Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to clean and maintain the stable environment, identify and report workplace hazards, provide feed and water to horses, groom horses and monitor basic horse health and welfare.
The unit applies to individuals who perform routine stable duties in the harness or thoroughbred codes of the racing industry.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, in accordance with applicable state/territory animal welfare and workplace health and safety legislative requirements.
Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit. Users are advised to check with the relevant Principal Racing Authority (PRA) for current requirements.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Perform stable duties and identify potential hazards | 1.1 Review racing stable operations and procedures to ensure understanding and compliance 1.2 Identify, select and correctly fit appropriate personal protective equipment according to safe work practices 1.3 Clean stables and yards and replace bedding according to stable routine 1.4 Clean, sweep or rake stable environment and yards 1.5 Identify and report hazards in the workplace to nominated person according to workplace policies and procedures |
2. Provide feed and water to horses | 2.1 Identify common feedstuffs accurately 2.2 Prepare and provide feed and water according to stable routine 2.3 Identify, remove and report contaminated feed according to workplace policies and procedures 2.4 Observe and report variations to individual eating and drinking patterns 2.5 Ensure correct feed and additives are prepared and fed to the correct horse, knowing and understanding consequences of errors |
3. Groom horses | 3.1 Assess hazards and potential risks to self, others and horse and take steps to minimise prior to handling and grooming horses 3.2 Position and tie up horses in preparation for grooming, using safe horse handling techniques 3.3 Groom horses according to instructions 3.4 Check horses for illness or injury during grooming, and report irregularities according to workplace policies and procedures 3.5 Clean and maintain grooming tools according to workplace procedures 3.6 Clean and dress horse hooves following stable routine |
4. Monitor basic health and welfare of horses | 4.1 Observe, identify and report signs of a healthy or unhealthy horse according to workplace procedures 4.2 Follow stable hygiene and quarantine practices according to workplace procedures 4.3 Check horse hooves and legs for soreness, inflammation and lameness and report to nominated person according to workplace policies and procedures |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill | Description |
Reading | Interpret work instructions and information in stable routines and procedures |
Writing | Record information about stable duties and events accurately, following workplace procedures |
Numeracy | Measure quantities of feed and additives accurately |
Oral communication | Use active listening and questioning skills to confirm and clarify instructions |
Navigate the world of work | Follow stable procedures and racing industry requirements relating to safety and animal welfare; recognising and taking responsibility for own role and work area |
Interact with others | Work collaboratively with others to perform stable duties effectively |
Get the work done | Plan and sequence own tasks and assemble equipment to complete duties in designated timeframes |
Sectors
Performance services horse (PSH)