Spend the summer horseback in the mountains of western South Dakota just 5 miles from Mt Rushmore National Park!

Seeking WRANGLERS: We are looking for horsemen/women with strong work ethic, positive attitude, and good communication skills to guide trail rides for the summer of 2025. This position is seasonal/full-time. 

• Work directly with owners in the day-to-day operation of this barn. 

• Manage 100 head of horses; their health, attitude, gear, feed, etc.

• Work as a team to maintain a clean, organized barn and workplace.

• Each wrangler spends several hours a day in the saddle guiding trail rides with the remainder of the shift spent dealing with the usual horse-related duties from feeding, grooming, equine first aid, as well as instructing trail riders.

• Wranglers work 40 to 50 hours a week and are provided housing with a base pay of $11.20 per hour plus tips received directly from your guests. Tips typically average your pay to ~$15-$21 per hour.

• Wrangle our herd to and from pasture each day. This is an exciting and fun part of the job. Horses are turned out every night on a large pasture. 

• Wranglers will receive all necessary training at the beginning of the season. 

Applicants must be confident horsemen, team players, hard workers, and fun-loving!

Ideal Candidate

Priority will be given to applicants who 

• Are available full season (Aug 31st) -Though we will consider applicants with earlier departure dates.

• Have worked as a trail guide, groom, or barn hand previously

• Value commitment and takes pride in their work

• Have a passion for horses, the ways of the west, and further developing their horsemanship skills

• Has own vehicle

About Us

Palmer Gulch Stables has a rich history in the Black Hills. Our outfit has been operating successfully under the same owners for 20+ years, maintaining consistent, positive feedback from our guests regarding our authenticity, character, and condition of our horses. We highly recommend you check us out TripAdvisor. Our rides are pre-booked and sold out on a daily basis.

This area is full of things to do and see in your off time- monuments, lakes, fabulous hiking trails and more, all within a few miles of the property. 

Housing

Staff bunkhouses are provided, each with its own bathroom. Full kitchen on site which is shared by the wranglers. Wranglers should expect to have one roommate. Plenty of parking for cars/trucks.

Though no personal transportation is required for this job, we strongly recommend that wranglers have their own vehicle as a means of getting around independently in their off time. 

No Pets