Application
This unit of competency supports licensed drivers to drive harness horses in registered races. |
Prerequisites
Prepare to drive horses in trials | ||
Prepare for race driving | ||
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Follow an appropriate pre and post-race routine. | 1. Race gear is prepared and checked for safety prior to race day and immediately prior to a race. 2. Pre and post-race procedures are followed. 3. Starting procedures are followed. |
Plan and use appropriate race strategies and driving skills. | 4. Form and racing behaviour of own horse and other horses and drivers are studied . 5. Horses are warmed up to and down from racing pace according to trainer instructions. 6. Driving skills are appropriate to a variety of track conditions and situations. 7. Strategies are modified appropriately as required during races, and according to pace and how race is being run. 8. Whip use and technique are appropriate and consistent with rules of racing. |
Report on race. | 9. Horse's race performance is evaluated and reported. 10. Critical incidents of races are recalled and reported. 11. Protocol for communicating performance is applied. 12. Post-race assessment of own performance is undertaken. |
Required Skills
Required skills |
anticipating and responding rapidly to changed circumstances in a race, including emergency situations applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses assessing own performance communicating with stewards, racing officials, horse trainer and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to driving horses in races completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame controlling a variety of horses during races at different tracks, and under different circumstances and track conditions driving horses in races evaluating track features following instructions following rules of racing identifying horse behaviour and action identifying and correctly using different items of personal protective equipment identifying, preparing and correctly using different items of gear and equipment and assessing condition of same in terms of safe use and need for repair implementing sound race strategies and meeting contingencies during race 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 reporting problems promptly using whip effectively, following rules of racing and animal welfare guidelines written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports. |
Required knowledge |
Australian and local rules of racing and regulations pertaining to race driving communication procedures with race meeting personnel and wider racing industry common racehorse behaviour traits drug testing procedures form of racing horses handicapping system industry terminology related to handling and racing horses personal protective equipment and purpose for its use pre and post-race procedures predicted behaviour or racing style of opposition horses in race race gear race driving strategies race injury to horses race meeting documentation racing industry animal welfare requirements racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures starting procedures for standing and mobile starts score-up procedures track surfaces types and classes of races warm-up procedures whip use. |
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 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 races demonstration of driving skills suitable for race driving and making appropriate judgement calls on driving strategies based on a range of common racing scenarios implementation of procedures and timely techniques to complete race driving tasks safely, effectively and efficiently working with others to undertake and complete race 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, racetracks and registered race meetings materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to demonstrate race driving skills 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 Harness 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 prepare to drive horses in races. Workplaces include harness stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas. | |
Race gear will include: | horse gear: bandages boots breastplate bridle harness head check hopples (pacing) hopple pins hopple shorteners lugging pole martingale pull up or down blinds race bridle and saddlecloth numbers reins removable ear plugs or removable hood saddle saddlecloth shadow rolls sulky terrets tongue ties whip personal protective equipment: goggles helmets driving boots vests. |
Race gear preparation and checking for safetymay include: | checking fit of gear cleaning gear, including: cleaning and oiling leather washing hardware washing plastic, rubber and towelling washing sulky recognising wear and breakage, including: cracked leather gear slippage frayed girths and surcingles perished elastic, rubber or plastic rusted buckles split or cracked points worn padding worn stitching recognising approved gear replacing worn or broken gear. |
Pre and post-race procedures may include: | assessing camber attending protests and inquiries checking for track obstacles or possible distractions complying with drug testing procedures discussing horse's chances and likely race style with owner discussing race instructions with trainer evaluating surface of tracks evaluating track rating following parade yard procedures inspecting track knowing colours of other drivers making and announcing a decision to protest observing distances between turns and straights observing length of straights presenting to the start providing documentation, including: clearances horse identification documents driver identification documents trainer correspondence relating weather conditions to possible racing conditions reporting horse performance post-race to trainer and owner. |
Starting procedures will include: | asking for assistance when required following officials' directions listening for name to be called moving into and maintaining position at mobile barrier or standing start. |
Form of own horse and other horses may include: | assessing performance of horses at a range of distances and on different track surfaces predicting stages of race where favourites are likely to move reading form guides understanding handicapping system watching horses trial and race to ascertain performance. |
Racing behaviour of own horse and other horses may include: | appearing to falter changing gait checking climbing crowding laying in or hanging not finishing race strongly not trying over racing score-up and start manners racing wide. |
Appropriate driving skills may include: | adapting driving styles to suit individual horses changing direction controlling and changing speed considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as: fences and equipment other persons or animals vehicles wind and noise dealing with pressure from other drivers for position in field following rules of racing interpreting trainer instructions identifying emergency situations, for example: gear breakage horse fall horse getting loose judging pace and position in field maintaining balance maintaining control of position and speed using aids, including: ear plugs lugging poles whips judging and maintaining pace, including: knowing sectional times for varying race distances following trainer instructions slowing or quickening pace using speed maps before race to estimate: own place in the run which will be hardest to beat which will be running first, second and third whether there will be speed in the race who to follow using own judgement when race is not truly run. |
Strategies may require modification because: | horse not performing as expected interference opportunity appears to improve position horse is slow away from start. |
Evaluating and reporting horse's race performance may include: | how horse travelled throughout the race incidents in the race reason for not finishing closer whether horse had cover whether horse was boxed in whether horse was caught wide. |
Critical incidents may include: | injury to or distress of horse interference loss of stamina or reluctance to race missing the start. |
Protocol for communicating performance may include: | reporting honestly, factually and tactfully providing information using appropriate language and terms of address reporting to trainer providing information to stewards or other officials. |
Post-race assessment of own performance may include: | discussing drive with trainer or employer discussing drive with other drivers or mentor identifying areas where improvement could be made, including: driving horses of particular classes, experience and racing styles driving racehorses at trackwork not just at race meetings practising driving horses working close together viewing race videos. |
Sectors
Unit Sector | Harness racing code |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor