Application
This unit of competency supports trackwork riders to develop advanced trackwork riding skills. This unit can be contextualised for other industries while also maintaining the integrity of the unit. |
Prerequisites
Exercise horses in pacework | ||
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Apply advanced trackwork riding skills. | 1. Horses are warmed up to and down from working pace and are exercised in a balanced manner in all required gaits. 2. Pace of horse is judged and maintained for required times and distances according to trainer instructions. 3. Rules and etiquette for riding on fast tracks are known and practised. 4. Safe entry and exit procedures to all tracks are followed. |
Participate in professional riding arrangements with trainers. | 5. Trainer instructions are followed. 6. Professional judgement is applied according to the circumstances. 7. Performance of horse is evaluated and reported to trainer or foreman. |
Introduce horse to practice barriers. | 8. Arrangements to use practice barriers are confirmed. 9. Horses are entered into and ridden from practice barriers in a safe manner . 10. Common barrier problems are identified, rectified and reported to trainer or foreman. |
Required Skills
Required skills |
applying safe riding and work practices communicating with employer, trainer, foreman, supervisor, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to riding horses at trackwork employing techniques to control horses evaluating horse performance judging pace and identifying pace at which horse is working following instructions of trainer, and working autonomously when necessary, with regard to riding horses at trackwork identifying and fitting items of approved gear identifying and rectifying barrier problems identifying and following safe track entry and exit procedures for all tracks interpreting and implementing trackwork instructions organising commitments and planning work activities 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 riding horses in pacework and fast work riding horses into and from barriers selecting aids in accordance with trainer instructions and rules of racing using professional judgement warming horses up and down working horses singly or with other horses in a controlled manner and according to instructions. |
Required knowledge |
approved gear barrier operation communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry common racehorse behaviour traits common barrier problems different horse paces effective working relationships and teamwork industry terminology related to riding horses in pacework and fast work fast work riding techniques personal protective equipment and purpose for its use racing industry animal welfare requirements racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures relevant rules of racing safe entry and exit points for all tracks. |
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 fast work demonstration of advanced trackwork riding skills and practice barrier training for thoroughbred horses implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of fast work riding skills working with others to undertake and complete fast work riding 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 thoroughbred horses materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to demonstrate advanced trackwork riding skills and practice barrier techniques safe handling and appropriate riding and practice barrier 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 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, at least one of whom should be approved by the State Principal Racing Authority. 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). |
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 assess riding horses at trackwork. Workplaces include thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas. | |
Horses may be warmed up to and down from working pace by: | adhering to local track rules and regulations regarding pace permitted in specific areas trotting in bull ring trotting or cantering in designated exercise areas trotting and cantering on track before pacework or gallops easing horse after completing pacework or gallops walking or trotting from gap. |
Pace of horse may include: | strong canter half pace three-quarter pace even time working gallop. |
Rules and etiquette for riding on fast tracks may include: | additional safety awareness and responsibility when riding fast work easing own horse, should other horses become loose identifying opening times and days for fast tracks local track rules and regulations obeying markers and witches hats position on track when working past slower horses permitted number for working horses abreast. |
Safe entry and exit procedures to all tracks may include: | ensuring proper width space and length between horses when entering and exiting tracks ensuring horse is ridden purposefully past gaps before easing at completion of work ensuring horse does not attempt to duck out of gaps following local track rules and regulations identifying gaps for all tracks observing horse traffic on all tracks riding horse calmly and without delay when entering and exiting tracks. |
Professional judgement may be used: | when rider encounters problems with: own horse track or other horses, for example: horse soreness or bleeding loose horse track condition, such as slow or heavy track debris. |
Arrangements to use practice barriers may include: | confirming availability of practice barriers with gap attendant or other authorised track personnel confirming trainer requirements for barrier practice following local track rules and regulations regarding barrier use requesting barrier assistant check smooth operation of front and rear gates before introducing horse to barriers. |
Riding horses in a safe manner 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 ensuring barrier training is conducted when ground is suitable and not slippery considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as: fences and equipment other persons or animals vehicles wind and noise following safe operating procedures identifying hazards associated with barrier training and applying risk control measures identifying and reporting unsafe work practices and procedures understanding individual horse's behaviour using approved gear in good repair using barriers when there is minimal horse traffic in immediate area using graduated procedures to accustom horse to barriers wearing approved personal protective equipment, including approved Australian Standard helmets, vests, clothing and footwear. |
Common barrier problems may include: | horse laying back on gate horse laying on sides of stall horse burrowing horse sitting down horse refusing horse pulling back horse straddling front of stalls. |
Sectors
Unit Sector | Thoroughbred racing code |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor