Equestrian labor market

[Bedouwia]

I am wondering if the down economy will make it any easier to get good workers for the horse industry? My general impression is that fewer and fewer young people are inclined to want to or even trained to work with horses. In many parts of the country we are dependent upon immigrant labor to get the job done. As immigration gets more difficult, so does finding workers. What are all of you experiencing these days?

Bedouwia

[majxmom]

I know guys are running up to you in Pleasanton asking if you need help with your stalls. There's a lot of owners stepping out of the business, at least temporarily. Less owners = less horses = less help needed. That's GOT to mean that the labor supply goes up, and when that happens, labor costs go down and people try harder. But you've got to feel sorry for a guy who was making a meager $200 a week that now has to rely on picking up a few stalls at $5 a stall. Times are so tough right now for horses and humans.

[Jean]

The situation cannot be that bad yet. We have had an ad posted on 4 websites for over a month for help at the racetrack in Alberta and have received only one response. Offering 2-2500/month with accomadations available. Don't believe that is poverty wages. have had to apply to get a foreign worker.

[madelyn]

We have people apply weekly for $8 an hour for farm help. Qualified people with experience. The labor market is just wonderful if you are an employer.

[bridlewise]

Our local university, NDSU, has an equine program churning out 50-60 students every year with "Equine" majors...only 1 of which has actually gotten a job with horses in recent years. At $2500 a month, I guarantee that if you sent a notice to these equine campuses, you would get a response!

[martha c. green]

I have ben looking for a good rider for ever. I have ad's as far away as New Mexico. No replys. I want someone to break race prospects the old fashion way. I want them to be able to look like show horses when they are finished. It really helps when they go to the track. Once a rider has worked at the track all they want to do is get on , hit the track at a gallop, get back to the barn as fast at possiable and get the next one for the fast buck.

[helen in FL]

Before I was pregnant the job market was my oyster. Now if I am to take a live on position my 9 month old plus my stallion and three mares have to come with. Maybe next year I will be able to hit the south Florida circuits as I can easily find the little one a day care center with the amount of pay I would receive.
Finding local jobs, however, are close to impossible. No one wants to pay over $5 an hour. Even when you have extensive experience.

[majxmom]

The situation cannot be that bad yet.

I don't know...my mother's gentleman friend was laid off from his job as a sander at a cabinet maker. He applied for a job at a yogurt shop because there was a "Help Wanted" sign outside. The manager told him he had 150 applications already. I wondered why the sadist didn't remove the sign yet--just want to see how many he'd get?

martha, I think good riders are always in short supply. I remember a time at Pleasanton when a trainer walked up to another trainer who doubled as an exercise rider, and said, "There's no good riders here. Will you get on one for me?"

[Jean]

Where are these colleges located. In order to work in Canada a person would have to get a work permit but it might be worth a shot. The equine programs up here turn out TRAINERs not groom although the Groom School program at Olds College has supplied some very credible new groom to the racetrack. The current course is 2 monthes from completion and we need experienced help March 1

[Dave C]

Jean, perhaps instead of complaining about the inability to attract help you should be posting links to the webpages where these jobs are advertised. Of course that's assuming that the clowns who run horse raceing in Alberta are capable of creating such a website, with links to visa and permit requirements for foreign workers.

[Bedouwia]

Dave C, you might have a good idea there. Perhaps those who need help and those who need a job might be able to benefit from this forum?

I must agree that the hardest thing is to find workers who are also good riders. In the past, the only thing that I was able to do was to take young people with some talent and train them myself. Years ago that was not hard to do because it seemed that a barn with horses was like sugar to ants. Kids would just show up wanting to be with the horses and ride. That seems not to be so prevelant today. Maybe they are all in school, or busy playing video games?

It would appear that the labor market is difinitely very diverse and that some places do a better job than other trying to train new horsemen or horsewomen for the future of our sport.

Bedouwia