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 Stable duties?
Cleaning of boxes and yards
Removal of faeces and spoiled bedding
Cleaning of food and watering containers
Hosing, sweeping, raking yards and stable environments

What is involved in preparing horses for work?
Inspection and grooming of horses
Cleaning of hooves
Washing horses
Gearing and ungearing horses
Walking horses prior to and after exercise
Swimming horses
Rugging horses

What is involved in grooming horses?
General grooming tasks associated with the maintenance of health in horses.
Specific grooming tasks associated with preparing horses for presentation at race meetings.

What is involved in providing feed and water?
Correct mix and quantity of feed provided to individual horses
Contaminated feed reported
Rules of cleanliness and hygiene applied
Knowledge of alkalising agents

What gear is used for transporting horses?
Transporting boots, bandages, strapping, rugs

What gear is used for working horses?

What common illnesses and injuries occur in horses?
Illnesses Colic

What are race day duties?
Attendance to animal welfare at the stalls
Preparation of horses for racing and warming up
Parading horses
Assisting in the swabbing situation
Cooling down horses post race
Washing, scraping, drying and rugging horses

Competence in handling horses effectively requires evidence that animal behaviour is known and taken into account when carrying out the duties of attending to and caring for race horses in various environments and at varying times.
Evidence of handling techniques and use of gear consistently applied to a variety of horses in either the harness code or the thoroughbred code is required, as is knowledge of stable procedures and racecourse procedures at training and on race days for either code.
Critical Aspects of Evidence

Critical Aspects of Evidence relate to particular knowledge, understanding and skills that are essential to performance. Evidence to demonstrate consistent achievement of the unit's outcomes includes:


Demonstration of:
Consistently applying safe handling and work practices, when dealing with horses
Interpreting and applying relevant industry and stable rules, regulations and procedures pertaining to the training and racing of horses
Identifying different items of working gear and assessing their condition in terms of safe use and the need for repair
Identifying symptoms of common injuries and signs of ill health in horses
Applying stable routines for the maintenance of the training establishment, and the care of horses
Ability to complete routine tasks correctly and within the nominated time frame
Ability to safely handle horses for the purposes of undertaking the tasks required of a training establishment, such as leading, restraining, gearing, grooming, transporting, and parading at race meetings

Knowledge of:
Reasons and correct procedures for grooming horses
Grooming equipment
Purpose of working gear and reasons for identifying and reporting maintenance needs
Symptoms of and ways of checking for, common injuries and ailments in horses
Race day procedures and routines relating to the care and management of horses

Context of Assessment
This unit is largely practical in nature with some theoretical components. Theoretical components can be assessed in a simulated situation but must be related to racing industry conditions and tasks.
Theoretical components will include symptoms of common illnesses and injuries, purpose of working gear, and race day procedures

All assessment must:

Relate to horses in a training program or racing program in either the harness
Include a variety of horses at different stages of their training or racing program
Include horses that are currently racing, and
Include a range of horses of different ages, temperament and behaviour.

Method of Assessment

Practical components may be assessed by:

Observation of work practices
Inspection of completed work
Questioning of underpinning knowledge
Demonstration of tasks

Theoretical components may be assessed by:

Questioning of underpinning knowledge
Oral testing
Short answer or multiple choice testing
Written examination or assignments.

Resource Implications
Resource implications refers to the resources that are necessary for undertaking the assessment
Adequate assessment will require access to racing stables in either the harness
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 Assessors will be required for this unit.

Pre-requisite and Interdependent Assessment of Units

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

RGRH101A Introduction to Occupational Health and Safety Procedures,
and may be assessed in conjunction with,
RGRH207A Handle horses safely
RGRH208A Work effectively in the thoroughbred or standardbred code of the racing industry

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 matters occurring in the workplace such as condition and behaviour of animals, condition of gear, hazards and problems, and by conversing with other workers and racecourse officials to obtain and impart information. (1)

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

Planning and organising activities
Daily work routine is studied, equipment and gear is checked and organised, horses identified, clothing appropriate to tasks organised. (1)

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

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

Solving problems
By observing and reporting unusual behaviour or conditions in animals, by responding to a variety of erratic behaviours and making recommendations for modification of behaviour, by detecting potential hazards in the workplace, by analysing work practices and suggesting improvements. (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)