Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
Posted: July 20, 2017
A shortage of workers in the equine industry is the topic for the American Horse Council’s third-quarter webinar, the organization announced July 20.
The webinar, “Cantering Towards a Worker Shortage,” is scheduled for Aug. 21 at 3 p.m. EDT.
“It is no secret that many of the workers on the backstretch at racetracks, on breeding farms and at horse shows are foreign born” AHC President Julie Broadway said. “Horse industry employers have for many years found it difficult to recruit American workers to fill these jobs.
“For this reason, American immigration policy has been a major concern of the horse industry and the AHC has worked to ensure the H-2B non-agricultural and H-2A agricultural temporary foreign worker programs are a viable option for the industry. With an uncertain political climate, we felt it was important to provide more insight as to why the industry relies on these visas.”
Eclipse Award-winning trainer Dale Romans of Romans Racing will lead off the webinar and provide insight as to why the H2B program is so important to the well-being of his business, the Thoroughbred racing industry and the equine industry as a whole. A licensed trainer since age 18, Romans began working in his father’s stable from the time he could walk.
Romans is an active advocate for the sport and serves or has served in volunteer leadership positions for various industry organizations, including the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Churchill Downs Backside Health & Welfare Fund, Churchill Downs Racing Committee, and the Gulfstream Park Racing Committee.
Glen M. Krebs of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP of Lexington, Ky., will focus on the industry’s use of H2A visas. Krebs is a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment Service Team, and concentrates his practice in International and Immigration law.
Krebs has spoken extensively on the subject of Immigration Law and was contributing author to “Legal Aspects of Horse Farm Operations” (fourth edition 2014) at University of Kentucky College of Law, Office of Continuing Legal Education.
Lisa L. Galliath of LLG Attorney at Law will speak on the industry’s use of the H2B visa. Galliath assists individuals, professionals, and businesses with United States immigration issues and question, as well as specializing in representing equestrian professionals in all disciplines. She has extensive experience and knowledge of the equine industry, and her firm provides legal services to many clients based in equestrian centers in Florida and California.
The webinar is open to AHC members and non-members. Registration is available here. For more information contact Ashley Furst, communications director for the AHC, at afurst@horsecouncil.org.