Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to monitor and maintain racehorse feeding programs under direction and understand the factors that regulate racehorse feeding programs.

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

This unit of competency operates in work 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 licensed and registered personnel and others authorised to prepare and distribute feed for horses under direction.

Competencies attained in this unit apply to the harness and thoroughbred codes of the industry. Consequently when performance criteria are applied they will relate to the harness or thoroughbred code and statements of attainment will reflect this distinction.

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

Prerequisite units 

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 

Monitor and maintain racehorse feeding program.

1. Quality and suitability of feed and feed supplements for horses are evaluated.

2. Feeds are prepared and distributed  in line with feeding program.

3. Feed storage areas and water supplies are maintained, cleaned and kept free of contaminants  .

4. Feed inventory is checked and reported  to supervisor.

5. Variations  to individual eating and drinking patterns are recorded and reported according to enterprise procedures.

6. Condition of horses  is monitored and reported.

Understand factors that regulate or guide racehorse feeding programs.

7. Factors that impact on racehorse feeding programs are known and understood.

8. Common problems  related to incorrect feeding are identified.

9. Feed habits of individual horses are evaluated.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses
• communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers and feed merchants using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to implementing feeding programs
• completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame
• following instructions
• identifying and correctly using different feed components and feed supplements
• identifying individual horses
• identifying changes to horse feeding behaviour
• reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including relevant rules of racing
• recognising changes in condition of horses
• recognising spoiled feed
• relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities
• reporting problems promptly
• understanding horse digestive system
• using feed weighing scales
• written communication skills to complete workplace documentation.

Required knowledge 

• basic horse digestion
• communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry
• common horse behaviour, social traits and vices
• feed and feed supplements
• feeding principles, including racehorse nutritional requirements
• interaction between feed and supplements that may result in contravention of industry regulations
• quality, type and value of feed
• racing industry animal welfare requirements
• racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures
• relevant rules of racing
• weights and energy value of feeds.

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 feeding horses under direction
• implementation of procedures to complete horse feeding tasks safely, effectively and efficiently
• working with others to undertake and complete horse feeding tasks that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of harness and thoroughbred horses of different ages and sexes 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 range of harness and thoroughbred horses
• materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to implement feeding programs for horses under direction
• safe handling areas, such as racing stables
• 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, documented 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 implement feeding programs for racehorses under direction. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Quality and suitability of feed and feed supplements  may include:

• recognising quality of feed:

• age
• presence or absence of mould
• rodent or other spoilage
• type of grass or grain species

• recognising:

• electrolytes
• herbal remedies
• prescribed additives
• vitamins and minerals

• recognising and evaluating pre and post-race feeds
• understanding basic digestive system
• understanding feeding principles.

Preparation and distribution of feeds  will include:

• adhering to enterprise's feeding time requirements
• changing rations, as directed, to suit local conditions:

• high energy feeds for racing animals
• spelling feeds for horses coming into work or being let down
• climate

• damping feeds as required
• ensuring prepared feed is given to correct horse
• following relevant rules of racing related to feed additives
• following safe horse handling practices
• maintaining enterprise's safe feed preparation procedures:

• cleaning buckets, feed and water containers
• following instructions related to feed mixers and grain crushers
• minimising dust
• using dust masks
• using safe lifting and handling techniques
• washing hands

• reading and following feed rations lists and directions
• recognising spoiled or contaminated feeds
• recognising and adding prescribed supplements
• understanding common horse behaviour
• using feed weighing scales.

Contaminants  may include:

• accidental introduction of banned substances through use of supplements
• chemicals
• foreign objects in bagged or premixed feed
• moisture, humidity or heat
• mould
• rodent, bird or bat droppings.

Feed inventory checking and reporting  may include:

• checking quality of remaining feed
• checking receipt of supplies
• confirming order with supervisor
• counting remaining bales of hay, bags of feed and supplements
• estimating ongoing supplies for designated period
• ordering supplies
• reading and writing feed inventory.

Individual eating and drinking variations  may include:

• aggression when feeding
• drinking more or less water than usual
• eating bedding
• eating dirt or sand
• leaving feed or feed components
• playing with water
• scattering or flinging feed
• quidding.

Condition of horses  may include:

• becoming tucked up
• changing consistency, odour or frequency of manure or urine
• developing a dull or rough coat
• developing a nervy disposition
• losing or gaining weight.

Common problems related to incorrect feeding  may include:

• contravention of rules of racing
• colic
• diarrhoea
• leg swelling
• laminitis
• exertional rhabdomyolosis (tying up).

Unit Sector 

Harness and thoroughbred racing codes

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing performance services