RGRROP403A
Perform duties of farrier at race meetings

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to prepare for and provide routine and emergency race meeting farrier services. It requires knowledge of horse behaviour in high pressure environments, horse handling techniques, relevant rules of racing, and appropriate communication modes and personal presentation.To undertake this unit the candidate will be able to apply workplace OHS standards.This unit is not aimed at developing the skills of a farrier, but rather reflects racing industry requirements of performing the duties of a qualified farrier at a race meeting. The scope of duties of a race meeting farrier may vary between codes and from state to state.This unit of competency operates in work environments of racing stables, paddocks, yards, 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 qualified farriers to develop the skills required to perform race meeting duties of a farrier.

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

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


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Prepare for race meeting.

1. Booking of farrier services for race meeting is confirmed.

2. Adequate supplies of shoes, nails and other equipment are verified.

3. Invoicing system is confirmed with race club prior to race meeting.

4. Rules of racing that relate to hoof care, shoeing and farrier services at race meetings are defined and complied with.

Provide hoof care and shoeing service at race meetings.

5. Hazards associated with handling and shoeing horses are assessed and risks controlled to comply with OHS legislation and safe operating procedures.

6. Hoof and shoe condition are inspected, options for treatment or adjustment that comply with rules of racing are reported to relevant parties and procedures are agreed upon.

7. Shoes are removed, hooves prepared and horses shod (plated) in compliance with rules of racing and wellbeing of the horse .

8. Horses are observed in pre-race activities and shoeing or hoof status is inspected if situation warrants or as requested by stewards, starter or other relevant party.

9. Status of emergency is reported to steward and starter.

10. Emergency repairs are made in a safe and timely manner.

Finalise race meeting farrier services.

11. Tax invoice for farrier services is prepared and presented to race club within agreed time frame.

12. Reports are provided to stewards on hoof and shoeing injury and incidents.

13. Farrier work area is left clean and tidy.

Required Skills

Required skills

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses

assessing hazards and controlling risks

communicating with stewards, racing officials, licensed and registered personnel and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to race day farrier duties

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

dealing with contingencies

estimating, calculating and recording materials and resource requirements

evaluating a shoe emergency

identifying horse behaviour traits

judging situations and taking appropriate action to prevent problems arising or to overcome problems before they develop further

numeracy skills to prepare tax invoices using simple calculations, including addition, subtraction, division, multiplication and percentages

plating and shoeing horses

reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including rules of racing

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

responding to instructions promptly and safely

responding quickly to requests from stewards or other racing officials

small business management skills

teamwork skills to ensure completion of job tasks

working in confined spaces

written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge

communication procedures within the race meeting environment and wider racing industry

effective methods of controlling horses in a range of situations

hazard identification and risk management

horse identification features

industry terminology related to handling and working with horses during race meetings

OHS legislation and farrier codes of practice

personal grooming and presentation requirements applicable to race club code and farrier standards

protocols and procedures for communicating with licensed and other racing industry personnel

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

range of behaviour traits exhibited by horses

relevant rules of racing

reporting requirements for irregularities and problems.

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 performing the duties of a farrier at race meetings or trials

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of farrier duties

working with others to undertake and complete procedures that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of racehorses of different ages and sexes, in race meeting and trial environments.

Context of, and specific resources for assessment

Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to 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 or thoroughbred horses

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to perform farrier duties at race meetings

safe handling areas, such as racetracks including registered race meetings and 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, documented 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.

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, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Booking of farrier services for a race meeting will include:

clarifying starting time with farrier supervisor

confirming location of farrier shop

confirming numbers of horses to be plated or re-shod

organising race meeting pass and parking with race club administration.

Other equipment will include:

apron and hand tools

plates, tips and small nails suitable for race meetings

mobile phone

safety equipment, including:

eye protection

gloves

sun hat

sunscreen

work boots

work sheets or laptop for recording tasks.

Rules of racing will relate to:

harness or thoroughbred races

inspection of horses

specific limitations on shoes to be fitted or materials to be used, including:

restricted use of vertical bars and steel inserts or 'cutting plates'

plates for steeple chasers

size of nails

weight and size of plates or tips

stewards' powers.

Hazards associated with handling and shoeing horses may include:

changes to horse behaviour, including:

agitation and sweating up

biting

charging forward

kicking

pulling back or sideways

rearing

reluctant to move forward

turning in circles

other factors which may alter horse behaviour, including:

horse location and confined spaces, for example:

behind barriers

mounting enclosure

stall

crowd noise and other loud noises

inclement weather conditions, including:

extreme heat

wind

other horses

pre and post-race activity.

Risks may be controlled by:

adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practices

adhering to rules of racing and rules of the race venue

considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as:

fences and equipment

other persons or animals

vehicles

wind and noise

contributing to development of risk control measures

following safe work practices when providing farrier services, including:

applying correct manual handling techniques

approaching horse from near side

avoiding sudden movement

speaking calmly to horse

undoing cross ties and strapper holding horse before horse is plated in stalls

using anti-rearing bit or bridle headpiece with bit, with double clip lead when heading horses at race meetings

using well-maintained and safe gear

wearing personal protective equipment

following accident and injury procedures

identifying and reporting unsafe work practices

identifying emergency situations

understanding individual horse behaviour.

Options for treatment or adjustment that comply with rules of racing may include:

liaising with veterinarian and/or stewards

scope of treatment or adjustment fitting within race meeting context.

Relevant parties may include:

driver or jockey

owner

steward

trainer.

Wellbeing of the horse may include:

adhering to relevant codes of practice, which may include other professionals such as a veterinary surgeon

adhering to responsibilities under national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare

remaining calm and applying common and safe horse handling techniques.

Emergency status may include:

nail pricks

shifted, sprung or twisted plates.

Reports are provided to stewards:

courteously, efficiently and promptly

maintaining confidentiality and discretion

using correct forms of greeting

via verbal and/or written communication, including:

describing actions

giving and receiving clear, accurate and simple messages

listening to and interpreting information and instructions

written reports may include simple documents and notes.


Sectors

Unit Sector

Harness and thoroughbred racing codes


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor