Wrangler

We Inspire People to Be More Alive

About Paws Up Montana:

Paws Up Montana, America’s premier luxury ranch resort, is more than a workplace—it’s a chance to be part of something extraordinary.

Position:

Our Wranglers add to the memorable experience for our guests, taking them trail rides and cattle drives around property while being professional, having a positive outlook, taking ownership over their work, and creating a safe environment where people can grow and create unforgettable memories.

What We Offer:

• Career Development and Advancement Opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program (5 free counseling sessions)
• Referral Bonus Program (Get paid $250 to recruit)
• Carpool Reimbursement ($5-$20/Day)
• Employee Discounts on Merchandise (30% on select items in our retail store)
• Employee lunch provided

See for Yourself! https://youtu.be/OMstfigzWXk?si=VLVEQDaAGChmD9it

Primary Functions and Responsibilities

We hire first for character. Applicants for the position must have/be:

• Integrity
• Honest and open
• Grit and determination
• Mental fortitude and courage
• Hard working
• Problem solving abilities
• Accountability and self-reflection
• Positive, “can do” attitudes
• An interest in learning and understanding new things
• The ability to see things from multiple perspectives
• Forgiving
• And a deep understanding of and desire to RIDE FOR THE BRAND.

Daily Duties Include

• Leading guest trail rides on project horses.
• Instruct guests on basic horsemanship, assisting guests onto horses, guiding them on rides and conversing about the horses, The Resort and the history of the area to provide an exemplary guest experience
• Prepare horses for trail rides and horse related activities, such as grooming, saddling, bridling, feeding, doctoring and tack repair
• Working horses in the pre-season, using the ranch’s horsemanship techniques
• General ranch chores
• Assist in daily herd health management and identify injuries or soundness issues prior to selecting horses for activities; assist in basic veterinary care as needed.
• Focus on the safety of guests, self, co-workers and livestock while executing daily job duties
• Assist with dispatching rides and assigning horses as needed
• Participate in and follow all health and safety standards, regulations, and policies
• Converse with the guests at a high level, being aware of their needs and fulfill special guest requests as instructed by management or the guest directly
• Ensure confidentiality of guests throughout their stay
• Other duties as assigned

Horsemanship Information

This position is first and foremost a guest service position, thus people skills are a must (the great majority of your time will be spent taking guests out on trail rides and, if you show an aptitude for the position and all of its expectations, cattle drives as well). That being said, candidates for this position must also be interested in mastering the basics of Vaquero/Natural Horsemanship, chiefly the lineage of the Dorrance brothers, Ray Hunt and Buck Brannaman. In this program, those basics are defined as: Feel, Timing and Balance. We use these tenants, and a focus on biomechanics, to create a softness and willingness of response to aids.

Wranglers can expect to work at:

1. Lateral flexion
2. Proper break over of the hindquarters
3. Movement of front quarters independently of hind quarters
4. Keeping horse within the rider’s rectangle
5. Guidance with legs and minimal reins
6. Vertical flexion/soft feel
7. Prompt responses to seat, leg and rein cues

There is nothing quick about these practices so if you are looking for training exercises that will “fix a problem” or make a certain kind of horse to fit into a certain kind of performance discipline, this may not be the program for you. We believe in focusing on the growth and development of the mind and body of the horse, to create a well-rounded animal that is quiet, willing and freed up.

Wranglers are expected to groundwork their horses at the beginning of each day, using the program approved methods and expectations and if time allows, put a first ride on them in the arena. During that first ride, the program’s riding checklist will be expected to be worked through, step by step, to ensure the horse’s focus and development. All wrangler horses are destined for the guest string, so all wrangler horses are projects, however the level of project horse given to each wrangler is determined by the individual's interest in, and dedication to, learning and executing our horsemanship methods, as well as his/her abilities and comfort level, amongst other things.

Supportive Functions and Responsibilities

• Display hospitality and professionalism to our guests and team members at all times, take pride in representing Paws Up Montana professionally with our guests and assure that all transactions with guests are handled in a legal, ethical, and confidential manner.
• Maintain a favorable working relationship with all Resort team members to foster and promote a positive working environment.
• Maintain a clean and neat appearance at all times.
• Perform work in a safe and high-quality manner.

Educational, Experience, Licensure Required

• Horseback riding experience is a must, whether English or Western (riding videos will be requested during the interview process)
• Valid State Driver’s License with two years of driving experience

Paws Up Montana provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.