RGRPSH406A
Develop riding skills for jumping racing

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to select and fit approved gear, calculate distances between jumps, assess features of a jumping course, determine strategies and rules, control horses over jumps in all gaits and discuss plans to improve riding performance.To undertake this unit the candidate will be able to handle horses safely, follow workplace OHS standards.This unit of competency operates in work environments of racing stables, racecourses and public areas.Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit, check with your State Principal Racing Authority for current license or registration requirements.

Application

This unit of competency supports licensed apprentice jockeys and approved riders to develop riding skills for jumping racing.

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


Prerequisites

RGRPSH404A

Ride horses at trackwork


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Demonstrate riding skills for negotiating basic poles and grids.

1. Approved jumping gear and personal protective equipment for riders and nominated horses are selected and fitted.

2. Distances for placement of poles and grids are determined.

3. Effective seat is maintained in all gaits and required movements in negotiating poles and grids.

4. Control of rhythm, speed, line and balance of horse over poles is demonstrated.

Demonstrate basic jumping skills in an arena.

5. Effective, independent and balanced position is maintained in all gaits in basic jumping exercises .

6. Principles of forward movement and straightness, together with correct forward positioning of hands leading to and during jump are demonstrated.

7. Courses are walked and correct strides into obstacles are understood.

8. Courses are jumped as planned.

9. Plans for improving jumping performance are discussed with instructor.

Demonstrate riding a jumping course at speed.

10. Rules for horse and rider when jumping are determined.

11. Condition and features of course and position and characteristics of jumps are assessed.

12. Track characteristics are used to advantage during jumping efforts.

13. Horse is controlled during various phases of the jump and jumping course .

Required Skills

Required skills

applying safe work practices when handling and riding horses

assessing characteristics of jumps

calculating distances

checking gear and equipment

communicating with employer, supervisor, instructor, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to developing riding skills for jumping racing

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

controlling horses in various jumping racing conditions

identifying and correctly using different items of personal protective equipment

identifying and correctly fitting different items of gear and equipment

identifying strides to a jump

maintaining an effective seat

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

riding over jumps.

Required knowledge

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

height of jumps

jumping gear and equipment

jumping exercises

purpose of using appropriate personal protective equipment

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

riding gear

rules of racing.

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 developing riding skills for jumping racing

demonstration of basic jumps riding skills and riding a jumping course at speed

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of riding skills for jumping racing

working with others to undertake and apply riding skills for jumping racing that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of horses of different ages and sexes, in different circumstances and in different 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 apply riding skills for jumping racing

safe handling and appropriate jumps 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 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 develop riding skills for jumping racing. Workplaces include thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Approved jumping gear and personal protective equipment will include:

horse gear:

bridles, including leather or plastic with variety of appropriate bits

breastplates

girths

girth sleeves

protective boots

rings or running martingales

saddles, including exercise pad or jumping saddle

saddlecloths and necessary packing

riding gear:

approved Australian Standard helmet, vest, clothing, footwear, goggles and whip.

Effective seat may include:

aids

correct racing position with lower heel

degree of accuracy and control

leg position

riding without hands

riding without stirrups.

Rhythm, speed, line and balance may include:

cadence

impulsion

long and low

loose and supple

engagement

over tracking or tracking up

roundness

straightness

tempo

topline

using the back.

Effective, independent and balanced position may include:

forward seat riding:

galloping position

cross country position

in balance with horse at all gaits on the flat and when jumping.

Basic jumping exercises may include:

fences jumped in order with rider looking to next jump

hand releases appropriate to jump to allow horse to demonstrate natural movement

travelling away from and toward other horses.

Correct strides into obstacles may include:

half strides

identifying horse's length of stride at trot and canter

comparing stride length to jumping ability

influence of turns

long and short distances between related and combination obstacles.

Rules for horse and rider will include:

approved gear

personal protective equipment

rules of racing, including jumping rules

track regulations.

Position and characteristics of jumps may include:

angles, lines and turns

height of jumps to 1.15m

number of jumps

uprights, parallels, related fences, spreads and fillers

width of spreads.

Horse controlled during various phases of the jump and jumping course may include:

defensive three point position

horse balanced and in rhythm

keeping to desired line throughout the course

metres per minute over entire course

horse moving forward.


Sectors

Unit Sector

Thoroughbred racing code


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor