TRAINERS and breeze-up consignors have welcomed news this week that the Department of Employment has granted special status to the occupation of “work riders”, meaning that suitably qualified riders can now be sourced from abroad without undue delay.

Over two years ago the racing industry was granted 100 visas for non-EU staff but the visa application process was very lengthy, often taking six months. Horse Racing Ireland, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and the Irish Racehorse Trainers’ Association had to wait until those 100 jobs were filled before they could apply to the Department for a new batch.

The joint industry application was seeking visas for groundstaff as well as work riders, and while there are no visas for groundstaff, the Department has recognised that work riders are highly skilled and eligible for Sports and Cultural Employment Permits. There is no quota on the number of visas available.

Eddie O’Leary, who runs one of the country’s leading breeze-up operations at Lynn Lodge Stud in Co Westmeath, said: “It’s a good move. There is a shortage of employees in every industry at the moment, and riding thoroughbreds is not something the ordinary person in the street can do. It’s a specialist job.”

Speaking from Dundalk Stadium last night, Ado McGuinness, chairman of the Irish Racehorse Trainers’ Association, said: “Even today a couple of trainers have told me they could do with more work riders. Up to now the process of getting a rider from outside the EU has been very hard. Fair play to HRI, they help small trainers with the applications.”

In response to a query regarding visas for work riders from outside the EU, a Department spokesperson said: “Given the nature of the Work Rider occupation, an application for the role may satisfy the conditions for the grant of a Sports and Cultural Employment Permit (SCEP), subject to the relevant criteria.”

Web: equuip.ie/work-rider-permits

Email eburke@hri.ie