Wranglers

Smith Fork Ranch is an upscale guest ranch in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  The ranch specializes in fine dining, excellent service, extensive wine cellar and luxurious guest accommodations in the rustic style.  Our main activity offerings are trail riding and fly fishing, with other activities that include hiking, archery, team penning cattle on horseback, and a very active children’s program.  With a capacity of 26-28 guests per week and a staff of approximately 27, SFR employs energetic, hardworking and flexible individuals who understand the main goal is to give guests a wonderful and memorable vacation.

Job description:

Wranglers at SFR are first and foremost equestrians. Secondly and just as importantly, they are people-persons who are outgoing, engaging and who genuinely care about others.  Their days are spent in the barn: tacking, grooming, cleaning stalls, feeding, doctoring, un-tacking; out on the trail: pruning trails, guiding, assisting guests in mounting, dismounting, tying up horses, aiding in overall communication between rider and their animal; and in the arena: teaching, setting up and supervising arena events such as team penning, barrel racing and gymkhana games.  Days are long, physically and mentally taxing, and filled with interesting guest and animal experiences.  A typical work week is approximately 60 hours- some weeks more, some weeks less.

Responsibilities include:

• Gathering, feeding, grooming and saddling horses daily
• Guiding guests though various mountain terrain on trail rides
• Caring for sick and injured animals
• Teaching basic western horsemanship skills and coaching riders along the trail and in the arena
• Maintaining and cleaning tack
• Maintaining facilities, corrals, tack shed, boot bin, “loading platform”, and barn grounds
• Clearing and maintaining well-groomed trails
• Fence maintenance and repair and flood irrigating pastures as needed
• Operate a variety of ranch equipment as needed (i.e. manure spreader, Gator, ranch truck, etc)
• Take guests on off-ranch excursions as needed
• Take photos during guest activities
• Contribute to the whole guest ranch experience with participation in weekly events such as Staff/Guest luncheon, Saturday night cookout, campfire, and dances, and other special events
• Take part in evening dish duty rotation (amongst all available staff- between once and twice a month)
• Maintain a level of dedication and pride in the work at Smith Fork Ranch by helping out in times of need such as assisting with ranch chores outside of your area (e.g. wood cutting, lawn care, housekeeping, driving guests, washing vehicles, etc. -particularly on Sundays)  and completing each job to the best of your ability
• Give ranch tours on Sundays to new guest arrivals
• Be a part of the SFR team-contributing talents, input, and enthusiasm

Requirements:

• At least 2 years experience in western horsemanship skills as well as many years of riding and caring for horses
• At least 19 years of age
• Previous experience working with horses and people, such as: ranch work, lesson barns, camps, etc.
• Must be able to lift 75 pounds
• Must have a valid driver’s license
• Must wear the proper uniform including hat, boots, long sleeve shirt, chaps/chinks when riding
• Must present a good western image in dress and behavior and have a real concern for guest’s level of enjoyment
• Maintain high level of safety while riding and around horses with guests, staff and self

Compensation:

Salary plus room and board (expect to have one or more roommates)