This unit of competency supports authorised harness racing personnel to drive horses in trials.

RGRPSH410A

Prepare for race driving

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Comply with and complete trial procedures.

1. Horses to be driven in trials are confirmed.

2. Stewards' and starters' directions are followed.

3. Trainer instructions are verified and followed where possible.

Apply trial driving skills.

4. Warm up and score upare carried out as directed.

5. Driving skills are appropriate to a variety of track conditions and situations .

6. Pace of horse during trial is judged and maintained for required times and distances, according to trainer instructions.

Use safe driving skills.

7. Rules relating to safe and legal trial driving are known and observed during practice.

8. Appropriate whip use is demonstrated and rules relating to whip use are complied with.

Required skills

anticipating and responding rapidly to changed circumstances in a trial, including emergency situations

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses

communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to driving horses in trials

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

controlling a variety of horses during trials at different tracks, and under different circumstances and track conditions

following instructions

following rules of racing

judging and maintaining pace

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

driving horses to and from barriers

driving horses in trials

scoring up

using whip effectively, following rules of racing and animal welfare guidelines

warming horses up.

Required knowledge

Australian and local rules of racing and regulations pertaining to trial driving

classes of trials

communication procedures with stewards, barrier attendants and trainers

behaviour of trialling horses

industry terminology related to handling and racing horses

pace of trialling horses

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

starting procedures

stewards' responsibilities

track rules

track condition and surfaces

whip use.

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 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 driving in trials

demonstration of trial driving skills in accordance with racing officials' and trainer's instructions and adhering to relevant rules of racing

implementation of procedures and timely techniques to complete trial driving tasks safely, effectively and efficiently

working with others to undertake and complete trial driving tasks 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 horses that are being educated and trained in a commercial racing stable under the care of a licensed trainer and the required resources. 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 that are currently in training

commercial racing training establishments, training and racetracks, and barrier trials

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's skills for driving in trials

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.

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).

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 prepare to drive horses in trials. Workplaces include harness stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Stewards' and starters' directions may include:

complying with requests

listening for instructions

moving on and off track promptly

moving to gates promptly

providing documentation.

Trainer instructions may include:

listening and responding

following instructions where possible

information related to horse's:

action

barrier manners

race or trial behaviour

warm-up requirements

reasons for trialling:

conditioning

education or re-education

gear change

stewards' observation

whip use.

Driving skills may include:

ability to position horse safely in field

adapting driving style to suit individual horses

adapting driving style to suit trial conditions

changing pace

constant awareness of other drivers

considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as:

fences and equipment

other persons or animals

vehicles

wind and noise

following rules of racing

identifying emergency situations, for example:

gear breakage

horse getting loose

judging pace and position in field

maintaining balance

maintaining control of position and speed

maintaining or improving position

using aids, including whips

wearing personal protective equipment.

Track conditions and situations may include:

camber

designated track for trials

track rating

track surface

hazards

negotiating turns

shifting ground

undulating ground

weather.

Pace will include:

demonstrating understanding of speed relative to trial distance

following trainer instructions

slowing or quickening pace.

Rules relating to safe trial driving will include:

careless, improper, incompetent or foul driving

crossing only when two lengths clear of other horses

keeping horse straight

driving horse calmly and safely to and from the barriers.

Rules relating to whip use will include:

approved rider use of whip

features of a legal race-riding whip

reasons for use of whip

rules and regulations governing non-use of whip:

forward of the horse's shoulder or near its head

in an excessive, unnecessary or improper manner

when horse is showing no response

when horse is out of contention

when horse is clearly winning

when horse has passed the winning post.

Unit Sector

Harness racing code

This unit contains employability skills.