Employment

Thank you for your interest in joining our outstanding staff at The Big Corral and Vallecito Lake Outfitters, LLC. Our staff is the backbone of our operation, and the key element in creating an unmatched experience for our guests.

We select self-motivated, outgoing, energetic, and conscientious employees. Employees must be available for our entire season. It is a short season, and we need our entire staff for the entire season. Your summer will be an adventure and a learning experience that you will cherish for a life time; lots of horsemanship and outdoor adventures.

Most of our staff must be available to work from May 20th through September 7th. We will hire a few employees to begin work as late as June 1st and depart August 20th. We also hire several employees to begin in early May and stay through early October.

Please remember working at The Big Corral is not a paid vacation. The work is hard and the days are long. Additionally, you eat, sleep, and work with your fellow employees. This is far from a typical job, however, work at the ranch provides far from typical benefits.


Pay and Schedule

You will receive a monthly salary and optional housing. First year monthly salaries range from $1000 to $1300 per month, depending upon your position and responsibilities. Tips and additional benefits are also available. All of our fulltime employees work 5 ½ days each week, up to 9 hours/day. Days off may or may not be consecutive. Shifts may be straights or splits, and may start as early as 6 am and stretch as late as 7 pm.

We are a seasonal employer, you are not eligible to apply for unemployment benefits during our off-season (October April).


Housing

Not only do we work together, we live together. The optional housing is a bunkhouse setting with private rooms, but shared bathroom, living room and kitchen; located on the premises.


Attire

We are a western trail ride and pack station and require all our staff to dress accordingly. Western boots, jeans, shirts, hats. Everyone must be dressed neatly and portray the western image.


All Staff

We don't allow drugs or drinking. In order to do a good job, you will not be able to party at night, and work all day. You are hired for a position and we expect you to give your fullest to the ranch. You must be 18 years of age by the time you begin work (exceptions for certain positions).

We do not allow pets. Wranglers may bring a personal horse.


Job Descriptions

Please note that some positions may already be filled. Call or check the web site for the latest information. These descriptions cover the basic emphasis of each position. There will be times you are asked to help in a different area.

HEAD WRANGLER: Must have extensive experience with horses, horsemanship, and teaching. Responsibilities include assigning horses and saddles with guests, scheduling wranglers, overseeing the barn crew, scheduling rides, staff training, and managing the upkeep of the corral. Experience doctoring horses and driving trailers preferred.

WRANGLER / TRAIL GUIDE: More than recreational riding skills are required. You must know how to correctly saddle horses. Wranglers give reining demonstrations, lead trail rides, care for horses, and help with feeding. Setting camps, helping in the office and other duties as assigned are additional chores. Current 1st Aid & CPR cards required.

Please send resume and application to info@bigcorral.net.