Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range Statement indicates how this competency standard can be used in the environment of the racing industry to assess workers involved in the care and welfare of horses that are either standardbreds or thoroughbreds. The environment covers racecourses, stables, administration buildings, training tracks and public places. The Range Statement covers the general principles applying to both thoroughbred and harness codes, refers where necessary, to differences between codes, and details the knowledge and skill requirements specific to each code.

What are the features of a horse?
Colour, markings, brands, sex

What is involved in behaviour and level of education of horses?
Knowledge of behavioural problems
Identification of good behaviour traits and bad behaviour traits and vices
Level of education required for safe handling and controlling
Assessment of behaviour prior to handling
Knowledge of restraining techniques

What are the senses of a horse?
Eyesight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, sixth

What methods do horses use to communicate?
Verbal, non verbal (mouth and face), body signals

What behavioural problems do horses have?
Weaving
Wind sucking
Crib biting
Bed eating
Box walking
Rug chewing
Pushing or barging

What gear is appropriate for safely handling horses?
Twitches, anti rearing bits, halters, appropriate leads, muzzles, leg ropes, hobbles

What factors come into safe handling?
Consideration given to other persons, animals, vehicles, fences, equipment and variables that influence behaviour of horse such as wind and noise
The working environment where horses may be caught and controlled in stables, yards, tracks, public places, paddocks, and on beaches
Ropes are used for tying up horses safely
Feet picked up correctly
Horses released correctly into paddocks and yards

What are the common methods of transporting horses?
Floats - single and double, trucks, air transport

What is the working environment for this competency standard?
Crushes, stripping stalls, wash bays, day yards, paddocks, sand rolls, restraining areas, round yards, swimming pools, beaches, rivers and dams, training, exercise, and race tracks, stalls

Critical Aspects of Evidence
Critical Aspects of Evidence in this unit relate to evidence of consistent identification and safe handling of a range of horses of different ages, sexes, and temperaments in different circumstances and in different work environments over a period of time.

Evidence to demonstrate consistent achievement of the unit's outcomes includes:


Knowledge and Understanding of:
Safety and transport requirements for floating horses
Preparing horses for transportation
Reporting difficulties with regard to handling horses
Senses, communication traits, and behaviour patterns of horses
Social behaviour and vices of animals
Effective communication skills to seek information, advice and/or assistance
Principles of animal welfare and safe work practices

Demonstration of:
Interpreting and following supervisor's instructions
Ability to assess task and match to personal ability to undertake task
Identifying animal by brand, colour, sex, leg & face markings
Identifying and applying nominated gear correctly
Catching, handling and controlling a range of standardbreds or thoroughbreds in a variety of environments, following instructions
Applying safe work practices
Loading and unloading horses for the purposes of transporting, in a safe manner and according to instructions
Ability to access sources of information relevant to instructions

Knowledge and Application of:
Gathering information about previous education and behaviour for individual animal in relation to handling and reflecting that information in handling technique
Restraining gear
Common safe animal handling techniques

Context of Assessment
This unit is mainly concerned with the safe handling of horses for the purposes of transporting, stabling, and attending on race days and at training times.

All assessment must:

Relate to horses in a training program and or racing program, housed in an appropriate commercial stable environment
Include a variety of horses at different stages of their training or racing program
Include horses that are currently racing
Include a range of horses of different age, temperament and behaviour

Method of Assessment

Assessment may include:

Observation of work practices
Questioning of underpinning knowledge
Testing practical tasks
Theoretical components can be assessed in a simulated situation but must be related to racing industry conditions and tasks.
Questioning of underpinning knowledge
Oral testing
Short answer or multiple choice testing

Pre-requisite and Interdependent Assessment of Units

This unit should be assessed after competency has been established in the following unit:

RGRH206A Apply Occupational Health and Safety Procedures, and may be assessed in conjunction with,
RGRH208A Work effectively in the racing industry
RGRH209A Care for horses

Resource Implications
Adequate assessment will require access to racing stables, with a variety of horses at differing stages of preparation.
It will be necessary for assessment to occur during the normal routine and operation of the establishment.
It may be necessary to access this environment on a number of occasions to complete the range of assessment tasks required.
Qualified Industry Assessors will be required for this unit.

Processes to be applied to this competency standard
There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout life that are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. The numbers in brackets indicate the level to which the competency needs to be demonstrated.

0 Not required
1 Perform the process
2 Perform and administer the process
3 Perform administer and design the process
Communicating ideas and information
By reporting to trainers and supervisors on changes in the behaviour and condition of animals, handling problems, and by conversing with other workers and racecourse officials to exchange and obtain information. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By reference to official publications, racing calendars, textbooks, log books, bulletin boards, posters and diaries. (1)

Planning and organising activities
Daily work routine is studied, racing calendar is consulted regularly, transport to race meetings is organised in advance, equipment and gear organised, clothing appropriate to tasks organised, timetable and contingencies planning in place. (1)

Working with others and in teams
By liaison with employers and foremen and work colleagues to plan and distribute work and tasks. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By calculating time for journeys to racecourses, by using safe working loads when lifting or towing. (1)

Solving problems
By observing traits of individual horses and reporting unusual behaviour or conditions, by detecting potential hazards in the workplace, by analysing work practices and suggesting alternative methods. (1)

Using technology
Through use of mobile phones and facsimile to communicate, and use of computers for internet access to race programming and general information. (1)