Wrangler- Summer 2027

Seasonal

Manual Labor

Greenough, MT, US

Paws Up Montana is America's premier luxury ranch resort. Set on a 37,000-acre working Angus and bison ranch, Paws Up embodies the spirit of the American West with constant innovation and evolution to deliver the quintessential luxury experience for affluent and influential travelers from all over the world. It's a family owned and award-winning destination that truly inspires.

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

Primary Functions and Responsibilities

We hire first for character. Applicants for the position must:

• have integrity

• be honest, open and direct

• be hard working and disciplined

• have problem solving and critical thinking abilities

• be able to be held accountable without having their feelings hurt

• be punctual and consistent

• have a positive, “can do” attitude and a willing, outgoing personality

• have a growth mindset

• be gritty and determined

• appreciate diversity

• have the ability to play their own devil’s advocate before assuming anything

• be selfless and give more than they take

• have a deep understanding of and ability 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 catching, grooming, saddling, bridling, feeding, doctoring and tack repair

• Progressing horses using the ranch’s horsemanship techniques

• General ranch chores including lifting grain bags and hay bales

• 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 and horse whispering as well). That being said, 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. We do so by helping the braced or troubled horse to create new neural pathways in response to stimulus. Our horses are incredibly willing and tolerant, and we believe this is in large part due to the way we handle and educate them.

Wranglers can expect to work at:

• Their feel, timing and balance

• Their seat and leg aids

• Giving to pressure

• A long and low release

• Lateral flexion

• Vertical flexion / soft feel

• Punctuality

• Independent movement of the front and hind quarters

• Cow turns / turn on the haunches

• Rolling the hind end / turn on the forehand

• Keeping horse within the rider’s rectangle

• Setting boundaries on the ground and in the saddle

This is not a “nose-to-tail” operation; we take novice riders (in addition to advanced riders from all disciplines) out on trail rides and cattle drives and our aim for guest is to challenge the way they think about, and interact with, their horses and each other, through our use of our horsemanship. This means that you must be comfortable with multitasking while on the trail: minding/working your horse, talking with and coaching guests, and being vigilant for potential issues that may arise while riding in all gaits across all types of terrain.

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

Team members can look forward to:

• Referral Bonus

• Carpool Reimbursement $5-$20/Day

• Employee Assistance Program

• Housing assistance available

• Employee lunch provided

• $250 Referral Bonus

• Employee Discounts on Merchandise

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

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.