NZQA registered unit standard
20523 version 3
Page 1 of 4
Title
Demonstrate understanding of a horse race venue, and attend to horses
before and after racing
Level
3
Purpose
Credits
12
This unit standard is intended for people who are required to
care for horses at trials in a racing industry context.
People will be working under limited supervision with
responsibility for their work routines, however in some
instances people will be directly following the trainers
instructions.
Classification
Equine>Equine Care
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
Demonstration of competency must be consistent with:

Workplace and/or stable procedures

Race club procedures

Racetrack bylaws

The New Zealand Rules of Racing or The New Zealand Rules of Harness
Racing relevant to raceday

Racing code standards for safety gear

Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992

Code of Welfare: Horses and Donkeys available at http://www.mpi.govt.nz.
2
Candidates must demonstrate competency in either a commercial horse enterprise or
a recognised voluntary equine organisation.
3
In the context of this unit standard, understanding means that there should be
evidence of a learners’ thorough comprehension of a topic. A learner with a good
understanding of a topic should have applied, or should be able to apply what they
have learnt to a workplace situation and will be able to alter their practices to the
different contexts they are applying their learning to. Assessors should be confident
that the learners’ understanding is embedded in their practices and behaviour.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate understanding of the race venue at which the horses are racing and training,
and application of the relevant rules of racing.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
20523 version 3
Page 2 of 4
Evidence requirements
1.1
Identifies race club officials by name and describes their roles.
Range
1.2
President, Secretary, Racecourse Inspector, Stipendary Steward,
Starter.
Identifies racetrack layout and condition for racing.
Outcome 2
Identify and describe the rules of racing applicable to the role.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Identifies and describes the rules of racing applicable to the role.
Outcome 3
Demonstrate understanding of the form, race details, and unique requirements of horses
under direct care on raceday.
Evidence requirement
3.1
Identifies the horse’s form from given information. .
3.2
Identifies the race number, race time, jockey or driver, type and class of race,
and barrier position.
3.3
Identifies the horse/s by brand and identifying characteristics.
3.4
Safely handles horses on raceday according to behavioural characteristics and
gender.
Outcome 4
Prepare horse’s gear and self for raceday.
Evidence requirement
4.1
Packs essential gear required for the horse on raceday.
4.2
Prepares and maintains personal standard of attire and footwear suitable for the
situation.
Outcome 5
Prepare the horse for racing, and present the horse at the birdcage at the required time.
Evidence requirement
5.1
Attends to care of the horse while restrained at racing venue.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
20523 version 3
Page 3 of 4
5.2
Prepares horse as specified by the trainer.
5.3
Walks the horse to and around the birdcage as instructed and consistent with
the code’s rules of racing protocols.
Outcome 6
Attend to post-race procedures.
Evidence requirement
6.1
Identifies the gear that can be removed from the horse while in the birdcage
consistent with the code’s rules of racing protocols.
6.2
Leads the horse from the birdcage safely back to tie-up stall area.
6.3
Cools and covers the horse as instructed.
Outcome 7
Handle horse during swabbing procedures.
Evidence requirement
7.1
Describes the purpose and procedures for swabbing and sample collection.
7.2
Carries out duties consistent with the code’s rules of racing protocols for
swabbing, sample collection, and cataloguing.
Planned review date
31 December 2020
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
25 September 2003
N/A
Review
2
17 October 2008
N/A
Review
3
15 October 2015
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0018
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
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.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
20523 version 3
Page 4 of 4
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 standards@primaryito.ac.nz if
you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016