Head of Barn needed at Historic Ranch Summer Camp in WY ~ Long-Term Opportunity ⭐️

Teton Valley Ranch Camp

Email

[email protected]

Location

Dubois, WY

Job Type

Seasonal
(May 10 - August 31, 2027, with room to grow)

Salary

$20,000 - $24,000

Posted

October 28, 2026

Housing Offered?

Yes

Experience

2-5 yrs

Sponsoring Work Visas?

How to Apply

Via Email

Head of Barn: 60-Head String, 2,600-Acre Ranch | Dubois, WY | Long-Term Opportunity

Teton Valley Ranch Camp | Dubois, Wyoming
Seasonal, May 10 to August 31, 2027, with room to grow
$20,000 to $24,000 for the season, plus private room and meals
Reports to the Operations Director

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

We want a horseman or horsewoman who will run our barn this summer and come back next year, and the year after that. We’re not looking to fill a seat for one season. We’re looking for the person who takes this program over and makes it theirs for the long haul.

For the right person, this job can grow into a year-round position.

THE OUTFIT

Teton Valley Ranch Camp has run horses and kids in the Wind River country for nearly 90 years. The ranch sits on 2,600 acres about 30 minutes outside Dubois, and our 60-head herd is at the center of everything we do. We run two 30-day sessions of about 130 kids each, and horsemanship is one of the core parts of camp. Our goal is to build one of the best youth horse programs in the West, and that takes someone willing to stick around and build it.

THE JOB

The barn runs off a written guidebook and is built to American Camp Association standards. The structure’s there. What we need is a leader who will run it right every day, develop the crew, and leave the herd and the program better in August than they were in May.

You’ll spend real time in the saddle, but this is a leadership job. You’ll be judged by the condition of the horses, the skill of your wranglers, and how well kids learn to ride.

WHAT YOU’LL OWN

Herd health and care: daily feeding and care, farrier and vet coordination, doctoring, and keeping an eye on condition all season. Big calls like euthanasia or emergency vet transport are made together with the Executive Director.
Riding instruction: Western horsemanship for kids from first-timers to experienced riders, including arena work (barrels, poles, keyhole), trail rides, and light cow work.
Weekly camp rodeo: planning and running it.
Packing: teaching packing and co-leading on-ranch pack trips with our Trips department. (Off-site pack trips run through Trips and a contracted outfitter. The barn just helps with setup, hauling gear, and inventory.)
Your crew: recruiting, training, scheduling, and supervising 6 to 8 wranglers and a Barn Coordinator. Setting clear expectations and holding everyone to them fairly.
Safety and records: tack and equipment condition, barn safety, horse use and health records, and incident reports.

SEASON AND SCHEDULE

On site May 10 through August 31, 2027. The weeks before kids show up are for getting the herd and facilities ready, and the crew trained.

Off season, we pay $20 an hour for remote recruiting and hiring work, which keeps you connected to the program through the winter. If you guide or outfit in the fall, the September 1 departure leaves room for that.

YOU’RE PROBABLY A GOOD FIT IF YOU

Have run a string, a barn, or a wrangler crew and want to be accountable for a whole program
Judge a season by the shape the horses are in at the end of it
Teach riding clearly and patiently and actually like working with kids
Can hold a crew to a standard, even when it’s uncomfortable
Want to build something over several seasons, not just ride through one

PROBABLY NOT A FIT IF YOU

Want a summer of riding in the mountains without much responsibility
Prefer a barn where standards are loose
See teaching kids as a side job to the horse work
Are only looking for one summer

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

Multiple seasons of professional horse experience, including supervising other staff
Experience teaching Western riding, preferably to young people
Working knowledge of herd management and equine first aid
Valid driver’s license and ability to pass a background check
Current CPR and First Aid, or willing to certify before the season

Preferred:

Doctoring skills
Running a tractor and hauling a stock trailer
Packing experience
Wilderness First Responder
Camp or youth program experience
CHA certification (Level 3 Instructor or higher, or Equine Facility Manager)

Physical:

Lift 70 pounds or more
Ride a wide range of horses daily, including green or difficult ones
Long days on your feet and in the saddle in all weather
Build and fix wire and rail fence

Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified applicants.

STRAIGHT TALK

The ranch is remote. July days are long, and by late August everybody’s tired. A new group of kids arrives at the midsummer break, so instruction starts over halfway through. It’s a demanding job, and we’d rather tell you now than have you find out in July.

PAY AND HOUSING

$20,000 to $24,000 for the season, depending on experience
Private room with shared bathroom
Meals, laundry, and wifi during the season
$20/hour for off-season remote work
36 hours off per week, plus occasional evenings
Potential to grow into a year-round position for the right person

HOW TO APPLY

Email your resume and short answers to these questions below. We review applications as they come in and are actively recruiting. Position is open until filled.

Tell us about a horse you made better over a season. What did you do?
How did the last string or barn you ran look at the end of the season compared with the start?
Tell us about a time you held a crew member to a standard they didn’t agree with. How did it go?
What experience do you have teaching kids to ride?
What would you want this program to look like in three years, and where do you see yourself in it?
Can you be on site May 10 through August 31, 2027?

Finalists will be interviewed in person, and priority goes to applicants who can show us their horsemanship and teaching firsthand. Our preference is to come to you, wherever you have access to horses: your current outfit, a friend’s place, or a facility you arrange.

A short video of you riding or teaching is welcome with your application but not required.

Teton Valley Ranch Camp is an equal opportunity employer. Employment is contingent on a background check and I-9 verification.