Application
This unit of competency supports trackwork riders to develop basic trackwork riding skills at slow paces with a range of well-educated horses. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Comply with trackwork rules, protocols and safety requirements. | 1. Safety requirements, rules and regulations for rider and horse are followed. 2. Fit, wear and suitability of approved gear are checked prior to riding. 3. Track features , weather and potential hazards are evaluated for safety and reported to track supervisor if necessary. |
Develop riding skills on safe, experienced horses using an exercise saddle. | 4. Horse is mounted or dismounted following safe work practices. 5. Balanced position is demonstrated on a well-educated horse in an exercise saddle in an enclosed space . 6. Fitness requirements for riding trackwork are developed. |
Lead a horse at the walk while mounted. | 7. Mounted horse is positioned for safe transfer of lead from strapper. 8. Control of lead horse and mounted horse is demonstrated at all times. 9. Riding etiquette is maintained when riding in company in accordance with safety of other riders and horses. 10. Lead horse is transferred to strapper at completion of exercise. 11. Problems are reported and post-exercise care of horses and gear is carried out following stable procedures. |
Ride slow work. | 12. Slow trackwork is practised on a well-educated horse alongside an experienced rider . 13. Horses are ridden to half pace. 14. Time counting and pace estimation skills are developed. 15. Rules for riding in company on the track are followed. 16. Trainer or foreman's instructions are followed. 17. Skills needed to control horses in a range of common trackwork situations are demonstrated. |
Required Skills
Required skills |
applying safe riding and work practices when dealing with horses applying trackwork riding skills communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to basic trackwork riding completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame controlling mounted horse and lead horse simultaneously counting the time and identifying the pace at which horse is working evaluating risks associated with riding trackwork following instructions of supervisor with regard to riding horses in trackwork identifying and correctly using different items of approved gear identifying horse behaviour, social traits and vices interpreting and implementing trackwork instructions leading horse at walk while mounted maintaining riding etiquette 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. |
Required knowledge |
basic industry terminology related to riding horses communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry common horse behaviour, social traits and vices effective working relationships and teamwork riding techniques personal protective equipment and purpose for its use racing industry animal welfare requirements racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures range and purpose of approved gear relevant rules of racing riding etiquette. |
Evidence Required
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 riding basic trackwork demonstration of control of quiet thoroughbred horses in a range of common, slow trackwork riding situations implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of basic trackwork riding skills working with others to undertake and complete basic trackwork riding procedures that meet required outcomes. Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of well-educated 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 thoroughbred horses materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to demonstrate basic trackwork riding skills safe handling areas and appropriate practical riding areas, such as racing stables, and training and racetracks work instructions and related documentation. |
Method of assessment | This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role, for example: RGRCMN201A Follow OHS procedures and observe environmental work practices RGRPSH206A Develop riding skills for flatwork RGRPSH304A Identify factors that affect racehorse performance. |
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). |
Range Statement
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 develop basic trackwork riding skills. Workplaces include thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas. | |
Safety requirements, rules and regulations 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 approved personal protective equipment, including approved Australian Standard helmets, vests, clothing and footwear considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as: fences and equipment other persons or animals vehicles wind and noise following safe operating procedures gear or equipment that is approved by the regulatory racing body to be worn by horses when being handled general requirements pertaining to safety as well as specific requirements pertaining to particular venues identifying and reporting unsafe work practices identifying emergency situations, for example: gear breakage horse getting loose registration requirements rider obligations under rules of racing track rules and regulations understanding individual horse behaviour. |
Determining fit, wear and suitability of approved gear may include: | gear: cracked leather or PVC frayed reins, girths or surcingles incorrectly adjusted blinkers or pacifiers incorrectly adjusted bits, tongue ties or bridles loose straps, girths and surcingles loose boots or bandages rusty or worn bits slipped saddles horse: discomfort or head shaking impaired action rubbed hair or skin personal protective equipment: helmet age and condition vests boots gloves rules of racing. |
Factors to consider with track features may include: | corrugations or depressions debris on track grading or watering of sand, cinders or woodchips. |
Factors to consider for balanced position will include: | adjusting length of leathers changing hold correct seat at walk, trot, canter and half pace correct weight distribution holding reins position of feet in irons. |
Fitness requirements for trackwork riders will include: | ability to exercise horses at required pace and distance as instructed ability to respond to common trackwork situations practising gym and fitness regime if not riding horses on a daily basis regular use of mechanical horse, equisizer horse or other fitness aid. |
Safe transfer will include: | awareness of strapper's position between horses and moving away from horses controlling mounted horses folding excess lead in large loops talking to horses. |
Control of lead horse and mounted horse may include: | adhering to regulations of racecourse and private roads ensuring correct gear is fitted to horse being led, including: bridle with reins tied off around horse's neck and double clip lead if saddled, irons run up if rugged, all fittings secure boots and bandages secure encouraging horses to settle at transfer of lead before moving off ensuring either horse does not move in advance of the other horse at any time halting horses smoothly keeping lead horse's head turned toward rider leading horse from off side leading only one horse at a time length of lead maintaining firm hold on both reins and lead maintaining walking pace maintaining safe zones when in company of other horses walking through gateway, racecourse or stable entrances and exits. |
Riding etiquette may include: | checking carefully to make sure way is clear before proceeding keeping unnecessary noise to a minimum riding horses to ensure you meet oncoming horses near side to near side waiting until oncoming horses have passed before proceeding waiting for vehicles to pass before proceeding. |
Slow trackwork includes: | long, slow distance work trotting, cantering and half pace working horses on nominated slow tracks on nominated slow days. |
Factors to consider with time counting and pace estimation include: | ensuring horse does not overwork or underwork following instructions judging number of seconds per 200 metres or furlong strong canter to half pace. |
Rules for riding in company to be taken into account include: | maintaining safe length and width space between horses track rules: riding past horses riding in the bull ring passing slower horses entering and leaving track entering and leaving tie-ups working in pairs working with more than two other horses. |
Common trackwork situations may include: | broken reins or defective gear fallen horses or riders horse whipping around horse ducking out the gap horse going in reverse direction horse shying loose or out of control horses track hazards and variations in surface. |
Sectors
Unit Sector | Thoroughbred racing code |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor