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Title / Ride thoroughbred racehorses in fastwork as instructed by the trainer
Level / 3 / Credits / 10
Purpose / This unit standard is intended for people who are required toprepare for and ride thoroughbred racehorses in fastwork on public training tracks, and carry out procedures following workouts in a thoroughbred racing industry context.
People will be working under limited supervision with instruction by the trainer, and with responsibility for their work routines.
Classification / Equine>Equine Care
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1Demonstration of competency must be consistent with:
- Workplaceprocedures
- Raceclub procedures
- Racetrack bylaws
- The New Zealand Rules of Racing applicable to the job
- New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing standards for safety gear
- Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
- Code of Welfare: Horses and Donkeys available at
2Racetrack Bylaws can be obtained from the Secretary of the racing club where horses are working.
3Demonstration of competency must be:
- provided in the context of a commercial business operation under normal working conditions and undertaken on a public training track
- achieved on both experienced and inexperienced horses. A rider must be assessed competent when riding an experienced horse solo and in company, and an inexperienced horse solo and in company.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Ride a thoroughbredracehorse at fastwork as instructed by the trainer on a public training track.
Evidence requirements
1.1Receives and clarifies instructions.
1.2Adjusts gear to ensure designated action and safety for horse and rider.
1.3Warms up and rides the horse confidently, at the pace, distance, and sectional times as directed by the trainer, with the horse under control.
Rangeeasy canter, half pace, three quarter pace, working gallop, full gallop.
1.4Encourages the horse to remain balanced, relaxed and on the bit, and perform at all paces using voice, hands, heels, and whip.
1.5Rides the horse and conducts self, according to the rules of racing.
Outcome 2
Pull the horse up after the workout, and return to the trainer.
Evidence requirements
2.1Pulls the horse up gradually.
2.2Returns the horse to the trainer at a relaxed walk.
Outcome 3
Provide a verbal report to the trainer on the way the horse completed the workout.
Evidence requirements
3.1Provides details of the way in which the horse completed the workout, both physically and its mental attitude.
Planned review date / 31 December 2020Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 20 November 2006 / N/A
Review / 2 / 15 October 2015 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0018
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMRs). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Primary Industry Training OrganisationSSB Code 101558 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018