Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to ride horses in trials, follow the rules of racing, follow instructions, judge pace and apply riding skills according to track conditions.

To undertake this unit the candidate will be able to ride fast trackwork and follow 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 apprentice jockeys, approved riders and authorised registered trackwork riders to ride horses in barrier trials.

Prerequisite units 

RGRPSH413A

Prepare for race riding

RGRPSH404A

Ride horses at trackwork

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 barrier trial procedures.

1. Horses to be ridden in trials are confirmed with trainers.

2. Stewards' and barrier attendants' directions are followed.

3. Trainer or foreman's instructions  are understood and followed to the best of ability.

Apply trial riding skills.

4. Riding skills are appropriate to a variety of track conditions and situations .

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

Use safe riding skills.

6. Rules  relating to safe  and legal trial riding are known and observed during practice.

7. Appropriate whip use is demonstrated and rules relating to whip use  are known and followed.

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 riding horses in trials
• completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame
• 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
• riding horses into and from barriers
• riding and controlling a variety of horses during trials at different tracks, and under different circumstances and track conditions
• using whip effectively, following rules of racing and animal welfare guidelines
• warming horses up and down.

Required knowledge 

• Australian and local rules of racing and regulations pertaining to trial riding
• barrier attendants' responsibilities
• communication procedures with stewards, barrier attendants and horse 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
• relevant rules of racing
• starting procedures
• stewards' responsibilities
• track rules
• track condition and surfaces
• classes of trials
• 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 riding in trials
• demonstration of trial riding skills in accordance with racing officials' and trainer's instructions and adhering to the relevant rules of racing
• implementation of procedures and timely techniques to complete trial riding tasks safely, effectively and efficiently
• working with others to undertake and complete trial riding 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 and must be conducted on licensed racetracks in conjunction with the State Principal Racing Authority officials, for example stewards or riding masters.

The following resources must be available:

• a variety of thoroughbred horses that are currently in training
• commercial racing training establishments, training and licensed racetracks, and barrier trials
• materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to demonstrate trial riding skills
• 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 ride horses in trials. Workplaces include thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Stewards' and barrier attendants' directions  may include:

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

Trainer or foreman's instructions  may include:

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

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

• reasons for trialling, including:

• apprentice jockey experience
• conditioning
• education or re-education
• gear change
• stewards' observation

• whip use.

Riding skills  may include:

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

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

• following rules of racing
• foot position in irons
• hands and heels
• identifying emergency situations, for example:

• gear breakage
• horse galloping erratically
• horse getting loose

• judging pace and position in field
• maintaining balance
• maintaining control
• maintaining or improving position
• practising on mechanical horse
• using aids, including whips
• wearing approved personal protective equipment, including approved Australian Standard helmets, vests, clothing and footwear.

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

Rules relating to safe trial riding  will include:

• careless, improper, incompetent or foul riding
• crossing only when two lengths clear of other horses
• keeping horse straight
• riding horse calmly and safely into and from barrier.

Rules relating to whip use  will include:

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

Thoroughbred racing code

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing performance services