Employment - So you want to work on a Dude Ranch?

Horse Video Format| Dude Ranch Employment Policies, Expectations | Sundance Trail Guest Ranch Application

So you think you may want to work with dudes and guests in the Colorado Rockies? Most of us dreamed of this kind of work for years before we were hired here – we know exactly how you feel!

Don't believe that working on a Dude Ranch is like a vacation at summer camp. This is very physical work, hard work with long hours. We hire folks who are mature, self directed, well rounded, happy, "people – friendly," and who have the stamina and endurance required by ranch life.

We are interested in hiring those with skills that meet the needs of the positions open. Having a "love for horses and the great outdoors" is not enough – we need specific experience with people, horses, kitchen, housekeeping, maintenance, child care, fishing, or whatever the position requires.

Although each of us has specific responsibilities, each of us also must be flexible enough to work every area of our Dude Ranch life including washing dishes (plan on it!), housekeeping (likewise!), picking up trash (constantly - including cigarette butts and other disgusting stuff), shoveling manure (horse, goat, kittten, whatever...), and clearing trail in the high country (finally something that sounds fun!). Please read this paragraph again.

Some schools will allow students to incorporate an Equine/Recreation Internship for college credit into their summer experience here. For a list of learning objectives, please contact us by email.

For more information, please study some of our Employment Policies, and if you are qualified and interested complete our Employment Application, and dude ranch wranglers' videotape requirements..

We begin accepting summer applications and videos on December 1st, and begin making employment decisions in January.

Also, be aware that we do not accept Dude Ranch wrangler applications without a video or live interview.

Dude Ranch Positions

Winter Ranch Caretaker/Wrangler

The Winter Ranch caretaker/Wrangler is a nine month position (September through May) that usually becomes the "Barn Boss" the following summer.

During the fall/winter/spring months the ranch is open as a Bed & Breakfast with daily horseback riding.TYpically we have no more than 10-14 guests on Friday through Monday, and usually no guests Tuesday - Thursday. The pace is a bit slower.

There are three people who run the ranch, Ellen, Dan and the Winter Ranch Caretaker/Wrangler. All three of us do everything needed: wrangling, housekeeping, maintenance, and cooking!

Be aware that life in the mountains is very quiet (boring) when you are living with two middle aged people and there is no TV!

The Responsibilities include ALL of the respnsibilities listed in all of the summer job descriptions (except cooking):

• Feeding and daily care of horses.
• Exercising and training horses
• Leading Guest Trail Rides and teaching beginner riders
• Housekeeping - beds, bathrooms, vacuuming, laundry (all the romantic stuff!)
• Cooking - assisting with meal preparation, serving, bussing, and washing dishes and pots & pans
• Maintenance - fixing the long list of things that got broken the previous summer
• Telephone - answering phone, helping prospective guests with their questions and booking reservations (these skills will be taught to you)

For more information, first read ALL of the information listed here, and then call Dan with your questions.

Requirements include:

• Strong wrangling skills (we prefer a visit to ride with us but will accept a video)
• Good teaching skills (lots of beginner riders)
• Good telephone skills
• Willingness to do lots of dishes and housekeeping
• Ability to enjoy folding laundry for hours while watching Blockbuster videos with two middle-aged people.
• Physical requirements as listed in all other job descriptions.

Dude Ranch Cowboy/Cowgirl Cooks

Cowboy/Cowgirl Cooks responsibilities include:

• Prepares hearty western meals for 20-25 hungry guests and 8 – 10 hungry staff.
• Serves meals family style; in dining room, on front porch, at picnic tables, and on the trail.
• Bakes enormous amounts of desserts and cookies daily.
• Prepares therapeutic and/or special diets (with management support) as needed.
• Manages and maintains food and supplies inventories (shops for groceries).
• Maintains a spotless clean kitchen, including washing dishes, pots, and pans.
• Helps little kids get eggs from the hen-house.
• Helps housekeepers, wranglers, maintenance persons, and managers do whatever needs to get done to provide guests with a safe and delightful ranch experience.
• Tells endless jokes and humorous stories.

There are two cooks that share the kitchen. These two people must collaborate, plan and generally get along VERY well with each other.

Requirements:

• professional cooking experience preferred, but will consider candidates who are talented cooks and
• can plan,
• can manage, and
• can relate to others in a very high paced and sometimes stresssful environment.
• Horse knowledge and skills is preferred, as this allows the employee to also assist with wrangling duties, and get out of the kitchen every now and then.

Dude Ranch Housekeeper/Waitstaff

Responsibilities include:

People in these positions will rotate between Housekeeping and Serving, possibly on a weekly basis.

