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 brand standardbred horses. Workplaces include harness stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.
Identification features may include:
brands and other permanent skin or hair features
coat colour
face or body markings
hoof colour
leg markings
muscle indentations
permanent scars
sex
whorls.
Verifying relationship of foal to its parents may include:
blood type and/or DNA of sire and dam
colour and markings of sire and dam
date of birth of foal
date of service.
Age of foal estimate may involve:
reviewing characteristics to verify the declared age of the foal, including the following features:
condition score
eruption of teeth
length of mane and tail hair
shape and length of hooves.
Restrained for branding may include:
equipment or medication that can be used for restraint using humane and safe techniques, including:
chemical sedation supervised by a veterinarian
hobbles
nose twitch
physical restraints that must be applied using humane and safe techniques, including:
fitting halter or headcollar
handlers using their body to keep foal against mare's body, a wall or other object
handlers wrapping their arms around foal's body
handlers elevating foal's tail
handlers applying skin twitch
handlers raising one foreleg off the ground.
Considerations for safety of foal, handler and branding officer will include:
if restraints are not used, or are ill fitting or in poor condition, foals could:
suffer distress by struggling to get away from handler or brand
suffer strains, contusions or breaks if they get out of restraints
fall, be knocked over or burned if they move during application of brand
if restraints are not used, the following injuries could occur to handler or branding officer:
brand or cooling agent may burn after coming into contact with skin accidentally
injury by being bitten, kicked, pushed into a wall or knocked over by mare and/or foal
needlestick injury if chemical restraints are used
strain while trying to restrain foal.
Branding equipment may include:
authority approved branding irons, including alpha angle sequence and stud brand (if required)
clippers for removing hair prior to branding
coolant to super cool brands
gloves and goggles to protect branding officer
insulated containers suitable for storage and application of coolant to brands.
Considerations for humane techniques will include:
avoiding bony features of the body when applying brands
cooling and applying brands for an appropriate length of time for foals or young horses
ensuring minimal stress is suffered by the animal during preparation, restraint and application of brand
keeping foal or young horse with mother if possible to reduce separation anxiety
monitoring foal after application of brands and release from restraints to ensure health status
restraining animal for no longer than minimum time required to complete the job
using chemical sedation under the supervision of a veterinary surgeon to ensure dose rate and chemical used is suitable for foals or young horses
using restraining equipment that is in good condition and fits the animal to avoid foal escaping due to equipment malfunction and/or injury
using restraining techniques that are suitable for use on foals and young horses.
Documentation to be completed will include:
description and drawing of brands applied
registration papers with foal descriptions completed and verified
report of all foals or horses inspected and branded.

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 branding standardbred horses
implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of branding duties
working with others to undertake and complete procedures that meet required outcomes.
Evidence should be collected over a period of time in a range of workplace-relevant contexts and include dealings with an appropriate range of situations.
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 horses
materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to perform branding procedures
safe handling areas such as commercial stables, 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, for example:
RGRCMN001A Comply with the rules of racing and related protocols
RGRPSH201A Handle 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).