication skills to compile and maintain horse health records and associated procedural documentation.

Required knowledge

appropriate horse housing

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

common horse behaviour, social traits and vices

common illnesses and injuries in horses

dental programs

effective working relationships, including teamwork

emergency protocols and quarantine measures

handling techniques for horses

horse first aid

horse health record systems

hoof maintenance programs

methods of restraining horses

parasite programs

prohibited substances

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

relevant rules of racing

signs and symptoms of communicable diseases

types of medication and treatments

vaccination programs.

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 manage horse health and welfare. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred racing stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Health and emergency care protocols may include:

advice to other organisations, as required by rules and regulations

horse management:

comprehensive record keeping

routine health checks

equipment and gear cleanliness

handling and monitoring horses

hazard identification

maintaining first aid and treatments stores

notifiable diseases

permissible medication and treatments

quarantine measures

veterinary or specialist advice and assistance

stable and yard cleanliness

risk control measures:

controlling insects and rodents

disinfection and hygiene measures

fire drills

health programs

isolation or quarantine of sick horses

monitoring movement of horses

vaccinations and boosters

waste disposal

staff management:

access to and administration of treatments

communication procedures

emergency drills

literacy and numeracy skills

training.

Situations requiring emergency care may include:

acute illness, for example colic

arterial blood loss

communicable disease

electric shock

fracture

fire

trauma, including track or road accident.

Rules of racing and other regulations may include:

Australian and local rules of racing of the state or territory regulatory racing body

Livestock Act

local government regulations, for example:

buildings

disposal of waste

national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare

OHS legislation and regulations

race club and training track regulations

rules of racing related to prohibited substances, including substances listed below as well as other items defined by racing regulatory authority from time to time:

acidifying agents

alkalising agents

analgesics

antihistamines

anti-inflammatory agents

bronchodilators

buffering agents

diuretics

general and local anaesthetics

hormones

muscle relaxants

narcotics

respiratory stimulants

sedatives

tranquillisers

vasodilators

vitamins administered by injection.

Health status of individual horses is assessed:

by routine health checks

prior to travelling or racing

upon first entering stables

when illness or injury is suspected.

Methods to assess health status of individual horses may include:

checking for:

illness or injury

shock or distress

lameness

soreness

checking quality and quantity of manure and urine

feeling for heat or swelling

monitoring feed and water intake

monitoring vital signs

observing behaviour.

Communicable diseases may include:

anthrax

equine influenza

glanders

hendra virus

Japanese encephalitis

rattles

ringworm

salmonellosis

strangles.

Indicators of communicable diseases may include:

blisters, ulceration or erosions

dead horses

nervousness or other behaviour changes

profuse, bloody diarrhoea

rapid spread of signs and symptoms throughout stable

recent overseas contact

unexplained lethargy, listlessness or depression

unusually high numbers of sick horses

severe hacking cough.

Health records information will include:

dates and times of:

arrival at stables

assessing vital signs

illness or injury

treatments and vaccinations

features of horse identification

name of horse

name of person administering treatment

prescribed treatments administered

treatment instructions

vital signs at rest.

Health care and management may include:

administration of treatments

communication procedures when horses are treated

disease prevention and control

emergency care

emergency phone numbers, for example veterinarian or fire department

permissible treatments

procedure for recording treatments

procedure for recording and reporting vital signs

routine health checks

replenishing supplies of first aid kits

system of referral for injury treatment

staff access to first aid treatments and materials.

Common illnesses or injuries may include:

illnesses:

circulatory disorders

eye, nose and mouth disorders

digestive disorders

metabolic disorders

musculo-skeletal disorders

neurological disorders

respiratory disorders

skin disorders

injuries:

bruises

falls

girth galls

joint injuries

sprained ligaments or tendons

strained muscles

tack rubs

wounds.

Need for veterinary assistance may include:

horse may:

be insured

have to be treated with racing competition prohibited substances

have to be withdrawn from competition

require prescription medication

require stitching or specialist injury management or treatment

illness may be:

contagious condition

notifiable disease

passed on to humans

illness or injury may be:

life threatening or have consequences to ongoing career of horse

result of neglect or non-compliance with duty of care.

Specialists may include:

chiropractors

dentists

farriers

massage therapists

veterinary surgeons.

Treatment options may include:

acupuncture

chiropractic

exercise, for example walking or swimming

hydrotherapy

ice and heat

laser

massage

pharmaceutical

rest

ultrasound.

Injectible medication may be given:

by adhering to animal welfare guidelines

in accordance with rules of racing

intramuscular

intravenous

intra-articular

subcutaneous

under veterinary supervision.

Injectible medication considerations include:

alcohol swabs

correct dosage of medication

cleanliness of surroundings

enlisting help of assistant

fitting restraints, for example bit or twitch

injection site

injection type:

antibiotics

vaccinations

vitamins

method of injection to suit prescribed treatment

needle gauge

race meeting blood samples

procedure for loading syringe

preparing horse, for example skin swabbing or tapping

record keeping

rules of racing

sterile needles and syringes

sharps container

syringe disposal

using only veterinary-prescribed substances.

Inhalants may include:

oxygen

prescribed veterinary treatments

steam.