Wranglers-in-Training

Spend every day at the corrals with the horses and wranglers.

Expect to learn to lead, groom, tack, care for and ride the horses. An overall goal at the Colorado Mountain Ranch is to provide safe guided experiences for young people to become comfortable with horses, both from the riding perspective and from the ground. Everyone learns first hand that horses respond best to people who have a quiet demeanor, talk softly with kindness, and move slowly. The Objective; Goals for the WIT include learning to interact gently with all ages of varying people and horses in a positive way, how to communicate with horses and understand horse psychology, to continually become more comfortable with horses, to develop and practice all the skills of a senior staff wrangler.

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A DAY AS A WIT

Arrival at the Ranch: A wrangler will check in with the WITs at the Flag Circle when they arrive and take them immediately to the Corrals.

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Arrival at the Corrals: When first at the Corral each morning, the WIT will check the daily schedule of rides, horse care, goat care, western art, and roping sessions. On their agenda there may be sessions where the WIT learns to lead a lot of the activities with the campers. WITs may spend all day at the Corrals until their bus is loading to return to Boulder. Each WIT will have a chance to learn from all the wranglers, including the head wranglers, interning with the wrangler who is their mentor for the week.

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Morning Tasks: A WIT may hop right in with their mentor to learn tasks such as leading horses, tying their lead ropes to the rail, picking hooves, grooming, rounding up a horse’s tack, and saddling.

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Daily Agenda: Throughout the day, there are other Barn activities for WITs to learn- such as checking, cleaning, and filling water troughs; leading horses to the main water trough between rides; helping with horses’ medical needs; changing saddles to fit the rider and the horse; helping children mount and dismount; giving new riders an introduction to the signals go, stop, and turn.

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Rides: WITs will have chances to ride for personal skill building and some just for fun. When ready, a WIT may be asked to ride along to help keep an eye on the young riders and their horses.

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Coaching Other Campers: Sometimes a WIT may stay at the Corral to be with a timid young camper. They may learn to give the child a slow and easy introduction to horses by first touching a horse, then possibly sitting on the horse, then being led while on the horse by a Wrangler or WIT in the Corral. The horse may be led out of the corral to give the rider a little longer, but still supported ride. Then the rider may take the reins with the WIT or Wrangler walking beside them. Some children want a Wrangler or WIT to walk beside them out on their first trail ride, too. This can be a very rewarding experience.

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The End of the Day and Week: WITs meet their mentoring Wranglers as each day and week comes to a close to share feedback about the ups and downs of the day and week. The mentor may give the WIT certain skills to work on and later evaluate progress. Also, some Wranglers and WITs may choose to participate in the all-camp gatherings and singing around the flag circle to open and close each day.