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 determining nutritional requirements for racing horses

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient determination of nutritional requirements for racing horses

working with others to undertake and complete tasks related to racing horse nutritional requirements that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of racehorses of different ages and sexes, and at different stages of preparation in racing stable environments.

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:

a variety of harness and thoroughbred horses

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to determine and monitor nutritional requirements of racing horses

racing stables

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

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

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.

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

RGRPSH401A Relate anatomical and physiological features to the care and treatment of horses

RGRPSH408A Manage horse health and welfare

RGRPSH501A Plan and adapt training and conditioning programs for racehorses.

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).

Required skills

applying safe work practices when determining nutritional requirements of horses

applying nutritional principles

communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers and feed merchants using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to determining nutritional requirements for racing horses

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

complying with animal welfare policies in the care and management of horses

identifying and correctly using different feed components and feed supplements

identifying individual horses

identifying changes to horse behaviour

identifying quality, type, and nutritional, energy and economic value of various feeds

monitoring feed records

preparing feed orders

reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including relevant rules of racing

recognising changes in horses' condition

recognising spoiled or contaminated feed

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

reporting problems promptly

using feed weighing scales

written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge

horse digestive system

basic industry terminology related to handling and caring for horses

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

common horse behaviour, social traits and vices

economic value of various feeds

feed and feed supplements

interaction between feed and supplements that may result in contravention of industry regulations

nutritional principles in relation to horses' age and needs while spelling, training and racing

nutritional value of various feeds

quality of feed

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

relevant rules of racing

sources and importance of energy, protein, fibre, minerals, trace elements and vitamins in a feed ration

weighing feeds.

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 assess determining nutritional requirements for racing horses. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Nutritional principles will include:

digestive system:

mouth and teeth

stomach

small intestine

large intestine

digestive problems:

colic

ulcers

feeding habits:

effects of temperature

normal eating patterns

stable eating patterns

social influences

nutrients:

energy

fat

minerals

protein

vitamins

water

weight of feeds.

Workload and stage of training will include:

age

grain and roughage balance

how soon after work or racing to feed

introducing changes slowly

letting down or spelling feeds

monitoring

pre-training feeds

racing feeds.

Quality, type, and nutritional, energy and economic value will include:

alternative feeds, including oils

contaminants

drought

storage

regional availability.

Supplements and feed additives may include:

calcium

electrolytes

herbal remedies

iron and minerals

oils

vitamins.

Supplements and feed additives are selected and checked to avoid:

accidental introduction of banned substances that contravene the rules of racing.

Total carbon dioxide level (TCO2) will include:

alkalising agents:

bicarbonates

citrates

lactates

succinates

blood levels

rules of racing.