Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to ride thoroughbred horses in races conducted on racecourses in the thoroughbred sector of the Australian racing industry. It requires knowledge of race meeting procedures, planning and preparing for races, acquiring high level riding skills, following safety procedures, and communicating with a range of officials and other personnel.

To undertake this unit the candidate will be able to prepare for race riding, ride in trials 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 and approved riders to ride thoroughbred horses in registered races and picnic races.

Prerequisite units 

RGRPSH414A

Ride horses in trials

RGRPSH413A

Prepare for race riding

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 

Follow an appropriate pre and post-race routine.

1. Race gear  is prepared and checked for safety prior to race day and immediately prior to a race.

2. Race meeting documentation  is provided to officials.

3. Track features and racecourse conditions are assessed.

4. Pre and post-race procedures are followed.

5. Starting procedures are followed.

Plan and use appropriate race strategies and riding skills.

6. Form  and racing behaviour  of own horse and other horses and riders are studied.

7. Horses are warmed up to and down from racing pace and according to trainer instructions.

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

9. Strategies  are modified appropriately as required during races and according to pace and how race is being run.

10. Whip use and technique are appropriate and consistent with rules of racing.

Report on race.

11. Horse's race performance  is evaluated and reported.

12. Race incidents  are recalled and reported.

13. Protocol for communicating performance is applied.

14. Post-race assessment of own performance is undertaken.

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 race, including emergency situations
• applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses
• assessing own performance
• communicating with stewards, racing officials, horse trainer and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to riding horses in races
• completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame
• controlling a variety of horses during races at different tracks, and under different circumstances and track conditions
• evaluating track features
• following instructions
• following rules of racing
• identifying horse behaviour and action
• identifying and correctly using different items of personal protective equipment
• identifying, preparing and correctly using different items of gear and equipment and assessing condition of same in terms of safe use and need for repair
• implementing sound racing strategies and meeting contingencies during the race
• 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
• reporting problems promptly
• riding horses in races
• using whip effectively, following rules of racing and animal welfare guidelines
• using videos to review races and riding performance
• written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge 

• Australian and local rules of racing and regulations pertaining to race riding
• communication procedures with race meeting personnel and wider racing industry
• common racehorse behaviour traits
• drug testing procedures
• form of racing horses
• handicapping system
• industry terminology related to handling and racing horses
• personal protective equipment and purpose for its use
• pre and post-race procedures
• predicted behaviour or racing style of opposition horses in race
• race meeting documentation
• race injury to horses
• racing industry animal welfare requirements
• racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures
• race riding strategies
• starting procedures
• saddlery and other race gear
• track surfaces
• types and classes of races
• weighing procedures
• 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 races
• demonstration of riding skills suitable for race riding and making appropriate judgement calls on riding strategies based on a range of common racing scenarios
• implementation of procedures and timely techniques to complete race riding tasks safely, effectively and efficiently
• working with others to undertake and complete race 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 racing
• commercial racing training establishments, racetracks and registered race meetings
• materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to demonstrate race 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 races. Workplaces include thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Race gear  will include:

• approved personal protective equipment, including:

• goggles
• helmets
• riding boots
• silks
• vests
• whips

• business clothes
• saddlery, including:

• breastplates
• girths
• girth sleeves
• lead bag and leads
• rings
• saddles
• surcingles
• stirrup irons and leathers
• towels and packing

• suitcase or travel bag.

Race gear  preparation and checking for safety may include:

• cleaning gear, including:

• washing plastic, rubber and towelling
• oiling leather

• recognising wear and breakage, including:

• cracked leather
• gear slippage
• frayed girths and surcingles
• perished elastic, rubber or plastic
• rusted buckles
• split or cracked points
• worn padding
• worn stitching

• recognising approved gear
• replacing worn or broken gear
• selecting appropriate saddles, girths and other gear to meet weight requirements.

Race meeting documentation  may include:

• apprentice rides book
• clearances
• trainer's correspondence.

Track features and racecourse conditions  may include:

• assessing camber
• evaluating track rating
• evaluating surface of turf and synthetic tracks
• observing rail position and condition
• observing length of straights
• observing distances between turns and straights.

Pre and post -race procedures  may include:

• attending protests and inquiries
• claiming allowances
• complying with drug testing procedures
• following mounting yard procedures
• inspecting track
• making and announcing a decision to protest
• presenting to the start
• providing documentation
• receiving riding instructions
• reporting horse's performance post-race to trainer and owner
• weighing in and out.

Starting procedures  will include:

• asking for assistance when required
• following official's directions
• listening for name to be called
• moving into gates promptly.

Form  of own horse and other horses may include:

• assessing performance of horses at a range of distances and on different track surfaces
• predicting stages of race where favourites are likely to move
• reading form guides
• understanding handicapping system
• watching horses trial and race to ascertain performance.

Racing behaviour  of own horse and other horses may include:

• appearing to falter
• barrier manners
• changing stride
• checking
• climbing
• crowding
• laying in or hanging
• not finishing race strongly
• not trying
• over racing
• racing wide.

Appropriate riding skills  may include:

• adapting riding styles to suit individual horses
• changing direction
• controlling and changing pace
• considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as:

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

• dealing with pressure from other riders for position in field
• following rules of racing
• interpreting trainer instructions
• identifying emergency situations, for example:

• gear breakage
• horse pecking or falling
• horse racing erratically
• horse getting loose

• judging pace and position in field
• maintaining balance
• maintaining control of position and speed
• using aids, including whips
• judging and maintaining pace, including:

• knowing sectional times for varying race distances
• following trainer instructions
• slowing or quickening pace
• using speed maps before race to estimate:

• own place in the run
• which will be hardest to beat
• which will be running first, second and third
• whether there will be speed in the race
• who to follow

• using own judgement when race is not truly run.

Strategies  may require modification because:

• horse not performing as expected
• interference
• opportunity appears to improve position
• horse is slow away from gates.

Evaluating and reporting horse's race performance  may include:

• how horse travelled throughout race
• incidents in the race
• reason for not finishing closer
• whether horse had cover
• whether horse was boxed in
• whether horse was caught wide.

Race incidents  may include:

• injury to or distress of horse
• interference
• missing the start.

Protocol for communicating performance  may include:

• reporting honestly, factually and tactfully
• providing information using appropriate language and terms of address
• reporting to trainer
• providing information to stewards or other officials.

Post -race assessment of own performance  may include:

• discussing ride with trainer and employer
• discussing ride with other jockeys or mentor
• identifying areas where improvement could be made, including:

• riding horses of particular classes, experience and racing styles
• riding racehorses at trackwork not just at race meetings
• practising riding horses working close together
• viewing race videos.

Unit Sector 

Thoroughbred racing code

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing performance services