This unit of competency supports senior stablehands, leading hands, trainers and others authorised to oversee the safe handling of horses.

Competencies attained in this unit apply to the harness and thoroughbred codes of the industry. Consequently when performance criteria are applied they will relate to the harness or thoroughbred code and statements of attainment will reflect this distinction.

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

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Direct, assist and oversee others to identify and safely catch, control and handle horses.

1. Instructions are given to others regarding catching, controlling and general handling of horses as required by stable.

2. Assistance is provided to others in identifying and handling horses.

3. Competence of other workers with regard to handling individual horses is determined.

4. Tasks are delegated according to current competence and animal and staff welfare.

5. Use of different gear to control and handle horses is explained and demonstrated.

6. Opportunities are provided for practice and skill development for inexperienced staff.

Required skills

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses

assessing individual's capability to perform specific tasks

catching, leading and handling horses

coaching and mentoring

communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to horse handling activities

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

delegating tasks

evaluating risks associated with catching and handling horses

identifying and correctly using different items of handling gear

identifying features of horses using industry standards

identifying horse behaviour, social traits and vices

incorporating safe operating procedures into all instructions

giving, receiving and interpreting instructions

leading and handling horses in enclosed spaces

providing opportunities for staff to practise skills development

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 and adapting instructions, and practice and skills development opportunities to suit these varying needs

supporting others in handling horses in the appropriate manner.

Required knowledge

industry terminology related to handling horses

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

common horse behaviour, social traits and vices

effective working relationships, including teamwork

handling techniques for horses

industry terminology related to handling horses and wider racing industry

purpose of using appropriate personal protective equipment

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

range and purpose of gear

relevant rules of racing

relevant road safety rules

safe work practices when giving instructions

staff management.

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 supervising the handling of horses

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient handling of horses

working with others to undertake and complete horse handling 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 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 supervise handling of horses

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

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.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.

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

RGRCMN201A Follow OHS procedures and observe 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).

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 supervise the handling of horses. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred racing stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Instructions to others may cover:

approved gear

individual horse behaviour

relevant rules of racing

road safety, including:

crossing roads

using reflective strips on rugs and vests

using underpasses or overpasses

safe horse handling and leading procedures.

Assistance in identifying or handling horses may be provided to:

farriers

float drivers

other stable employees

swab attendants

stewards

trainers

veterinarians or therapists.

Competence of other workers may be determined by:

observing successful completion of graduated tasks

questioning.

Factors to consider when tasks are delegated 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 and transport of horses

adhering to rules of training tracks and public venues

approved gear for horses

assessing competence of individual workers

considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as:

fences and equipment

other persons or animals

vehicles

wind and noise

identifying potential hazards and applying risk control measures

individual horse behaviour

relevant road safety rules

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

Different gear may include:

general horse gear:

bandages

blinkers

floating boots

nosebands

pacifiers

shadow rolls

tongue ties

winkers

harness-specific gear:

bits

bridles

deafeners

driving boots

hopples

hopple shorteners

jog vehicles

lugging poles

pull up blinds

reins

removable deafeners

saddles

shoes

sulkies

thoroughbred-specific gear:

bits

breastplates

bridles

girths

reins

rings

saddles

shoes

stirrup irons and leathers

surcingles

working boots.

Different gear may be used to:

address behavioural problems

address conformation or anatomical faults

correct action.

Practice and skill development opportunities may include:

graduating difficulty of tasks

mentoring

staff initially working with less difficult horses, for example:

horses returning from spelling

lead ponies

training courses.

Unit Sector

Harness and thoroughbred racing codes

This unit contains employability skills.