ICE The elephant in the room

[Bogey2]

They are definitely being priced out in MA

[endlessclimb]

Same. And all of them want to pay $15-20 an hour and have the person work weekends. It’s a really tough sell.

[Aussie_2020]

This makes me ill. A bounty on a human that is just trying to make a living, doing a job most others will not, causing no harm.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@endlessclimb

Same. And all of them want to pay $15-20 an hour and have the person work weekends. It’s a really tough sell.

Yes. Exact same issues in my area.

The barns that pay more and treat employees well? They seem to retain staff. The barns that have unreasonable staffing ratios and demand extra long hours, weekends, or are run by well known curmudgeons? Those barns are constantly on social media advertising that they are hiring… again. Because someone quit on them… again.

It is what it is.

[enjoytheride]

I guess if anyone sees Dr Phil at their barn they know what’s coming.

[MHM]

@Belmont

I personally know barns that went to Thermal and only took their guys with documents or were going to hire grooms IN Cali. They were too scared to take their help from home anywhere close to the border or through checkpoints (you have to go through one in TX to get to Thermal).

There is a show on the East Coast with a long history of ICE activity and checkpoints on the roads.

Many people leave their regular help at home for that show and hire freelancers or what have you.

There are also trainers who lunge at that show, or lead the horses up to the ring if they are short handed. Maybe they do that at other shows. Maybe not.

[Annie10]

If anyone can walk in off the street no they don’t need a warrant to just walk in and do their thing

[Annie10]

@moonlitoaksranch

That’s an interesting question. Private property should not be subjected to raids unless ICE has a warrant.

In FL the dept of Agriculture can enter any property at any time to inspect the livestock and their conditions, etc. I wouldn’t be surprised if ICE doesn’t follow them
In or have them detain any possible illegals for them, which they can do since they are law enforcement. Don’t know what it’s like in other states.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@Annie10

In or have them detain any possible illegals for them, which they can do since they are law enforcement.

I think there was just an EO or something to that effect granting powers to other federal agencies to assist with immigration enforcement actions.

I’m probably getting verbiage wrong. But something to that effect.

[Angela_Freda]

@appypaint

They rely on workers in the margins- immigrants, students, retirees- who have less labor power. They can be great opportunities for people who work odd hours or want to make extra cash, but the jobs aren’t designed for the long-term.

They can also pay in other ways, livable housing, benefits, etc.

When I worked in barns recently there was zero interest in incentivizing my work with things I valued like lessons, leases, a break on board. Ooh-kay then. Byeeee

I now work indoors, in a warm, dry environment where a horse isn’t likely to run me down/kick/bite me and customers don’t interrupt my much needed lunch break with requests for help and loose horses.
For the same $$.

Their loss.

[Angela_Freda]

@Virginia_Horse_Mom

Barns have to adjust their business models accordingly. The reality is many people are getting priced out of the sport. And that’s sad. But… it would be a positive thing if barn labor was treated better and paid better. Just my opinion.

Higher paid, but fewer jobs isn’t a win in my book.
.

[Angela_Freda]

@trubandloki

There is an endless stream of people on Facebook looking for barn help and has been for as long as I can remember.

And of the local barns always advertising a need, I can tell you that there’s a reason for that and it ain’t the workers.

I think there are lots of good workers looking, cause they know what barns to avoid, which reduces the potential options by about 2/3 or more in my area.

@endlessclimb

Same. And all of them want to pay $15-20 an hour and have the person work weekends. It’s a really tough sell.

Yup.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@Angela_Freda

Higher paid, but fewer jobs isn’t a win in my book.

It’s just the way Supply and Demand curves involving labor play out. The market will determine equilibrium price and quantity.

[Demerara_Stables]

@Virginia_Horse_Mom

It’s just the way Supply and Demand curves involving labor play out. The market will determine equilibrium price and quantity.

Exactly. There’s only so much an owner is willing to pay for board, and if paying your(g) employees appropriately means board goes up by $300/month, then there will be fewer people that can afford to board their horses at your facility.

Now whether the owner decides to move their horses home or find another barn (that maybe has nails sticking out of the fence and is a general hazard to their horse, or has workers that will miss early signs of colic because of inexperience or a rush to do too much work), or get out of horses altogether, resulting in fewer jobs in the industry, is another discussion.

[Aussie_2020]

Well I for one am looking forward to higher grocery prices with a lack of meats, veggies, and fruits; and slow construction projects.

[MunchingonHay]

I just arranged to have a quarter steer butchered in March. Its just my DH and I with our dogs (which will eat some of of the beef too). 500ish pounds (hanging weight) lasts us about 2 yrs. It broke down to about $2.00 per pound and I am rounding up. 50 lbs of ground beef lasts us year on top of all of the other cuts.

If you can look into getting a steer or spliting one with someone I would highly suggest it. Get a freezer and it will pay for itself in savings. I purchased a 13 cubic ft one, and should have gone one size up. (its a stand up freezer)

[trubandloki]

@Aussie_2020

slow construction projects.

This has been happening for years too.
Ever since Covid, construction has been long delays for products and all that fun.

[moonlitoaksranch]

Bounty hunters? Really? Ugh.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@Demerara_Stables

Exactly. There’s only so much an owner is willing to pay for board, and if paying your(g) employees appropriately means board goes up by $300/month, then there will be fewer people that can afford to board their horses at your facility.

Now whether the owner decides to move their horses home or find another barn (that maybe has nails sticking out of the fence and is a general hazard to their horse, or has workers that will miss early signs of colic because of inexperience or a rush to do too much work), or get out of horses altogether, resulting in fewer jobs in the industry, is another discussion.

Yep.

All of this.

In my area there are many farm owners and eventing related programs who seem to make things work with staff and farm labor by offering housing, or board for one or two horses, or lessons as part of the compensation package they offer. It depends on the place.

I’m not close to many hunter jumper people these days, but it seems like the subculture in that community is a bit different, and they utilize grooms more regularly, especially when showing, and rely more on undocumented labor. And that seems to be where much of the angst is coming from.

Oh well. Maybe this situation will lead to some short term gig employment opportunities for well qualified people who can freelance and work as show grooms. And that could be a positive thing for them.

[appypaint]

Wild, isn’t it?