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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 supervise the transportation of horses. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas. |
Types of transport may include: | air transport floats: angle loaders back loaders double: extended front extended height goose neck side loaders single straight end sea transport trucks: cattle trucks with dividers. |
Load capacity checks may include: | additional gear carried, such as bags of feed brakes: breakaway hydraulic parking federal and state or territory road rules gross and tared weight load balancing number of horses to be carried position of single horse in double float tyre suitability and pressure weighbridge usage weight of individual horses. |
Driving techniques may include: | accelerating smoothly adjusting to road camber adjusting float brakes for simultaneous slowing with tow vehicle brakes braking gradually and using gears to slow down driving defensively keeping vehicle centrally positioned and away from road shoulders maintaining moderate speed planning travelling times to minimise stress to horses on extremely hot days providing rest stops for horses on long trips reversing and turning vehicle and float combination taking regular breaks to avoid driver fatigue. |
Road conditions may include: | drains gravel ice and snow plastic paint, for example white lines and zebra crossings rain sharp corners steep hills urban driveways worn, shiny patches on roads. |
Electrical equipment will include: | electrical sockets head and tail lights indicators interior lights wiring. |
Exterior vehicle safety inspection will include: | brakes coupling electrical sockets electrical system of tow vehicle hitching height jack and wheel brace jockey wheel latches and locks lights and light globes loading ramp oil rear opening cover rear view mirrors safety chains side door stabiliser bars tow bar and ball tyres water wheels. |
Interior vehicle safety inspection will include: | chest bar dividers and head partition floor boards floor mats interior lighting latches padding provision of absorbent floor covering provision of fully maintained first aid kit scrambler bars ventilation windows. |
Loading problems may include: | horse barging on or off float horse backing off float when loading horse jumping off side of ramp horse rearing horse refusing to lead forward to load. |
Controlling risks may include: | adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practices adhering to responsibilities under national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare and transport of horses being aware of Australian road rules and any relevant local rules 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 operating procedures identifying and reporting unsafe work practices identifying emergency situations, for example: gear breakage horse getting loose understanding individual horse behaviour wearing personal protective equipment. |
Application of alternative loading techniques may include: | loading from shed lowering ramp placing older, more experienced horse on float first using bits for greater control using britching ropes. |
Evaluation of health status may include: | prior to travelling: assessing vital signs assessing horse for illness or injury checking feed and water intake ensuring horse is hydrated observing manure and urine picking out feet and checking status of shoes after travelling: checking brightness of eye and horse's head for injury checking hooves for signs of heat checking mucosal membranes inside mouth checking for rubbing or abrasions on body checking hydration levels by skin pinch conducting capillary refill test lifting hooves and checking shoes are not sprung or shifted removing tail bandage and checking for evidence of diarrhoea removing leg bandages or boots and checking for heat and swelling taking horse's temperature walking horse, observing action and listening to footfall observing horse for 24 to 36 hours. |
Poor travellers may include: | nervous sweaters scramblers. |
Signs of stress may include: | colic dehydration diarrhoea elevated temperature increased respiration rate increased pulse rate lameness listlessness pale mucosal membranes slow capillary refill sweating at neck and girth, for example high temperature sweating at flanks uncommon individual horse behaviour. |
Horses may be stressed due to: | excessive dust excessive noise inside float from passing trucks high temperatures and humidity changes horse placed next to another horse with existing respiratory infection horse subject to bullying from other horses poor float hygiene poor driving techniques, for example speed and excessive braking poor ventilation slippery flooring tying horse's head too high and too short travelling horses before they cool down after strenuous exercise travelling horses for longer than 12 hours travelling without rest stops every four to six hours. |
Signs of stress may be managed by: | dealing with potential illness promptly reporting potential illness or adverse impacts on performance to relevant personnel, for example: trainer or owner race meeting stewards as required by rules of racing seeking veterinary assistance as required. |
Other illness indicators may include: | travel sickness, including: pleuropneumonia chest pain depression lack of interest in feed painful stance, for example forelegs wide apart reluctance to move rapid but shallow respiration rate suppressed, painful coughs. |
Post-travelling care of horse may include: | checking shoes or plates for shifting cooling down horses according to weather conditions ensuring animal welfare principles are followed providing feed and water rugging as appropriate treating illness or injury. |