This unit of competency supports leading hands, trainers and others authorised to supervise the day-to-day operations of a racing stable.

Competencies attained in this unit apply to the harness and thoroughbred codes of the industry. Consequently when performance criteria are applied they will relate to the harness or thoroughbred code and statements of attainment will reflect this distinction.

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

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Set stable hierarchy.

1. Person in charge in trainer's absence is determined.

2. Staff duties and rosters are developed.

Prepare policies for training stable operations.

3. Policies for acceptance or release of horses are developed and relayed to staff.

4. Policies and procedures for visitors to the stable are developed and relayed to staff.

5. Emergency plans and procedures are developed and relayed to staff.

6. Policies and procedures for handling and storage of chemicals and medications are developed and relayed to staff.

7. Disease and infection control protocols are developed.

Prepare procedures for daily activities and horse handling.

8. Procedures for handling horses are developed and relayed to staff.

9. Procedures and reporting requirements for feeding and watering horses are developed and relayed to staff.

10. Procedures for reporting illness or injury, and for the treatment and medication of horses are developed and relayed to staff.

11. Procedures for husbandry of horses are developed and relayed to staff.

12. Schedules for exercise of horses are prepared.

13. Procedures for maintenance of tack and equipment are developed and relayed to staff.

Required skills

applying quarantine control measures for isolation of sick horses and prevention of transference of disease by horses, other animals and humans

communicating with staff, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to systems and records in horse racing training business operations

demonstrating basic first aid techniques for horses to staff who will provide these skills under supervision, and providing feedback on technique

demonstrating safe work procedures, including horse handling techniques and providing feedback to staff

designing and preparing basic record-keeping systems

evaluating risks associated with catching, handling and restraining horses

explaining characteristics of sick and healthy horses to staff

explaining signs and symptoms of shock, lameness, and common illnesses and injuries in horses

identifying and correctly using different treatments

identifying and recording horse irregularities

incorporating safe operating procedures into all instructions

prioritising daily activities, incidents and emergencies

providing assistance to others in the workplace

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

verifying that records are accurate and up-to-date

written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge

common horse behaviour, social traits and vices

common illnesses and injuries in horses

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

disease control and reporting requirements

effective working relationships, including teamwork

exercise routines and training programs for horses being prepared for racing

handling techniques for horses

horse first aid

horse husbandry

industry terminology related to handling, treating and exercising horses

quarantine and emergency disease control protocols and procedures

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

relevant rules of racing.

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 systems and records for racing business operations

implementation of procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient operation of systems and records

documentation related to a number and variety of racing horses that are presently in training and housed in registered training facilities

working with others to implement and complete procedures that meet required outcomes

consistent prioritising and timely completion of procedures that safely, effectively and efficiently meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of stable management and exercise scenarios for racehorses of different ages and sexes, and at different stages of preparation in a racing stable. Theoretical components can be assessed in a simulated situation but must be related to racing industry conditions and tasks.

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:

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to prepare documents and give instructions on the care, management and exercise of horses in a racing stable

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, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks

inspection of completed work

simulation exercises conducted in a State Principal Racing Authority approved simulated environment.

Where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

RGRPSH302A Supervise handling of horses

RGRCMN401A Maintain and monitor OHS procedures and environmental work practices

RGRPSH408A Manage horse health and welfare

RGRPSH409A Determine nutritional requirements for racing horses

RGRPSH421A Operate horse racing training business

RGRPSH501A Plan and adapt training and conditioning programs for racehorses

TAADEL301A Provide training through instruction and demonstration of work skills.

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 develop systems and records for horse racing business training operations. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred racing stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Stable hierarchy may include:

clarifying steward's rights to inspect premises and question any racing participant

clarifying trainer's rights and responsibilities to horse welfare, safety and compliance with rules of racing

clarifying what types of information can be relayed to owner or other visitors to the stable

identifying job responsibilities and limit of decision making authority of staff members

identifying staff members who can make decisions to change or modify trainer instructions or normal procedures

explaining who staff should report information or incidents to on a daily basis

verifying who and under what circumstances veterinarian, farrier or others can be contacted for emergencies.

Acceptance or release of horses may include:

checking special diet, medication or other requirements with owner, recording same and advising trainer or supervisor

collecting owner contact details

collecting horse's registration papers

completing relevant documentation

confirming identification of horse on arrival and departure

confirming that trainer knows that horse is due to arrive

ensuring rugs and other equipment sent with a horse are labelled, recorded and returned with horse when it leaves

ensuring horse is healthy and fit to travel

ensuring trainer has approved removal of horse from stables

isolating and monitoring horse where possible for the first few days after arrival in case of disease or illness

verifying that horse is fit and healthy when it arrives.

Emergency plans and procedures may include:

general property emergencies, including:

building or facility damage

electrocution

exposure to toxic substances

fire

power failure

horse emergencies, including:

cast horse

horse with colic

injured horse

suspected contagious disease.

Handling and storage of chemicals and medications considerations may include:

avoiding contamination of racing horses with medications that may cause a positive swab, including human medications and illegal or prohibited substances

keeping chemicals in approved containers and lockable storage

keeping medication for horses in lockable storage

maintaining medication use records

providing chemical use instructions to users

providing medication and sharps disposal containers

providing personal protective equipment for users of chemicals

verifying medications to prevent giving medication to wrong horse.

Disease and infection control protocols may include:

hygiene practices to minimise risk of spreading disease between horses

hygiene practices to prevent spread of disease between horses and people

identifying signs and symptoms of potentially infectious diseases

monitoring new horses or those that have returned after spell or long trips in commercial transports

national animal emergency disease control protocols

providing quarantine area for new or sick horses.

Husbandry of horses may include:

demonstrating handling techniques, including judicial use of restraints

determining who can handle potentially less reliable horses, including young stock and stallions

developing diet for individual horses

exercise management of horses not being ridden or driven

maintaining a diary of daily activities relating to the movement, management and exercise of horses

monitoring and recording vital signs and other health indicators

recording administration of medication, vaccinations, therapeutics and worming preparations, including type, amount and date of administration

recording information on shoeing and hoof care

recording injuries, illnesses, diseases and treatments for individual horses

recording response to diet and any changes to diet

warm-up and cool-down requirements for horses being exercised

weighing horses and recording information.

Maintenance of tack and equipment may include:

cleaning and conditioning saddlery, transport equipment, rugs, bandages and boots on a daily, monthly and annual basis

cleaning and servicing gigs (harness)

organising safety inspection of electrical leads and appliances

listing gear and equipment requiring repair

regular inspection protocol of all tack and equipment

stock control of rugs and saddlery sent for repair.

Unit Sector

Harness and thoroughbred racing codes

This unit contains employability skills.