This unit of competency supports novice harness drivers to attain jog work driving skills with a range of well-educated horses.

This unit can be contextualised for other industries while also maintaining the integrity of the unit.

RGRPSH203A

Perform basic driving tasks

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Identify trackwork requirements.

1. Industry jargon relating to exercising harness horses is interpreted.

2. Trackwork speeds and distances are measured .

3. Trackwork instructions are verified.

4. Reasons for modifying trackworkinstructions are reviewed.

Complete warm-up and cool-down procedures.

5. Pre-drive safety checks are completed.

6. Warm-up and cool-down exercises are performed.

7. Post-exercise activities for horse and gear are performed.

Control horses before, during and after exercise.

8. Sulky is mounted safely .

9. Horses are exercised according to supervisor's instructions .

10. Gaits of horse are recognised on and off the horse.

11. Sulky is dismounted safely.

12. Strategies for controlling nervous or excited horses are practised.

Required skills

applying aids to control speed and direction of horse at walk and jog

adjusting driving methods according to responses of different horses

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses

applying safe driving skills

communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers and public venue employees using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to preparing to drive jog work

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

controlling speed and direction of harness horses

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 a 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

using numeracy skills to measure distance and time.

Required knowledge

aids to control speed and direction of a horse

industry terminology related to driving horses at trackwork

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.

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 jog work driving tasks

demonstration of control of quiet harness horses in basic trackwork driving manoeuvres at beginner driver speed not trackwork speeds

implementation of procedures and timely techniques to complete basic trackwork 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 well-educated 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 that provides access to the required resources or simulated environment approved by the relevant State Principal Harness 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 well-educated harness horses

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to practise basic driving skills

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

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

simulation exercises conducted in a State Principal Harness 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.

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).

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 prepare to drive jog work. Workplaces include harness stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Trackwork measurements may include:

distances:

estimating distance when watching horses in action or in video

estimating distance while driving

measuring distances

pacing out distances

using distance markers

speed:

counting manually

estimating speed by watching horses in action or on video

estimating speed while driving

using a stopwatch to measure time.

Trackwork instructions may include:

directions to maintain or change position when working with other horses

gear to be used

length of time, distance and speed horses are to be worked

type of warm-up or cool-down exercise

work speed and distance over particular track sections.

Modifying trackwork instructions may include:

reducing or stopping trackwork due to:

gear failure

horse or driver injury

impact of weather conditions on horse health

track incident or potential hazard

track official directions

unsafe track conditions.

Safety checks may include :

fit and condition of horse tack and equipment

fit and condition of personal protective equipment

review of horse condition and behaviour

review of weather conditions

verification that exercise area is free of hazards.

Post-exercise activities may include:

checking gear for damage or wear

checking horses for injury

cleaning gear and returning it to storage area

completing stable records for exercise and horse health or injury status

hosing and grooming horses

reporting injuries or damaged gear to supervisor.

Safely mounting and dismounting sulky may include:

ensuring area is clear of hazards and obstacles prior to mounting or dismounting

mounting:

practising with assistant releasing horse from tie-up once driver is mounted

practising with assistant holding horse's head while driver mounts

practising mounting while driver controls horse in confined area

practising mounting while driver controls horse in open area

dismounting:

practising dismounting while assistant holds horse

practising dismounting while driver controls horse in confined area

practising dismounting while driver controls horse in open area.

Supervisor's instructions may include:

all driving skills and directions will relate to beginner driver speed not trackwork speeds

cantering horses at controlled speed in controlled area

driving horse in pace or trot:

alone:

controlling position of horse on track, close to marker poles or set distance off markers

maintaining nominated controlled speed

working with others:

changing position on track relative to other horses

maintaining position relative to other horses throughout exercise at controlled speed

moving back behind other horses at controlled speed

overtaking other horses at controlled speed.

Strategies may include:

complying with road rules and track rules

planning ahead to avoid potential hazards, such as:

avoiding driving too close to obstacles or other horses

being aware of location of track or exercise area entrance and exit points

maintaining control when horses get their tails over reins

making suitable corrections to maintain control when horses:

bolt

buck

jump shadows

kick

pig root

stumble

shy

negotiating public roads and traffic

paying attention to location and behaviours of other drivers and horses

slowing down in good time

watching for unusual obstacles or hazards, damaged equipment or other distractions

watching out for track staff, members of the public and other animals

using assertive rein pressure to encourage horse to follow directions

using corrective aids, such as:

bits

boots

burrs

ear plugs

head checks

hopples

martingales

using rein pressure to control speed and direction

using voice to calm or reassure horse.

Unit Sector

Harness racing code

This unit contains employability skills.