Thoroughbred Fact Sheets | Secondary (Year 7-10)

In collaboration with Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA) has developed a series of ten curriculum-aligned fact sheets and accompanying learning tasks for secondary students designed to explore Australia’s thoroughbred industry. 

These resources integrate multimedia content, real-world case studies, and cross-curricular activities to engage students in meaningful learning. They showcase the industry’s careers, sustainability initiatives, and the role of innovation and technology, offering students practical insights into breeding/genetics, anatomy, nutrition, welfare, and performance management.

 

Learn about the Thoroughbred Industry, straight from the horse’s mouth at TBA Schools: www.tbaschools.com.au

Access Thoroughbred Fact Sheets | Primary resources via Primezone HERE.

 

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Fact Sheet 1 | The History of Australian Thoroughbreds | DOWNLOAD HERE

(Year 9)

 

Students explore the development of Australia’s thoroughbred industry, starting with the arrival of the first horses in 1788 and the growth of the breeding industry into one of the largest in the world. Students engage in research, historical analysis, and mathematical tasks to understand the significance of thoroughbred breeding and horse racing events, such as the Melbourne Cup, in the development of Australian society and its global connections.

 

RESOURCE OVERVIEW

Year 9	Famous Australian thoroughbreds – research activity	15-20 minutes
Year 9	Significant Australian events: The Melbourne Cup – response activity	10 minutes
Year 9	Melbourne Cup winners – timeline activity	30 minutes
Year 9	Melbourne Cup winners – graphing activity	45 minutes
Year 9	Summary response activity	20 minutes

 

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Fact Sheet 2 | Evolution and Classification of the Thoroughbred Horse | DOWNLOAD HERE

(Year 7)

 

This resource introduces students to the evolutionary history and classification of horses. Students learn about the physical adaptations that have enabled horses to survive and reproduce over time and understand how classification systems are used to group organisms based on their shared characteristics. The resource provides a hands-on opportunity for students to engage with classification using dichotomous keys.

 

RESOURCE OVERVIEW

Year 7	Horse evolution timeline activity	30 – 45 minutes
Year 7	Create a dichotomous key	25 – 30 minutes

 

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Fact Sheet 3 | Investigating Thoroughbred Energy, Motion, and Movement | DOWNLOAD HERE

(Year 7, 8, and 10)

 

This fact sheet explores the energy transformations and physical forces involved in the movement of thoroughbred horses. Students investigate how Newton’s laws of motion apply to horse movement, how energy is transferred and transformed during racing, and the factors that affect a horse’s speed and acceleration. 

 

RESOURCE OVERVIEW

Year 7, 8 & 10	Investigating Thoroughbred Energy, Motion, and Movement	20 – 30 minutes
Year 7, 8 & 10	Newton’s laws of motion	20 – 30 minutes

 

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Fact Sheet 4 | Business, Economics, and Thoroughbred Racing in Australia | DOWNLOAD HERE

(Year 7 – 10)

 

This fact sheet explores the significant economic impact of the thoroughbred racing industry in Australia, highlighting its contributions to national revenue, employment, and regional development. Students investigate the economic roles of stakeholders, including breeders, and racing clubs, and examine how tourism and community-based activities contribute to the economic sustainability of the sector. Through data analysis, students develop their ability to interpret economic trends and identify cause-and-effect relationships.

 

RESOURCE OVERVIEW

Year 7- 10	Economic impacts – data collection activity	20 minutes
Year 7 -10	Graphing state and territory data	20 – 30 minutes
Year 7-10	Economic impacts – case studies	5 minutes
Year 7-10	Summary response activity	20 minutes

 

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Fact Sheet 5 | Biosecurity, Welfare, and Ethical Considerations in the Australian Thoroughbred Industry | DOWNLOAD HERE

(Year 7 – 10)

 

This fact sheet focuses on the biosecurity protocols, animal welfare practices, and ethical considerations integral to the Australian thoroughbred industry. Students learn how biosecurity measures, such as quarantine, personal protective equipment (PPE), and vaccinations, protect horses and humans from disease. The resource explores how the five domains of animal welfare are applied to maintain physical and mental well-being of horses.

