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 assessing driving or riding skills of license or registration applicants

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient assessment of driving or riding skills

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

Evidence should be collected over a period of time in a range of racing industry operations contexts, and include dealings with an appropriate range of situations and a variety of racing horses at different stages of preparation.

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 range of harness or thoroughbred horses

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to assess license or registration applicants' driving or riding skills

safe handling areas, such as stables, training and racetracks

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, at least one of whom should be approved by the State Principal Racing Authority.

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).

Required skills

applying safe work practices when approaching and moving around horses

assessing license or registration applicant's ability to:

adhere to safe work practices

demonstrate application of safe animal handling and controlling methods

demonstrate application of safe driving or riding techniques at nominated pace

identify and apply nominated gear correctly

work with animals in confined spaces

communicating with other stewards, racing officials, license and registration applicants and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to assessing driving or riding skills

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

complying with OHS, environmental and animal welfare legislation

complying with organisational policies and procedures and the rules of racing

judging pace

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

reading and interpreting workplace documentation and rules of racing

recognising damaged or defective gear

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

using appropriate language and interpersonal techniques

written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge

approved gear

common safe horse handling and controlling techniques

communication procedures for communicating with other stewards and industry personnel, including reporting lines within the workplace and wider racing industry

ethical conduct standards of relevant racing principal authority

horse behaviour and communication traits

hazard identification and risk management

industry terminology related to animal handling, driving and riding, racing operations and wider racing industry

OHS and environmental legislative requirements

organisational policies and procedures

principles of effective communication

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

reasonable understanding of applicable federal, state or territory legislation and regulations relating to anti-discrimination and harassment

reporting requirements for irregularities and problems

rules of racing relevant to driving and riding

signs of horse health, ill health, injury and diseases.

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 driving or riding skills of license or registration applicants. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred stables, racecourses, training tracks and administration buildings.

Stewards oversee the conduct of all racing-related activities within the responsibilities and powers described under the rules of racing. The conditions under which this unit is delivered and assessed must take into consideration these powers and responsibilities. These powers and responsibilities are further described in the rules of racing for the relevant racing code. It is strongly recommended that training facilitators and learners refer to these powers and responsibilities as part of the range of conditions for all units covered in the steward specialist area of the Training Package.

Driving or riding skills for nominated class of license or registration are determined by:

reviewing existing class of license or registration status

using industry-approved assessment documents.

Safe operating procedures for the control of horses in harness or under saddle will include:

cooling horses down after driving or riding

fitting a range of gear relevant to the code while ensuring adherence to the following:

awareness of animal behaviour

checking durability of gear, for example frayed reins

comfort of the animal

rules related to gear application, for example bandages stitched or taped

safely moving around the animal

using approved gear

identifying and responding to behaviour and activity in horses in harness or under saddle, including:

animal location, for example:

stables or stalls

enclosure

crowds

enclosed spaces, including barriers

inclement weather conditions, such as:

extreme heat

wind

loud noises

other horses

pre or post-race or trial activity

signs of distress, excitement or nervousness in horses, such as:

agitation and sweating up

charging forward

kicking

pulling back or sideways

rearing

reluctance to move forward

turning in circles

leading and controlling horses

moving around and working with other horses

preparing horses for driving or riding.

OHS and animal welfare regulations and industry guidelines 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

adhering to rules of racing and rules of the race venue, including track rules covering:

crossing a track

entering and coming off

direction

position of pull up

position on track when doing slow work or fast work

safety of fellow drivers or riders

where horses may be driven or ridden, such as:

bull rings

trails

various tracks

considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as:

fences and equipment

other persons or animals

vehicles

wind and noise

ensuring horses are worked or trained only within the scope of their current training program

following industry safety inspection checklists and safe operating procedures

identifying dangerous driving or riding situations, for example:

bad weather

faulty equipment

loose horses

track hazards, such as:

excessive water

machinery or vehicles

other animals

rough surfaces

reporting horse injuries to trainer or other relevant person, such as:

epistaxis

exhaustion

lameness

overheating

using safe and approved gear, including:

bandages, bits, blinkers, boots, bridles and breastplates

cross over nosebands

girths

hopples

overchecks

pacifiers

reins

rings

saddles

shadow roll

stirrup leathers

sulkies

surcingles

tongue ties

positioning horse safely in trackwork or in the field

working with animals in confined spaces

wearing approved personal protective equipment and ensuring helmet and vest replacement terms are complied with.

Driver or rider assessment for ability to maintain control of the horse during trackwork, trials and racing may include:

driving or riding competitively

horse is driven or ridden to and from the track in a safe manner

horses are warmed up to, and cooled down from, working pace and are exercised in a balanced manner in all required gaits

pace of horse is judged and maintained for required times and distances according to plans or instructions

driving or ridings skills are appropriate to a variety of trackwork situations, including:

cross only when two lengths clear of other horses

constant awareness of other drivers or riders

keeping horse straight.

Ability to start a race or trial without hindering horse's progress may include:

driver or rider hand and seat position is correct

driver or rider has demonstrated correct positioning of the horse in or at the barriers

driver or rider has demonstrated safe and correct procedure for driving or riding horse from the barriers

horse is driven or ridden straight from the barriers

pace of the horse is judged and maintained for required time.

Using objective measurements for driving or riding skills tests will include:

developing checklists and using safe operating procedures to assess tasks, including:

applying safe animal handling and controlling methods

applying safe driving or riding techniques at varying paces

fitting a range of approved gear relevant to code and task

identifying and responding to behaviour in animals

leading and controlling animals.

Recommended remedial action may include:

attending recognised training programs

extending period of time as registered person before applying for license

working with or under other trainers for additional guidance or mentoring.