Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to safely and efficiently perform the duties of a barrier attendant at thoroughbred race meetings and trials. It requires knowledge and skills associated with handling horses safely in a high pressure environment, working closely with other barrier attendants and following directions from the starter, as well as recognising approved gear and damaged gear and fitting replacement gear to agitated horses in a timely manner.

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 racing industry personnel authorised to perform the duties of a barrier attendant.

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 

Prepare for race meeting duties.

1. Work roster is confirmed.

2. Assistance with preparation of barrier and starting equipment is provided.

3. Allocated duties  are confirmed with starter.

4. Personal protective equipment  is used according to safe operating procedures and club requirements.

5. Personal presentation  is appropriate for work duties and reinforces a positive image of racing.

Identify and fit racing gear.

6. Approved racing gear is identified.

7. Non-compliant, damaged or defective gear  is recognised.

8. Racing gear is fitted, adjusted and replaced in a timely manner as required.

Load horses into barriers.

9. Knowledge of horse behaviour  is used to select and modify handling skills.

10. Horse handling skills  are safe and effective for the duties of a barrier attendant.

11. Horses are loaded into barriers  according to starter's instruction.

12. Strategies  are employed to load difficult horses that minimise the risk of injury to self, horses and others.

13. Riders are assisted as required.

14. Problems are relayed to starter and others.

15. Horses held as directed are released at race start.

Assist in track emergencies.

16. Potential track problems or incidents  are identified.

17. Loose horses are cornered and captured.

18. Riders who have fallen are assisted.

19. Injured horses are restrained.

Debrief after race.

20. Reports are made to starter and/or stewards on outcomes of barrier loading and start.

21. Contributions are made on ways to improve effectiveness of barrier team and self.

22. Barriers are moved for next race.

23. Barriers are returned to storage area and cleaned, and damage or maintenance needs are reported.

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 race starter, racing officials and licensed personnel using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to barrier attendant duties
• completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame
• evaluating risks associated with loading horses into barriers
• identifying and correctly applying different items of approved gear
• judging situations and seeking assistance to prevent problems arising or overcome problems before they develop further
• leading and handling horses in enclosed spaces
• recognising damaged or defective gear
• relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities
• relaying messages to others
• responding quickly to requests from starter
• responding to instructions promptly and safely
• teamwork skills to ensure completion of job tasks
• working safely in confined spaces of barrier.

Required knowledge 

• appropriate methods of controlling horses
• approved gear
• basic industry terminology related to handling horses
• limits of own responsibility
• personal grooming and presentation requirements
• protocols and procedures for communicating with licensed and other racing industry personnel
• racing industry animal welfare requirements
• racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures
• range of behaviour traits exhibited by horses
• relevant rules of racing
• reporting requirements for irregularities and problems.

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 performing the duties of a barrier attendant
• implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient handling and loading of horses into barriers
• working with others to undertake and complete barrier procedures that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of racehorses of different ages and sexes, and at different stages of preparation 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 variety of thoroughbred horses
• materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to perform barrier attendant duties
• safe handling areas, such as racetracks and barriers
• 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, for example:

• RGRCMN201A Follow OHS procedures and observe environmental work practices
• RGRPSH201A Handle horses.

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 the duties of a barrier attendant at thoroughbred race meetings and trials. Workplaces include thoroughbred racecourses, training tracks, administration buildings and public areas.

Preparation of barrier and starting equipment  will include:

• battery
• communication system
• damage
• fuel
• lights
• oil
• power steering fluid
• transmission fluid
• tyre pressure
• water.

Duties allocated by the starter  may include:

• climb barrier
• hold horses
• load horses
• shut gate
• walk horses.

Personal protective equipment  will include:

• approved helmets
• approved vests
• boots
• gloves.

Personal presentation  will include:

• adhering to industry or race club dress code, including:

• clothing
• footwear
• hair
• jewellery and other personal adornment.

Approved racing gear  may include:

• bandages
• bits
• blinkers
• boots
• bridles
• breastplates
• crossover nosebands
• girths
• pacifiers
• reins
• rings
• saddles
• shadow roll
• stirrup leathers
• surcingles
• tongue ties.

Damaged or defective gear  may include:

• frayed reins
• incorrectly adjusted blinkers and pacifiers
• loose bandages
• loose shoes
• loose straps
• reins with buckles
• slipped saddles.

Horse behaviour knowledge  may include:

• applying restraining techniques
• assessing behaviour prior to handling
• identifying good behaviour traits and bad behaviour traits and vices
• understanding behaviour problems.

Horse handling skills for safe and effective control  will include:

• approaching horse from near side front
• assuming control of horse
• avoiding sudden movement
• leading horse person to person
• maintaining at least two lengths between horses being led
• speaking calmly to horse.

Actions carried out when horses are loaded into barriers  may include:

• communicating with other team members to complete tasks
• leading horse forward into barrier correctly
• linking arms to move horse forward
• pushing horse sideways
• closing gates of stalls correctly
• lifting tail to prevent horse flipping
• climbing barrier and moving to horse's head to take control
• assuming correct position to assist jockey in barrier
• straddling barrier safely to control horse
• exiting barrier safely, quickly and efficiently.

Strategies employed to load difficult horses  may include:

• applying cane (under starter's instruction)
• applying barrier blanket
• applying blindfold
• applying twitch correctly
• applying leading strap
• double hold to bridle
• holding ear
• holding tail (in barrier only)
• single hold to bridle
• working with other attendants as directed by starter.

Riders  may be assisted by:

• climbing onto near side of barrier
• controlling and calming horse
• holding rein correctly.

Problems relayed to the starter  may include:

• horse burrowing
• horse cast under stalls
• horse collapsed in stalls
• horse laying back on gate
• horse kicking
• horse pulling back
• horse refusing
• horse sitting down
• horse straddling front of stall or adjacent stall
• horse turning head into adjacent stall
• horse whipping around
• rider injury.

Potential track problems or incidents  may include:

• gate fails to open
• horse injury
• loose horses
• rider injury.

Unit Sector 

Thoroughbred racing code

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing performance services