This unit of competency supports experienced, licensed trackwork drivers and trainers authorised to educate horses for harness racing.

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

RGRPSH402A

Drive horses in pacework and fast work

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Introduce harness racing gear, equipment and routines.

1. Horses are conditioned to accept general care and handling .

2. Horses are mouthed for harness racing.

3. Horses are conditioned to accept harness then cart.

Introduce driving skills.

4. Controlled environment is used to introduce horse to basic driving tasks.

5. Horse is driven in harness.

6. Horse's confidence in driving tasks is developed.

7. Horse is gaited for harness racing.

Identify driving problems and implement correction program.

8. Horse's performance and previous history are evaluated.

9. Potential physical and behavioural causes of poor performance are investigated.

10. Education program is developed and implemented in consultation with trainer.

11. Corrective techniques are employed to modify performance and behaviour.

12. Horse's racing future is reviewed with trainer and owner.

Required skills

applying principles of horse learning in education and re-education of harness horses

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses

communicating with trainer, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to educating horses for racing

developing balance and tractability of horses

driving horses from mobile start position

driving trackwork on young, inexperienced and problem horses

employing strategies to control horses

evaluating horse education

evaluating horse performance

evaluating risks associated with working with horses

following instructions of trainer, and working autonomously when necessary with regard to driving horses at trackwork

identifying behaviour of individual horses

judging pace and identifying pace at which horse is working

planning a horse education program

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

reporting horse performance and wellbeing to trainer

selecting and applying techniques to correct racing, training and barrier problems

selecting and using remedial training gear

using written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge

approved gear

causes of common harness racing and training problems

common standardbred behaviour traits

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

horse education programs

horse learning theory principles

indicators of poor performance

industry terminology related to educating horses for racing

mobile start procedures

personal protective equipment

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

relevant rules of racing

remedial gear

standing start procedures

training plans.

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:

identification of behaviour and movement that could potentially affect horse performance in harness training and racing

evaluation of potential for further improvement or progression in training when deciding if there is a benefit in continuing, particularly with re-education

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that are to apply when educating harness horses for racing

demonstration of effective horse handling skills (including corrective techniques) that comply with animal welfare directives

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient provision of horse education

selection and application of appropriate, effective and humane techniques to correct or modify behaviour and performance of horses being prepared or re-educated for harness racing

working with others to undertake and complete horse education 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 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 harness horses

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to educate harness horses for racing

safe handling and work 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.

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

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 harness racing industry to assess a candidate's ability to educate harness horses for racing. Workplaces include harness stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

General care and handling may include:

grooming

hoof care

hosing

leading

rugging

tying up.

Mouthed may include:

accepting bridle fitting and removal

accepting pressure on the bit

being driven in long reins

turning, stopping and backing up to rein signals.

Controlled environment may include:

areas of different sizes suitable to introduce various gear and equipment, including:

area suitable for driving horse at trot for first time

area suitable for driving horse at walk for first time

breaking yard

round yard

specified breaking in harness

quiet surroundings away from distractions

safe footing

secure, clearly visible fencing.

Confidence in driving tasks may include:

accepting gear and equipment

negotiating basic driving techniques, including:

accepting direction to work beside and past other horses

accepting driver directional aids

accepting rein pressure

accepting restriction of harness and vehicle

backing up

becoming less reactive to activities and stimuli within a training centre

maintaining gaits at walk, trot and pace

moving away from home

moving forward

stopping

turning

standing quietly while being tacked up or stripped down.

Physical and behavioural causes may include:

physical causes:

damaged or ill-fitting gear

condition of teeth

possible soreness, for example:

back

feet

hindquarters

limbs

mouth

poll

track conditions

weather

behavioural causes:

age

aggression with other horses

excitement

fear of other horses

frights caused by a range of stimuli

individual horse responses to normal stimuli

injury

sex.

Planning an education program may include:

application of principles of horse learning theory, including:

bonding

classical conditioning, for example:

conditioned response

dominant versus submissive response

habituation

operant conditioning, for example:

extinction response

habituation

positive and negative reinforcement

sensitisation

stimulus and response

degree of training required, for example:

pre-training at long or slow distance work

jog work

fast or slow mornings' work

duration of training program

encouraging tractability of horse

improving horses' balance and tempo

improving horses' response to aids and gear

reporting horse performance to trainer

role of sexes in herd structure.

Corrective techniques may include:

changing bits

corrective shoeing

ensuring health and injury status of horse are not cause of problems

hoods, blinkers and shadow rolls

humane use of restraints to control speed and direction

practising with start equipment

protective boots and bandages

working horses away from the track

working horses with quiet, experienced horses.

Unit Sector

Harness racing code

This unit contains employability skills.