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Free Virtual Equine Industry Symposium Focuses On COVID-19 Response

Over the last eight months, the struggles of COVID-19 have affected our day-to-day lives. In the wake of the global pandemic, the theme of this year's Equine Industry Symposium will be RESILIENCE: Rethinking, Restructuring, Revaluating due to COVID-19. The event will be hosted as a live webinar via a zoom platform from November 16th through November 20th, 2020 each evening from 7 to 8 p.m. EST. This event is free upon advanced registration at the Eventbrite website.

How has COVID-19 affected you and your horse? Come find out at the 5th annual Equine Industry Symposium held virtually November 16-20, 2020.

Many of those in the equine industry have been impacted by the pandemic in multiple ways. Some of these challenges result from a lack of preparation, which can lead to insufficiencies both financial and of animal well-being. To address how to overcome these negative experiences and plan for a brighter future, each evening of this year's Equine Industry Symposium is focused on exploring the challenges presented by the pandemic, understanding its effects on the equine industry, discussing opportunities to re-evaluate and restructure, and proactively planning for situations similar to this that may occur in the years to come.

The symposium is hosted by students in the Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management Equine Management degree program at the University of Guelph, together with Ontario Equestrian and Equestrian Canada. Over the five evenings, live and pre-recorded speakers will discuss the effects of the pandemic in their areas of expertise followed by live question and answer sessions.

On Monday evening, Bronwynne Wilton from the Wilton Group will give a summary of the report provided to Equestrian Canada on the effects of COVID-19 on the equine industry. An open discussion with Danielle Glanc, farm policy analyst with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Jonathan Zammit, executive director of Ontario Racing, and Christine Reupke, director of Equestrian & Breed Sport at the Royal Horseshow in Toronto, Canada will provide insight on how they viewed and approached the pandemic from their respective equine communities.

On Tuesday evening, Melanie Barham will discuss farm and business planning. Sean Jones from Sunlife Financial will provide a five-step action list for designing a recession-proof financial plan. Catherine Willson, equine lawyer, and Mike King from Capri CMW insurance will discuss insurance implications and risk mitigation in light of COVID-19.

Wednesday evening will examine the effects of the pandemic on horse welfare. Gayle Ecker, director of Equine Guelph, will present the minimum standards of care as outlined in the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines. Roly Owers, CEO of World Horse Welfare, will analyze what welfare means and how to cope with pandemic restrictions without compromising welfare. Bettina Bobsien will discuss responsible decision-making for older and retiring horses.

On Thursday evening, Stewart Everett, UK Equine Register, and Nic de Brauwere, Redwings Sanctuary, will outline the traceability program in the UK. Kristy House from Equestrian Canada will give a summary of how traceability will be implemented in Canada and how it will assist with emergency situations like the pandemic.

Friday evening will begin with an address from Assistant Deputy Minister Frederic Seppey, Market and Industry Service Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, on how the equine industry is positioned and how the ministry can support the industry moving forward. Kristy House, Equestrian Canada and Tracey McCaugue-McElrea, Ontario Equestrian, will discuss how industry organizations are helping the industry as a whole. The symposium will conclude with highlights of some of the positives that have emerged from the pandemic.

While this event is free, attendees may wish to support “For the Herd”, an emergency fundraiser administered by Ontario Equestrian to assist riding schools that are struggling to provide for their horses due to the loss of revenue from lessons and camps due to COVID-19. All proceeds raised go toward riding school facilities and their school horses across the province. For more information and to donate visit the For the Herd Website.

Kentucky Equine Education Project To Host Webinar Promoting Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) is excited to announce a webinar focused on diversity, equity and inclusion in the horse industry.

Building Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Equine Industry With Talent Pipeline Management will be held on August 25, 2020, at 1pm ET. KEEP is providing this webinar in partnership with the Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center, the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

If you are interested in participating in the webinar, please register here. Participation in the webinar is free.

This webinar is part of KEEP's Equine Workforce Initiative that began in August of 2018. The initiative has led the industry in assessing labor needs and creating solutions within the state to meet those needs. This has included showcasing career pathways within the industry, the creation of a nationally recognized horseman apprenticeship program, and the engagement of new populations in the industry.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion has also been an important focus of the initiative. This webinar follows an industry survey on these issues and was shaped by the responses to that survey. This webinar is the first in a series of industry-wide discussions about these issues and how industry stakeholders can take a leading role in ensuring that careers in the horse industry are available and accessible to anyone.

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KEEP: President’s Suspension Of New H-2B Visas ‘A Massive Blow’ To Kentucky’s Equine Industry

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) released the following response to President Donald Trump's announcement that no new H-2B visas would be issued in 2020:

On Monday, June 22, 2020, President Trump issued an order that extends the federal government's suspension of new H-2B visas, as well as other work visas, through the end of the year. This order, as with the previous order issued in March, claims to open up new jobs to Americans during a time of record unemployment. However, when it comes to the Kentucky horse industry, this order will put our industry at severe risk.

H-2B visas are critical to Kentucky's horse industry. During a typical year, the demand for H-2B visas vastly outpaces the supply. To fully suspend the issuance of these visas is a massive blow to the Commonwealth's signature industry.

KEEP represents and advocates on behalf of the entire horse industry in Kentucky – all horse breeds and disciplines. KEEP's goal is to preserve, promote and protect Kentucky's signature $4 billion industry. Without a workforce that can meet the demands of the growing industry, it will be difficult for that economic impact to continue at the same level, especially as we are working to recover from the global pandemic.

KEEP is contacting Kentucky's Senators and Representatives in Washington to make them aware of this issue. Additionally, KEEP has joined with other businesses and trade associations across the country who are impacted by this decision to provide a response to the President and to the Congress.

Because the horse industry deals with animals that must be cared for, regardless of the pandemic, it is imperative that the industry can hire the labor force it needs. Additionally, equine operations across the state are working to ensure that their employees have necessary PPE and can work in a safe environment. Fortunately, due to the outdoor nature of the industry, it makes this much easier.

KEEP, through a partnership with the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Workforce Center, has spent the last two years building the framework for a talent pipeline that will bring more Kentuckians into the horse industry. While we are confident that this will result in an increase in the homegrown workforce for our industry, this will not happen overnight. With unemployment in Kentucky reaching alarming levels, we are hopeful that Kentuckians will look to the horse industry for employment. However, historically, there has not been an affinity for these types of jobs.

Kentucky is leading the country when it comes to the horse industry and its economic impact. With nearly 80,000 jobs, more than 238,000 equines and 35,000 horse operations in Kentucky today, KEEP feels strongly that the industry will recover from the pandemic. However, without a full workforce, that future is in danger. KEEP will continue advocating to ensure that Kentucky's horse industry has an adequate labor pool to meet our workforce needs and will continue developing career pathways for Kentuckians to join this industry.

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