Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch Looking for Wrangler, Head Wrangler/Horse Trainer at New Mexico Full Time

Come join the Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch team in our beautiful area of southwest New Mexico, located at 6,500 feet elevation in the ponderosa pines. Explore the canyons, creeks, forests, and mountains of the Gila National Forest! Get off the grid, reconnect with nature and find your serenity again! 

We are looking to hire two unique, energetic individuals who wants it all: dramatic scenery, versatile work, independent living, and a truly memorable 2022 season in the mountains! The best way to have a good time is to show others a good time – Help us give our guests the best vacation they have ever had!

• Do you LOVE working with horses and feel you understand them?
• Do you have EXPERIENCE working with horses that are young, untrained, fresh, energetic, spooky and/or rank? (Professional Experience Required for Head Wrangler/Horse Trainer Position)
• Do you use NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP TECHNIQUES? 
• Do you LOVE to MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY and help give them the best vacation they have ever had?
• Are you SAFETY CONSCIOUS and have an EYE FOR DETAILS?
• Do you LOVE to have a VARIETY of different things you do every day in your job? 
• Do you get a feeling of SATISFACTION from putting in a FULL DAY’S WORK and giving it your ALL?
• If you answered YES to ALL the above questions, this may be the job for you!

Season: February to early December 2022. Winter work can be discussed.

Position Type: Full-time, seasonal. Year-round work can be discussed if interested! 

Considerations: We are a small ranch (12 guests max) and we are very remote. You need to have your own transportation to work here and be comfortable with long periods away from town/city life as we are located 2 hours from the nearest town. There is no cell phone service at the ranch, so this is a great opportunity to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature and the important things in life! Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate pets or personal horses as the ranch has plenty of animals!

Compensation:

• Salary TBD depending on experience.
• Share of tip pool during the guest season. (We can’t promise a number, but this often added about $2,000/month to the salary!) 
• Room and board included. Living accommodations are a fully furnished private room in a co-ed house with a full kitchen, one bathroom and living area, shared with two other people. Eating our chef’s delicious meals with our guests is a huge bonus! Please note we cannot accommodate spouses or families. 
• Satellite TV, laundry and limited Wi-Fi are included.
• Incentives are available for finishing the season and returning for more than one season!

Typical Day: Working on a ranch consists of long hours, not your typical 9-5. A normal day during our guest season starts at 6 AM and goes until evening activities are over. Entertaining and spending time with the guests is also a key element of a job at the ranch: during the day as well as evening activities (campfires, line dancing, games, or movies, etc.) until 10 PM each evening. One day off per week maximum during the guest season. You will be able to hike and explore our beautiful area during your time off! Staff must be well-groomed, flexible, able to take constructive criticism and be a team player. Western attire is required.

Job Description:

• Working with and training new horses to become guest horses. Must have experience and feel comfortable working with young, untrained, fresh, energetic, spooky, and/or rank horses. 
• Wrangler: Leading or following rides with guests as necessary. Must be a quick learner – you will need to learn our trails, how we do everything and about our horses within 1-2 weeks of arrival! Must be flexible and willing to do things our way. Must pay close attention to guests’ safety. If you have current Wilderness First Aid training that is a huge bonus! 
• Horse Care: Loading and unloading hay (must be able to lift multiple 80 lb bales!), feeding, doctoring, brushing, saddling multiple horses, picking multiple horses’ feet, scooping lots of poop! 
• Ranch work: Cleaning, oiling tack and boots, fixing fence, painting, staining, other maintenance, watering flowers, anything else that needs to be done!
• Hiking: Guiding some trips to Archeological and Historical sites and scenic viewpoints as guests desire.
• Housekeeping: Helping clean the 4 ranch cabins once a week after each group of guests leaves and cleaning other ranch buildings as necessary at least once a week. Attention to detail is necessary. This task will be shared with one other staff member.
• Entertaining and spending time with the guests: during the day as well as evening campfires, line dancing, games or movies as they desire until 10 PM each evening.

Previous experience working with horses is required. A background check will be required prior to a job offer. We require staff to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and to follow current New Mexico protocols. 

A job at our ranch requires a fast learner, a motivated self-starter and ability to work independently with little supervision. Versatility and flexibility are needed for this job’s multiple roles. Fitness and strength are necessary for this very active job! 

One Person, Many Hats! We are looking for an upbeat, conscientious, and dynamic individual!

Please look at our website www.geronimoranch.com to learn more about the ranch.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate personal horses, pets, spouses, or families. Thank you for understanding.