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 plan and adapt training and conditioning programs for racehorses. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred racing stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.
Types of behavioural indicators include:
horses are eating up their feed and drinking sufficient water
horses are willing to complete work tasks and activities
horses are settled in stables or yards
horses are showing signs of lameness or pain.
Physiological indicators of fitness include:
absence of signs or symptoms of inadequate cooling
absence of signs or symptoms of physiological distress, such as:
colic
exertional rhabdomyolosis (tying up)
thumps
absence of signs or symptoms of swelling, heat or soreness
blood and other test results are within normal parameters
horse's weight is within appropriate parameters
temperature, pulse and respiration are within normal parameters.
Performance indicators used to evaluate a horse's response to current workload include:
horses are able to complete work and exercise tasks
horses are recovering to resting temperature, pulse and respiration after work or exercise tasks within acceptable time frame
work or exercise tasks are completed within acceptable time frames.
Factors to consider for horses in their first preparation for racing include:
exercise speed and duration are appropriate for fitness status, giving consideration to the need to avoid overexcited animals working faster or longer than was planned
horse's ability to settle into training environment
length of time between breaking and commencing first training period
length of time in training before a spell to allow recovery and adaptation time as well as a mental break from a racing routine
more conditioning time is required to allow for physical adaptation of musculo-skeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems
physical maturity of horse
track or exercise facility conditions, for example:
track rating
track surface condition.
Considerations for horses returning from injury include:
consultation and monitoring under veterinary supervision
length of time out of training since injury
location of injury and tissue damage sustained
need for controlled exercise to aid recovery
need for ongoing therapy or management of injured tissue
options of using alternative methods of exercise, including swimming
prognosis for returning to competitive racing performance post-injury
significance of track conditions to the type of injury sustained, for example:
heavy or deep tracks
wet or slippery surfaces.
Options for adapting training programs include:
changing training venue:
changing climatic location, for example:
lower humidity
more or less rain
change in size of training enterprise, for example large versus small training establishment
change in racing direction
introducing variation in exercise types, for example:
hacking out
jogger
riding (harness)
ponging
swimming
treadmill or walker
training from paddock rather than from stable
training on or away from race meeting venues
varying length of time or frequency of exercise periods
working horses in company or alone
working horses with a pacemaker.
Preparing conditioning programs for horses includes:
horse's confidence working close to others
individual horse's current stage of fitness
individual horse's personality and behaviour
length of training session
type of work included over a week, for example:
in water
on beach
on hills
on public or private track.
Factors to consider when reviewing trackwork times and behaviour include:
are trackwork times within acceptable parameters for a particular track and conditions
is horse willing to go past others during trackwork
is horse willing to work close to others
is horse worked with others or alone to gain these times.
Corrective or remedial gear may include:
assorted bits
blinkers or hood
harness specific:
ear muffs
head check
lugging pole
nosebands
spreaders
thoroughbred specific:
barrier blanket
ear muffs
martingale
nosebands.
Factors to consider when diet is reviewed include:
access to fresh pasture
appropriate volume of feed
balance of concentrates and roughage in diet
changed eating patterns
drinking appropriate volume of water daily
horse's appetite
levels of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals in the diet
presence of potentially diet-related illnesses, including:
colic
deficiency in electrolytes indicated in blood tests
excessive sweating or insufficient sweating
exertional rhabdomyolosis (tying up)
horse being diagnosed with ulcers
teething conditions leading to inability to eat hard feed temporarily.
Performance compared to racing goals includes:
a more effective assessment of horse readiness to run may be required, for example:
blood tests
fast workout with another known horse or group of horses
fitness test
animal welfare and racing guidelines for the amount of work
does horse need a few trials and/or races to reach peak performance
expected time frame to first trial or race
hormone control, for example:
mares
stallions versus geldings
race class or type that horse is being prepared for
specialist advice required to review fitness, for example:
farrier
therapist
veterinarian
trainer style, methods and size of establishment versus horse response.

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 planning and adapting training and conditioning programs for racehorses
implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient planning adapting, evaluating and modifying of training and conditioning programs
working with others to implement and complete programs 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 horses that are being educated and trained in a commercial racing stable under the care of a licensed trainer andthe 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:
access to commercial racing training establishments, training and racetracks, and a variety of harness or thoroughbred horses that are currently in training
materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to plan, adapt and modify training and conditioning programs for racehorses
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.
This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role, for example:
RGRPSH401A Relate anatomical and physiological features to the care and treatment of horses
RGRPSH408A Manage horse health and welfare
RGRPSH409A Determine nutritional requirements for racing horses.
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).