Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to ride a range of horses in pacework, identify approved gear, accept rides based on rider and horse experience, report horse's performance to trainer, use methods to control horses in a range of situations and organise riding commitments.

To undertake this unit the candidate will be able to apply safe horse handling skills and workplace OHS standards, and demonstrate competent slow trackwork riding skills. It is recommended that RGRPSH201A Handle horses be delivered in conjunction with or before this unit of competency.

This unit of competency operates in workplace environments of racing stables, paddocks, yards, racecourses and public areas.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Check with your State Principal Racing Authority for current license or registration requirements.

Application of the unit 

This unit of competency supports trackwork riders to develop pacework riding skills.

Prerequisite units 

RGRPSH306A

Develop basic trackwork riding skills

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Ride a range of horses in slow work.

1. Horses  are ridden in slow work.

2. Approved gear is identified and fitted to individual horses.

3. Aids  are selected and used within rules of racing and in accordance with trainer instructions.

Ride experienced horses in pacework.

4. Rides are accepted based on rider experience  and horse experience  .

5. Horses are ridden up to half pace and pace is accurately counted.

6. Techniques  used to control horses in a range of situations are demonstrated.

7. Trainer instructions are followed to the best of ability, and horse performance is reported  following trackwork.

Organise commitments.

8. Trackwork riding commitments  are planned, documented and reported.

9. Obligations  relating to commitments to ride are known and understood.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• applying safe riding and work practices
• communicating with employer, trainer, supervisor, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to riding pacework
• determining horse experience
• employing techniques to control horses
• judging pace and identifying pace at which horse is working
• following instructions of trainer, or working autonomously when necessary, with regard to riding horses in pacework
• identifying and fitting items of approved gear
• identifying and following safe track entry and exit procedures for all tracks
• interpreting and implementing trackwork instructions
• organising commitments and planning work activities
• reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including relevant rules of racing
• relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities
• reporting horse performance to trainer
• riding horses in pacework and adhering to individual trainer's interpretation of timing for half pace
• selecting aids in accordance with trainer instructions and rules of racing
• warming horses up and down
• working horses singly or with other horses in a controlled manner and according to instructions
• written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge 

• basic industry terminology related to riding horses in pacework
• communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry
• common racehorse behaviour traits
• effective working relationships and teamwork
• pacework riding techniques
• personal protective equipment and purpose for its use
• racing industry animal welfare requirements
• racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures
• range and purpose of approved gear
• relevant rules of racing
• safe entry and exit points for all tracks.

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 riding pacework
• demonstration of control of experienced thoroughbred horses in a range of common pacework riding situations
• implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient organisation of riding commitments and application of pacework riding skills
• working with others to undertake and complete pacework riding procedures that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of experienced 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 thoroughbred horses
• materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to demonstrate pacework riding skills
• safe handling and appropriate practical 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 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.

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).

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 exercise horses in pacework. Workplaces include thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Horses  ridden in slow work may include:

• horses racing or trialling
• older horses
• pullers
• young horses.

Aids  may include:

• natural aids, including:

• hands
• legs
• seat or weight
• voice

• artificial aids that require experience and moderation in use, including:

• bits and auxiliary reins
• crops
• martingales
• spurs
• whips.

Rider experience  will include:

• ability to recognise own limits of riding skill
• appropriate ways to accept and decline rides
• duration of riding experience
• fitness of rider.

Horse experience  will include:

• age of horse
• education level of horse
• experience and capability of trainer
• individual horse behaviour.

Techniques  may include:

• changing the bridge
• shortening lengths
• using corrective gear, including:

• bits
• blinkers
• cross-over nosebands
• pacifiers
• rings
• shadow rolls
• tongue ties

• working horse with other horses or lead pony
• working horse by itself.

Horse performance report  may include:

• describing action irregularities, including:

• climbing
• hanging
• lameness or stepping short

• describing behavioural problems, including:

• attempting to duck out of gap
• baulking with other horses
• shying

• describing keenness to work, including:

• on the bit, pulling
• off the bit

• describing respiratory irregularities, including:

• bleeding
• choking down
• coughing
• roaring.

Trackwork riding commitments  may be:

• arranged by employer or trainer
• self-managed.

Obligations  may include:

• apprentice jockey arrangements
• award or indenture
• fee per ride
• freelance trackwork rider payment arrangements
• insurance cover
• number of horses each morning
• time of morning to ride
• what days to ride considering slow and fast mornings
• workers compensation.

Unit Sector 

Thoroughbred racing code

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing performance services