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 manage horse health and welfare. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred racing stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.
Health and emergency care protocols may include:
advice to other organisations, as required by rules and regulations
horse management:
comprehensive record keeping
routine health checks
equipment and gear cleanliness
handling and monitoring horses
hazard identification
maintaining first aid and treatments stores
notifiable diseases
permissible medication and treatments
quarantine measures
veterinary or specialist advice and assistance
stable and yard cleanliness
risk control measures:
controlling insects and rodents
disinfection and hygiene measures
fire drills
health programs
isolation or quarantine of sick horses
monitoring movement of horses
vaccinations and boosters
waste disposal
staff management:
access to and administration of treatments
communication procedures
emergency drills
literacy and numeracy skills
training.
Situations requiring emergency care may include:
acute illness, for example colic
arterial blood loss
communicable disease
electric shock
fracture
fire
trauma, including track or road accident.
Rules of racing and other regulations may include:
Australian and local rules of racing of the state or territory regulatory racing body
Livestock Act
local government regulations, for example:
buildings
disposal of waste
national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare
OHS legislation and regulations
race club and training track regulations
rules of racing related to prohibited substances, including substances listed below as well as other items defined by racing regulatory authority from time to time:
acidifying agents
alkalising agents
analgesics
antihistamines
anti-inflammatory agents
bronchodilators
buffering agents
diuretics
general and local anaesthetics
hormones
muscle relaxants
narcotics
respiratory stimulants
sedatives
tranquillisers
vasodilators
vitamins administered by injection.
Health status of individual horses is assessed:
by routine health checks
prior to travelling or racing
upon first entering stables
when illness or injury is suspected.
Methods to assess health status of individual horses may include:
checking for:
illness or injury
shock or distress
lameness
soreness
checking quality and quantity of manure and urine
feeling for heat or swelling
monitoring feed and water intake
monitoring vital signs
observing behaviour.
Communicable diseases may include:
anthrax
equine influenza
glanders
hendra virus
Japanese encephalitis
rattles
ringworm
salmonellosis
strangles.
Indicators of communicable diseases may include:
blisters, ulceration or erosions
dead horses
nervousness or other behaviour changes
profuse, bloody diarrhoea
rapid spread of signs and symptoms throughout stable
recent overseas contact
unexplained lethargy, listlessness or depression
unusually high numbers of sick horses
severe hacking cough.
Health records information will include:
dates and times of:
arrival at stables
assessing vital signs
illness or injury
treatments and vaccinations
features of horse identification
name of horse
name of person administering treatment
prescribed treatments administered
treatment instructions
vital signs at rest.
Health care and management may include:
administration of treatments
communication procedures when horses are treated
disease prevention and control
emergency care
emergency phone numbers, for example veterinarian or fire department
permissible treatments
procedure for recording treatments
procedure for recording and reporting vital signs
routine health checks
replenishing supplies of first aid kits
system of referral for injury treatment
staff access to first aid treatments and materials.
Common illnesses or injuries may include:
illnesses:
circulatory disorders
eye, nose and mouth disorders
digestive disorders
metabolic disorders
musculo-skeletal disorders
neurological disorders
respiratory disorders
skin disorders
injuries:
bruises
falls
girth galls
joint injuries
sprained ligaments or tendons
strained muscles
tack rubs
wounds.
Need for veterinary assistance may include:
horse may:
be insured
have to be treated with racing competition prohibited substances
have to be withdrawn from competition
require prescription medication
require stitching or specialist injury management or treatment
illness may be:
contagious condition
notifiable disease
passed on to humans
illness or injury may be:
life threatening or have consequences to ongoing career of horse
result of neglect or non-compliance with duty of care.
Specialists may include:
chiropractors
dentists
farriers
massage therapists
veterinary surgeons.
Treatment options may include:
acupuncture
chiropractic
exercise, for example walking or swimming
hydrotherapy
ice and heat
laser
massage
pharmaceutical
rest
ultrasound.
Injectible medication may be given:
by adhering to animal welfare guidelines
in accordance with rules of racing
intramuscular
intravenous
intra-articular
subcutaneous
under veterinary supervision.
Injectible medication considerations include:
alcohol swabs
correct dosage of medication
cleanliness of surroundings
enlisting help of assistant
fitting restraints, for example bit or twitch
injection site
injection type:
antibiotics
vaccinations
vitamins
method of injection to suit prescribed treatment
needle gauge
race meeting blood samples
procedure for loading syringe
preparing horse, for example skin swabbing or tapping
record keeping
rules of racing
sterile needles and syringes
sharps container
syringe disposal
using only veterinary-prescribed substances.
Inhalants may include:
oxygen
prescribed veterinary treatments
steam.

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 managing horse health and welfare
implementation of procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient provision of horse health and welfare
working with others to implement and complete horse health and welfare procedures that meet required outcomes
consistent timely completion of horse health and welfare management procedures that safely, effectively and efficiently 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 relevant to assessing candidate's ability to manage horse health and welfare
safe handling areas, such as racing stables 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
inspection of completed work
simulation exercises conducted in a State Principal Racing Authority approved simulated environment.
Where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons.
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
RGRCMN401A Maintain and monitor OHS procedures and 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).