Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to ride over jumps in races and trials, assess track conditions, judge pace, follow instructions and identify and apply jumps race rules.

To undertake this unit the candidate will be able to handle horses safely, follow workplace OHS standards and demonstrate competent riding skills for jumping racing.

It is recommended that RGRPSH413A Prepare for race riding, RGRPSH414A Ride horses in trials and RGRPSH415A Ride horses in races are completed and assessed before or in conjunction with this unit of competency.

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 perform trial and race jumping riding skills.

This unit can be contextualised for other industries while also maintaining the integrity of the unit.

Prerequisite units 

RGRPSH406A

Develop riding skills for jumping racing

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 

Apply trial and race jumping riding skills.

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

2. Pace of horse over jumps  is judged and maintained for required times and distances according to trainer instructions where possible.

3. Rules  relating to safe and legal race riding over jumps are known and observed during practice.

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 and relevant rules
• applying safe work practices when riding and jumping horses in trials and races
• calculating pace and distances
• checking gear and equipment
• communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to applying jumping skills in trials and races
• completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame
• identifying and correctly using different items of personal protective equipment
• identifying and practising rules of racing relevant to jumping racing jockeys
• identifying and correctly using different items of gear and equipment and assessing condition of same in terms of safe use and need for repair
• identifying track conditions
• judging pace
• reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including rules of racing
• relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities
• trial and race riding jumps skills
• 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 jumps race riding
• communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry
• industry terminology related to handling and racing horses
• location of tracks for jumps races
• pace of horses
• purpose of using appropriate personal protective equipment
• racing industry animal welfare requirements
• racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures
• track conditions and shape
• types of jumps.

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 apply to race and trial riding jumping skills, including rules of racing relevant to jumping racing
• demonstration of jumps 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 and trial riding jumping tasks safely, effectively and efficiently
• working with others to undertake and complete application of race and trial riding jumping 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 thoroughbred horses that are currently in training for jumping racing
• commercial racing training establishments, racetracks and registered race meetings
• materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to demonstrate race and trial riding jumping 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 perform trial and race jumping riding skills. Workplaces include thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Variety of track conditions and situations  may include:

• camber
• characteristics of jumps
• differences between tracks at different locations
• distances between turns and straights
• height of jumps for hurdles and steeplechases
• hurdle races
• length of straights
• country, metropolitan and provincial jumping races
• position of jumps
• rail position and condition
• rider ability
• steeplechase races
• surface of tracks
• track rating
• track shape
• viewing race videos to assess known and unknown horse performance at various tracks
• weather conditions.

Pace of horse over jumps  may include:

• approaching jumps
• average speed over the course
• calmness
• contact on the bit
• impulsion
• judging sectional times
• metres per minute
• long and short crest release
• out of hand release
• safe pace.

Rules  will include:

• A and B class riders, and cross country and picnic riders
• Australian and local rules of racing
• amateur flat races
• handicap weights
• jumps race rules
• country, metropolitan and provincial
• race and trial conditions
• steeple schooling areas
• training sessions.

Unit Sector 

Thoroughbred racing code

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing performance services