New immigration laws will affect the equine industries and the racing industry wants to ensure they can hire foreign workers.
A proposed expansion of the U.S. P Visa to cover equine workers was discussed at a recent racing industry symposium, although no legislation has been introduced yet. The draft plan would create a new VISA category for workers who care for, groom, train or breed competition horses, offering a more permanent alternative to current H-2B seasonal work visas. Industry leaders say the change could help address chronic labor shortages, but the bill’s progress and details remain uncertain amid political and legislative challenges.