*Wranglers
Some of the wranglers responsibilities include: Wrangling, grooming, and saddling horses, mounting guests, repairing corrals, maintaining saddles and other tack, irrigating pasture, and daily cleanup tasks. 
 

The Eagle Ridge Ranch needs to know if you wish to be an employee or an independent contractor. There are advantages and disadvantages to both choices; some are listed below. On the average, an independent contractor will work longer hours and receive less payment.  However, depending on the contractor’s ability to please and impress the public, their daily earnings are usually higher.

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

• Must have a current Montana Independent Contractor license <http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/2005/billhtml/SB0108.htm>
• Must have proof of insurance
• The Eagle Ridge Ranch will schedule the rides, furnish the tack, and furnish the horses for the contracting guide.  Where and how the guide chooses to take his guests are up to him.
• The contracting guide will be expected to do everything necessary to conduct a horseback riding operation.  This includes livestock control, ground maintainence, daily repairs, and brochure distribution. 
• The ranch will not specifically line out or specify the daily tasks of the contracting guides, but they will post a “to-do” list of tasks that need attention; contracting guides will be expected to help with these tasks.
• The ranch will schedule the summer’s activities as if all independent contractors will be at the ranch six days a week. There will be no established time schedules; contractors will be responsible for always having someone available to take out rides.
•  Things like: who saddles, wrangles, unsaddles, repairs fences, etc. will be worked out among the contractors.
•  If a contractor plans to be somewhere besides the ranch during the normal business day, it's his responsibility to make sure someone will be available to cover the things that he would be doing. 
• If an independent contractor chooses to break his contract, he will be responsible for having someone available for two weeks after giving notice.
• An independent contractor will have the first choice to take out rides.
• All independent contractors will be capable of putting shoes on a horse in an emergency type situation.  Contractors may choose to shoe horses instead of conducting guided horseback rides. A half day of contracted work and half day of shoeing will be acceptable and encouraged.

MONTHLY EMPLOYEE

• Worker will be paid by the month, with standard deductions including Workers Compensation.
• Monthly employees will have different responsibilities depending on their area of expertise.  They will be expected to organize and complete tasks associated with their assigned area without supervision. The ranch will post a “to-do” list of tasks that need attention; monthly employees will be expected to choose and complete these tasks.
• If the monthly employee has a valid First Aid & CPR card, he will be eligible to conduct limited guided horseback rides. (independent contractors have first choice for the rides) Click on <http://www.firstaidweb.com/index.php>
• Bridling horses, adjusting stirrups, and quickly mounting guests will have top priority. Performing tasks assigned by the ranch foreman will have second priority and regularly carrying out tasks associated with the employee’s area of expertise will have third priority.
• There will be no assigned working hours; occasionally, after notifying the ranch foreman, on slower days, employees are welcome to take time off which will compensate for frequent evening responsibilities. Working on non-essential duties during the evening hours is discouraged.