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 identify factors that affect racehorse performance. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.
Features of racehorse conformation may include:
balance and proportion
body type
front leg features that may impact on performance
hind leg features that may impact on performance
shoulder and pastern angle.
Gaits of racehorse may include:
abnormal gait:
brushing
cross firing
forging
getting down on bumpers
over reaching
plaiting
speedy cutting
stumbling
winging
footfalls at each gait
normal gait:
walking or trotting on loose rein towards, past or away from observer
cantering and galloping action.
Lameness and other abnormalities will include:
bone chips
bone spavin
bowed tendon
heat or swelling in limbs
muscle strain or sprain
navicular disease
pelvic, back and neck injuries
sesamoiditis
shin soreness
splints
stifle joint lameness
suspensory ligament injury
tendonitis.
Corrective gear may include:
approved gear, including:
bits
blinkers
boots
head checks
hopples
lugging poles
nosebands
rings
shadow rolls
shoeing techniques
tongue ties
winkers.
Factors that influence speed and strength may include:
basic structure and function of muscle
body type, for example:
fast twitch or slow twitch muscle fibre proportions
sprinter
stayer
climatic conditions
hydration status
individual horse's action
overheating
track conditions and surface
training programs
turns or jumping from barriers
warm up and cool down.
Behavioural and physical indicators of fitness will include:
behavioural:
alert manner
good appetite
keen to work
physical:
bright eye
good exercise recovery
less or clearer sweat
muscle development
rib and hindquarters well-defined
shoulders and hindquarters more bulky (sprinters)
shiny coat
sound action:
noise of uneven footfall (lameness)
vision of sound action
feel of sound action.
Signs and symptoms of distress in working horses may include:
circulatory distress:
bleeding
prolonged increased heart rate
metabolic distress:
colic
exertional rhabdomyolosis (tying up)
thumps
musculo-skeletal distress:
heat in limbs
lameness
reluctance to bear weight on all legs
swelling
wounds
nervous distress:
colic
dehydration
diarrhoea
kicking
muscle cramps
overheating
shivering
twitching
exertional rhabdomyolosis (tying up)
respiratory distress:
bleeding (lung)
chronic coughing
dry coat
prolonged blowing of nostrils and heaving of flanks post-exercise
slow recovery time post-exercise
roaring
signs of unfit horses may include:
blowing up
dull coat
inappetence
listlessness
overly fat or thin
poor exercise recovery
swollen joints.
Horses' post-exercise recovery may include:
indicators of health and fitness return to normal range:
breathing pattern
horse's interest in eating and drinking
temperature of legs
ease of movement of horse around stable or yard
indicators of poor recovery:
inappetence
colic
heat, swelling or blood on legs
reluctance to move or bear weight
timing of checks post-exercise according to trainer instructions.

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 identifying factors that affect racehorse performance
implementation of procedures and timely techniques to safely, effectively and efficiently complete identification of factors that affect racehorse performance
working with others to undertake and complete tasks related to the identification of factors that affect racehorse performance that meet required outcomes.
Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of well-educated thoroughbred horses of different ages and sexes 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 relevant to assessing candidate's ability to identify factors that affect racehorse performance
safe handling and driving or riding 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).