Dude Ranch Housekeeping responsibilities include general but thorough housekeeping of all guest suites, the lodge, and all public areas. This includes:

• cleaning bathrooms
• changing towels
• changing/making beds
• vacuuming
• dusting
• washing floors, counters, windows
• washing & folding sheets & towels
• sweeping decks, porches, and cleaning outside areas
• picking up trash
• cleaning vehicles

Dude Ranch Maintenance responsibilities include:

• breaking down, moving, and setting up beds in different suites
• repairing damaged equipment
• trash
• may be responsible for vehicle maintenance
• Dude Ranch Serving responsibilities include
• assisting cook with food prep,
• setting up dining room,
• serving, and
• cleaning up both dining room and kitchen,
• washing dishes, pots and pans.

Approximately one third of our meals are served outside.

• Provides or assists with ranch entertainment (usually in the evenings) and assisting with childrens' proramming (including weekly overnight kids campout).
• Tells endless jokes and humorous stories.
• May leads daily hikes and climbs, as neeed.
• May take guests fishing, as neeed.
• May take guests on off road jeep trips, as neeed.

Requires:

• Strong social skills, attention to personal appearance, and proper etiquette are essential.
• Experience in housekeeping preferred but we will train conscientious persons who are organized, detail oriented and have the right attitude. We expect our guest rooms to be VERY clean.
• Must be able to lift and carry 85 pounds a minimum of 100 feet while working at 8,000 feet altitude.
• Ability to drive vehicles with stick shift preferred.
• Must be able to perform all of the duties listed in high altitude environment.
• Horse knowledge and skills is preferred, as this allows the employee to also assist with wrangling duties.

Either/both of these positions will be half time split with either housekeeping or wrangling positions. (ie. Half-time housekeeper, half time sawyer and/or half time wrangler, half-time maintenance; or some combination.)

Dude Ranch Wranglers

Please note that we have many wrangler applications with ending dates in mid or late August. We will need wranglers who can work through September and maybe October. Preference will be given to those applicants that can work into September and October.

Responsibilities include:

• Gathering and feeding, saddling and preparing horses for rides;
• guiding trail rides into the National Forest;
• caring for sick and injured animals
• teaching horse care,
• teaching and coaching riding lessons,
• maintaining and cleaning tack, being sure all is safe and in good working order;
• maintaining facilities, corrals, areana, trails, grounds (manure happens);
• leading childrens' arena games (with Childrens' Wrangler)
• assists the Childrens' Wrangler
• Provides or assists with ranch entertainment (usually in the evenings) and assisting with childrens' proramming (including weekly overnight kids campout).
• Fixes broken things.
• Maintains vehicles and ranch equipment so they don’t get broken.
• Manages manure inventory and placement.
• Tells endless jokes and humorous stories.
• Leads daily hikes and climbs.
• Takes guests fishing.
• Takes guests on off road jeep trips.
• Lots of housekeeping, yard maintenance, trash removal, fence building/repair, trail repair, dishwashing, *toilets* and related romantic cowboy stuff.

Requirements:

• Extensive horse knowledge and skills, and the ability to effectively teach these skills must be demonstrated, either through personal interview or videotape.
• See our separate outline of videotape requirements.
• Must be able to lift and carry 85 pounds a minimum of 100 feet while working at 8,000 feet altitude; and drive vehicles with stick shift.
• Must be able to perform all of the duties listed in high altitude environment.
• Must be able to communicate to the public with tact and clarity, and exhibit a patient and knowledgeable attitude with horses.

Note: Wranglers who are also farriers or who have shoeing experience, may be eligible for a separate contract for shoeing activities. Please call Dan to discuss details (970-224-1222).

Dude Ranch Childrens' Wrangler

Dude Ranch Childrens' Wrangler responsibilities include:

• Responsible for constructing and maintaining a complete children's program for pre-schoolers through young teens (5 to 15 years old). Your program should have a curriculum and lesson plans based on introduction and acquisition of skills; and
• should include fishing, riding, archery, astronomy, baking/cooking, Indian lore, first aide, orienteering, and leatherwork.
• You will also act as an advisor to those children who are working on Boy and Girl Scout merit badges.
• Responsible for Tuesday night overnight, family arena games, and all other childrens' activities.
• Note: the Children's Wrangler also shares all other wrangler duties listed in the "Wrangler" Job Description including feeding on a rotating basis; pulling, tacking, brushing picking feet; etc. assisting in bussing tables and washing dishes, etc. This position is not appropriate for those who are not strong "team players."

Requirements:

• Extensive child care and teaching/leading experience,
• professional teaching and scouting experience strongly preferred.
• Moderate horseback riding and equine knowledge. Extensive horse knowledge and skills is preferred, as this allows the employee to also assist with wrangling duties.
• See our separate outline of videotape requirements.
• Must be able to lift and carry 85 pounds a minimum of 100 feet while working at 8,000 feet altitude; and drive vehicles with stick shift.
• Must be able to perform all of the duties listed in high altitude environment.
• Must be able to communicate to kids and parents with tact and clarity, and exhibit a patient and knowledgeable attitude with horses.
• Endless enthusiasm and energy.
• A genuine love for working with children.