Elements and Performance Criteria

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 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 participate in implementing racehorse exercise programs. Workplaces include harness or thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.
Methods used to evaluate performance include:
horse has maintained or varied body weight
horse's recovery after exercise by monitoring vital signs, for example:
heart rate
respiratory rate
horse's behaviour in stables and during work
horse's adaptation to workload, including:
ability to continue working without signs of soreness
eating up feed and drinking adequate quantity of water
trackwork, trial and race times.
Indicators of poor adaptation include:
blood results
development of undesirable behaviour patterns, including:
bolting
box walking
jibbing
kicking or biting staff or other horses
refusing or unwilling when asked to work
refusing to enter or remain in start stalls
refusing to work with other horses
weaving
lameness
reluctance to eat
slow times compared to other horses of same stage of development
slow recovery rates (vital signs)
weight loss.
Factors affecting performance may include:
age
conformation and overall soundness
experience of and adaptation to living in a racing environment
gender, for example:
colt
filly
previous injuries
providing enough time between increases in workload to allow adaptation of body systems
track conditions
training methods
type and intensity of work
willingness of horse to compete against others.
Stages of training programs may include:
breaking in
first preparation
barrier training
preparing for specialist race type or distance
ready to trial
ready to race
returning after injury
returning after spell.
Methods used to condition horses may include:
beach work
hacking out
hill work
jogging behind a vehicle
lunging
riding (harness)
swimming
trackwork
treadmills or walking machines.
Racing jargon may include:
common and trainer-specific terms used to describe:
conformation and anatomical features
horse illnesses and injuries
horse behaviour:
during exercise or racing
relating to its adaptation to a racing lifestyle
when being handled
when in the stable
horse's fitness
race programs
race types, distances and classes
racing calendar
racing officials
rules of racing
trackwork types, times and distances.
Daily training plan may include:
educational activities, such as:
developing horse's confidence to work close to or move past other horses
exposing horse to racing situations, such as:
barrier training or jump outs (thoroughbred)
mobile start equipment (harness)
score-up (harness)
standing start (harness)
direction of work
distance and time in various paces
type of work, for example:
swimming
track
walking machine
working alone or with other horses.
Status of horse may include:
bleeding from:
external injury
nostrils
when urinating
blowing too much or for too long after exercise or not appearing to be stressed by workload
heat in limbs
horse completed planned work and appears to have recovered from effort without problem
horse overworked due to inability to control
horse refused to work
horse started to work, stopped then reluctant to move, suggesting possible metabolic, digestive or cardiovascular disorder
horse unable to complete planned work
lame
soreness or tenderness in limbs or other body parts
sound
sweating too much or not enough
swelling in limbs.
Methods and equipment may include:
methods:
increasing or reducing workload
spelling horse
working horse in different surroundings
working horse on different surfaces
working horse using non-racing programs, such as equestrian activities
equipment:
bandages
bits
blinkers or pacifiers
boots
ear muffs
girth types and covers
head check
hobble length
lighter or heavier rider, driver, saddle or vehicle
lugging pole (harness)
martingale
nosebands
shadow rolls.
Horse's recovery is assessed by:
monitoring horse's temperature, pulse and respiration
checking for heat or swelling after cool down
checking for signs of injury after race
checking horse movement and behaviour during exercise 48 hours post-race and after strenuous exercise
monitoring horse response to exercise in week post-race and after strenuous exercise
monitoring horse's eating and drinking habits 24 hours post-race and after strenuous exercise
reviewing horse's behaviour for signs of distress or pain.
Race performance may include:
comparing quality of race field to nominated horse
considering horse's current fitness and education
considering race incidents and track and weather conditions that affected nominated horse's performance
expected race place compared to actual
race winner time compared to nominated horse time
reviewing race video for performance in various stages of race
rider or driver comments
track record for race distance.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
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 training, trialling and racing horses
demonstration of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient implementation, evaluation and modification of exercise programs for racehorses
working with others to implement 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, and at different stages of preparation in racing stable, track and race meeting environments.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to horses that are being educated and trained in a commercial racing stable under the care of a licensed trainer and 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 that are currently in training
commercial racing training establishments, and training and racetracks
materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to monitor and record trackwork and racing performance and relay information on training and racing horses to trainer, staff and specialists
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.
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.
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
RGRPSH304A Identify factors that affect racehorse performance
RGRPSH308A Provide first aid and emergency care for horses
RGRPSH309A Implement feeding programs for racehorses under direction.
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).