Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to drive horses in trials, comply with rules of racing, follow instructions, judge pace and adjust driving technique according to track conditions.

To undertake this unit the candidate will be able to apply safe horse handling skills and workplace OHS standards.

This unit of competency operates in work environments of racing stables, 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 authorised harness racing personnel to drive horses in trials.

Prerequisite units 

RGRPSH410A

Prepare for race driving

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 

Comply with and complete trial procedures.

1. Horses to be driven in trials are confirmed.

2. Stewards' and starters' directions are followed.

3. Trainer instructions  are verified and followed where possible.

Apply trial driving skills.

4. Warm up and score upare carried out as directed.

5. Driving skills are appropriate to a variety of track conditions and situations .

6. Pace  of horse during trial is judged and maintained for required times and distances, according to trainer instructions.

Use safe driving skills.

7. Rules  relating to safe  and legal trial driving are known and observed during practice.

8. Appropriate whip use is demonstrated and rules relating to whip use  are complied with.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• anticipating and responding rapidly to changed circumstances in a trial, including emergency situations
• applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses
• communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to driving horses in trials
• completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame
• controlling a variety of horses during trials at different tracks, and under different circumstances and track conditions
• following instructions
• following rules of racing
• judging and maintaining pace
• 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
• driving horses to and from barriers
• driving horses in trials
• scoring up
• using whip effectively, following rules of racing and animal welfare guidelines
• warming horses up.

Required knowledge 

• Australian and local rules of racing and regulations pertaining to trial driving
• classes of trials
• communication procedures with stewards, barrier attendants and trainers
• behaviour of trialling horses
• industry terminology related to handling and racing horses
• pace of trialling horses
• racing industry animal welfare requirements
• racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures
• starting procedures
• stewards' responsibilities
• track rules
• track condition and surfaces
• whip use.

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 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 driving in trials
• demonstration of trial driving skills in accordance with racing officials' and trainer's instructions and adhering to relevant rules of racing
• implementation of procedures and timely techniques to complete trial driving tasks safely, effectively and efficiently
• working with others to undertake and complete trial driving tasks that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of horses of different ages and sexes, in different circumstances and in different 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 and the 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:

• a variety of harness horses that are currently in training
• commercial racing training establishments, training and racetracks, and barrier trials
• materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's skills for driving in trials
• 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.

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, 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.

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 prepare to drive horses in trials. Workplaces include harness stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Stewards' and starters' directions  may include:

• complying with requests
• listening for instructions
• moving on and off track promptly
• moving to gates promptly
• providing documentation.

Trainer instructions  may include:

• listening and responding
• following instructions where possible
• information related to horse's:

• action
• barrier manners
• race or trial behaviour
• warm-up requirements

• reasons for trialling:

• conditioning
• education or re-education
• gear change
• stewards' observation

• whip use.

Driving skills  may include:

• ability to position horse safely in field
• adapting driving style to suit individual horses
• adapting driving style to suit trial conditions
• changing pace
• constant awareness of other drivers
• considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as:

• fences and equipment
• other persons or animals
• vehicles
• wind and noise

• following rules of racing
• identifying emergency situations, for example:

• gear breakage
• horse getting loose

• judging pace and position in field
• maintaining balance
• maintaining control of position and speed
• maintaining or improving position
• using aids, including whips
• wearing personal protective equipment.

Track conditions and situations  may include:

• camber
• designated track for trials
• track rating
• track surface
• hazards
• negotiating turns
• shifting ground
• undulating ground
• weather.

Pace  will include:

• demonstrating understanding of speed relative to trial distance
• following trainer instructions
• slowing or quickening pace.

Rules relating to safe trial driving  will include:

• careless, improper, incompetent or foul driving
• crossing only when two lengths clear of other horses
• keeping horse straight
• driving horse calmly and safely to and from the barriers.

Rules relating to whip use  will include:

• approved rider use of whip
• features of a legal race-riding whip
• reasons for use of whip
• rules and regulations governing non-use of whip:

• forward of the horse's shoulder or near its head
• in an excessive, unnecessary or improper manner
• when horse is showing no response
• when horse is out of contention
• when horse is clearly winning
• when horse has passed the winning post.

Unit Sector 

Harness racing code

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing performance services