This unit of competency supports trackwork riders, senior stablehands, horse trainers, harness drivers, apprentice jockeys and others to identify the factors that affect racehorse performance.

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

Understand factors that affect horse movement.

1. Features of racehorse conformation are identified.

2. Gaits of racehorses are identified and described.

3. Lameness and other abnormalities are identified and reported.

4. Reasons for use of corrective gear are identified and options to improve horse performance evaluated.

5. Factors that influence speed and strength are explained.

Recognise signs of fitness in racehorses.

6. Behavioural and physical indicators of fitness are identified.

7. Signs and symptoms of distress in working horses are recognised and reported.

8. Horses' post-exercise recovery is observed and reported.

Required skills

applying safe work practices when handling, and driving or riding horses

checking signs and symptoms of distress when handling or working horses

communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to identifying factors that affect racehorse performance

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

following instructions

identifying behavioural or physical indicators of horse fitness

identifying signs and symptoms of distress in working horses

identifying different items of corrective gear

identifying and describing normal and abnormal gaits

observing and reporting horses' post-exercise recovery

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

recognising factors that influence speed and strength in racehorses

reporting problems promptly

taking action in a safe manner should horses suffer distress when being exercised.

Required knowledge

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

common horse behaviour, social traits and vices

corrective gear

features of racehorse conformation

gaits of a horse

horse fitness indicators

lameness in horses

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

relevant rules of racing

signs and symptoms of distress in working horses.

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 identifying factors that affect racehorse performance

implementation of procedures and timely techniques to safely, effectively and efficiently complete identification of factors that affect racehorse performance

working with others to undertake and complete tasks related to the identification of factors that affect racehorse performance that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of well-educated thoroughbred 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 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 identify factors that affect racehorse performance

safe handling and driving or riding 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, 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 identify factors that affect racehorse performance. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Features of racehorse conformation may include:

balance and proportion

body type

front leg features that may impact on performance

hind leg features that may impact on performance

shoulder and pastern angle.

Gaits of racehorse may include:

abnormal gait:

brushing

cross firing

forging

getting down on bumpers

over reaching

plaiting

speedy cutting

stumbling

winging

footfalls at each gait

normal gait:

walking or trotting on loose rein towards, past or away from observer

cantering and galloping action.

Lameness and other abnormalities will include:

bone chips

bone spavin

bowed tendon

heat or swelling in limbs

muscle strain or sprain

navicular disease

pelvic, back and neck injuries

sesamoiditis

shin soreness

splints

stifle joint lameness

suspensory ligament injury

tendonitis.

Corrective gear may include:

approved gear, including:

bits

blinkers

boots

head checks

hopples

lugging poles

nosebands

rings

shadow rolls

shoeing techniques

tongue ties

winkers.

Factors that influence speed and strength may include:

basic structure and function of muscle

body type, for example:

fast twitch or slow twitch muscle fibre proportions

sprinter

stayer

climatic conditions

hydration status

individual horse's action

overheating

track conditions and surface

training programs

turns or jumping from barriers

warm up and cool down.

Behavioural and physical indicators of fitness will include:

behavioural:

alert manner

good appetite

keen to work

physical:

bright eye

good exercise recovery

less or clearer sweat

muscle development

rib and hindquarters well-defined

shoulders and hindquarters more bulky (sprinters)

shiny coat

sound action:

noise of uneven footfall (lameness)

vision of sound action

feel of sound action.

Signs and symptoms of distress in working horses may include:

circulatory distress:

bleeding

prolonged increased heart rate

metabolic distress:

colic

exertional rhabdomyolosis (tying up)

thumps

musculo-skeletal distress:

heat in limbs

lameness

reluctance to bear weight on all legs

swelling

wounds

nervous distress:

colic

dehydration

diarrhoea

kicking

muscle cramps

overheating

shivering

twitching

exertional rhabdomyolosis (tying up)

respiratory distress:

bleeding (lung)

chronic coughing

dry coat

prolonged blowing of nostrils and heaving of flanks post-exercise

slow recovery time post-exercise

roaring

signs of unfit horses may include:

blowing up

dull coat

inappetence

listlessness

overly fat or thin

poor exercise recovery

swollen joints.

Horses' post-exercise recovery may include:

indicators of health and fitness return to normal range:

breathing pattern

horse's interest in eating and drinking

temperature of legs

ease of movement of horse around stable or yard

indicators of poor recovery:

inappetence

colic

heat, swelling or blood on legs

reluctance to move or bear weight

timing of checks post-exercise according to trainer instructions.

Unit Sector

Harness and thoroughbred racing codes

This unit contains employability skills.