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