The Colorado summer job opportunity of wrangler/trail guide involves daily chores (graining/feeding hay, cleaning grounds, grooming, and saddling) of approximately 40-45 horses at our Cowpoke Corner Corral location and 55-65 horses at National Park Gateway Stables. We believe our horses are the best in the area and we take great pride in their condition and appearance. Therefore, it is essential that you enjoy working around horses! This job offers a spectacular opportunity to spend a summer in the Rocky Mountains on horseback (up to 8 to 10 hours per day riding) meeting people (literally hundreds every day) of all walks of life from all over the United States and foreign countries as well. We are looking for dedicated, reliable, hardworking, friendly horse loving people who want to work outside giving guided horseback riding tours and who are willing to START and FINISH the summer with us.

We are happy to offer internships to anyone interested. We will work with your college in any field. After staff training and learning trails, you will guide groups of guests (up to seven per wrangler) on conducted tours of the area for a specific amount of time. Each wrangler is responsible for his/her own knowledge and may learn as much as he/she desires. You must be prepared to assist guests with their horses and tack, to answer questions about the area, to be attentive at all times, prompt, friendly, and fun. We care about each person who rides and expect our wranglers to convey this. We are open everyday, rain or shine, and the wranglers work from approximately 6:30 a.m. to approximately 6:30 p.m., under the direct supervision of a barn manager, 6 days a week, with 1 day off. We start earlier and work later according to reservations.

The wranglers share rustic bunk style quarters ( separate sleeping for guys and girls) and combine their cooking and kitchen skills together in a shared kitchen at each barn. Starting salary is based on how many weeks you are working and is individually adjusted according to the dates available, with living quarters and food allowance provided, plus you make tips. Salary is paid at the completion of summer contract. Wrangler gratuities vary according to each wrangler's customer skills and effectiveness in this job. TIPS CAN BE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT. There are salary increases for each summer worked and management positions available for those interested. Wranglers are required to wear cowboy boots, jeans, western belt, western style shirt tucked in (shirt provided by SK Horses) and western style hat at all times. We are expected to look like cowboys.

This job will build your self confidence in dealing with people and teach you more about working with horses. Each trail ride offers a unique experience with different people and different combinations of horses, different weather factors and the constant ever changing ways of the Rockies.

The friendships and memories made through the course of a summer will last forever. For many it is an adventure in maturing, preparing for different goals in life, either with people(teaching, personnel, business,) or with animals(veterinarians, horse operations, training, boarding, etc.). For others it is an escape from studies, a summer away, to do something different, to be somewhere else, to think about nothing ...or to plan for tomorrow. We truly love what we do in Colorado in the summer. We are looking for that special crew of our front line employees to make this coming summer our best yet. To help that little girl from Kansas or Florida or Washington on her favorite horse of all as she and her family enjoy becoming a "cowboy" for a few hours...is, for many, the highlight of their vacation.

Jessi Kokjohn and her family own and operate these two public livery stables located in Estes Park, Colorado. The Cowpoke Corner Corral has been in operation since 1976, is located at the Glacier Lodge, a popular family resort situated 2 miles west of Estes Park, near the entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park. In 1982, we added operation of the National Park Gateway Stables, at the Gateway to the Rockies Fall River Visitors Center located at the Fall River entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park, four miles west of Estes Park. Both stables offer guided trail rides daily to guests into the mountains. The trips range in length from one hour to a full day. The riding is always done at a leisure walk pace, with stops for photos and to enjoy overlooks, views, wildlife, flowers, and the beautiful area in general. Trails leading from Cowpoke enter Roosevelt National Forest. All trails from National Park Gateway Stables are within Rocky Mountain National Park. We are situated at approximately 8,000 feet in elevation with trail destinations climbing to over 9,500 feet. Summer weather is very appealing with sunny days, low humidity, and cool nights. Snow is in the higher elevations year round.

If you are interested in this job or have questions please call Jessi at (970) 481-1535 or apply by fill out the application and mail it to us. To be considered for the job, the application and the required reference sheet needs to be fill out. You will need 3 REFERENCES.

Form:  Application Form 

Mail Application Form and 3 References to:

SK Horses, Ltd.
29932 Hawk Dr.
Farmington, IA 52626

Jessi Kokjohn