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 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.

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:
consistent timely completion of transportation procedures that safely, effectively and efficiently meet required outcomes
knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that are to apply when supervising transportation of horses and dealing with difficult loaders
implementation of procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient transport of horses
working with others to undertake and complete transportation 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 and track 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 or thoroughbred horses
materials and equipment, including transport vehicles relevant to assessing candidate's ability to supervise transportation of horses
safe handling areas, such as racing stables, and 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
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.
This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
RGRCMN201A Follow OHS procedures and observe environmental work practices.
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).