 

RESOURCE OVERVIEW

Year 7 – 10	Biosecurity – Research and respond activity	25 – 35 minutes
Year 7 – 10	Ethics and welfare in the thoroughbred industry collage activity	30 – 50 minutes

 

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Fact Sheet 6 | Thoroughbred Nutrition, Behaviour, and Handling | DOWNLOAD HERE

(Year 7 – 10)

 

Students learn about the nutritional needs, behavioural patterns, and safe handling practices essential to caring for and managing thoroughbred horses. Students also explore how horse behaviour can inform caretakers about a horse’s well-being and the critical role of safe handling techniques to protect both horses and handlers in the thoroughbred industry.

 

RESOURCE OVERVIEW

Year 7- 10	Thoroughbred nutrition, behaviour, and handling- response task	15 – 20 minutes
Year 7 -10	Thoroughbred handling- guided research task	30 – 40 minutes

 

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Fact Sheet 7 | Thoroughbred Breeding and Genetics | DOWNLOAD HERE

(Year 10)

 

This fact sheet explores the science of genetics and selective breeding in the thoroughbred horse industry. Students learn about the fundamental concepts of heredity, including the roles of chromosomes, DNA, and genes in passing traits from one generation to the next. The resource introduces pedigree analysis and the use of Punnett squares to predict trait inheritance. 

 

RESOURCE OVERVIEW

Year 10	Constructing Punnett squares to predict traits	20 – 30 minutes
Year 10	Thoroughbred breeding and genetics- response task	10 -15 minutes
Year 10	Constructing a pedigree diagram	15 – 20 minutes

 

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Fact Sheet 8 | Research and Development in the Thoroughbred Industry | DOWNLOAD HERE

(Year 9 – 10)

 

This fact sheet examines how research and development (R&D) drives innovation and improvement in the Australian thoroughbred industry. Students explore how advances in veterinary science, genetic testing, and training technologies enhance horse health, welfare, and performance. The resource highlights the role of R&D organisations, such as AgriFutures Australia and Australian universities, in addressing industry challenges. 

 

RESOURCE OVERVIEW

Year 10	Research and development in the thoroughbred industry response task	15 minutes
Year 10	Research and development case studies	45 – 60 minutes

 

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Fact Sheet 9 | Technology and Innovation in the Thoroughbred Industry | DOWNLOAD HERE

(Year 7 – 10)

 

This resource explores technology and innovation within the Australian thoroughbred industry, focusing on technology and innovation to enhance breeding, training, racing, and healthcare practices. Students learn how innovation improves the industry’s profitability, safety, and sustainability, ensuring ethical animal care and reducing environmental impacts. Through case studies, students will explore the use of sports science technologies to monitor horse performance and maintain animal welfare.

 

RESOURCE OVERVIEW

Year 7 – 10	Technology and innovation – case study	20 – 25 minutes
Year 7 – 10	Technology and innovation – chatterbox activity	30 – 45 minutes

 

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Fact Sheet 10 | Career Opportunities in the Thoroughbred Industry | DOWNLOAD HERE

(Year 7 – 10)

 

This fact sheet introduces students to the diverse career opportunities within the Australian thoroughbred industry. Students learn about the importance of collaboration between various occupations in the industry to ensure the sector’s social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Students explore how different roles contribute to the welfare of horses, the efficiency of industry operations, and the growth of local economies.

 

RESOURCE OVERVIEW

Year 7 – 10	Industry career pathways – research task	30 minutes
Year 7 – 10	Problem-solving scenario cards	25 – 35 minutes

 

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POSTERS

 

Access 3 complementary posters that align with the above fact sheets. Targeted to secondary students, these posters are a great addition to your classroom, providing visual representation of the above thoroughbred content. 

 

DOWNLOAD POSTERS

#1	Careers in Australia’s Thoroughbred Industry	DOWNLOAD
#2	Thoroughbred Energy, Motion and Movement	DOWNLOAD
#3	Protecting Australian Thoroughbreds	DOWNLOAD

 

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ACCESS THE ANSWER SHEET FOR ALL FACT SHEETS/WORKSHEETS | DOWNLOAD HERE

REFERENCES | DOWNLOAD HERE