When you want to find a Christian boarding school for boys, ages 10-17, that also offers vocational training that can lead your loved one to a successful and productive career, please consider Triangle Cross Boys Ranch in rural Wyoming.
While enrolled at Triangle Cross, your loved one will explore many vocation and job options that fit his personality and gifts, as well as learn new skills and gain valuable work experience that can lead to his best career. Here’s an example of what your loved one may choose to do after enrolling in our vocational program at Triangle Cross Boys Ranch—become a Horse Trainer!
What is Horsemanship/Horse Training?
A horse trainer is a professional who instructs and prepares horses for racing, riding, showing or policing. This involves working with horses to help them adapt to human contact, respond to commands, communicate with the rider and control behavioral issues. Horse trainers focus on the horse’s exercise, nutrition, relationship with their rider and their overall well-being. Horse trainers also teach riders how to work with the horses. 1
Personality and Skills needed:
Horse trainers are investigative and enterprising. Horse trainers tend to be predominantly investigative individuals, which means that they are quite inquisitive and curious people that often like to spend time alone with their thoughts. They also tend to be enterprising, which means that they are usually quite natural leaders who thrive at influencing and persuading others. 2
A horse trainer analyzes a horse’s behavior and uses this information to correct problems such as kicking, biting, dominance assertion, and head tossing. This could mean that trainers are bitten, kicked, or thrown off the horse. Trainers also assess other behaviors like nervousness, restlessness, and bolting. Trainers use different methods to get horses to respond to them such as giving them treats, or other forms of positive reinforcement when the horse does something well. To get the horses used to human contact, trainers will use their voice and physical contact. 2
Trainers observe a horse’s nutrition, feeding habits, and general health. They need to be able to identify if a horse needs to be seen by a veterinarian. Horse trainers also teach people how to interact with horses properly. They may teach jockeys how to manage and direct horses or teach owners how to properly handle and care for their horses. 2
A few other horse trainer duties include:
- Helping horses adapt to wearing riding equipment, like saddles and bridles
- Teaching horses various exercises
- Assisting in horse grooming procedures
- Analyzing horse behaviors and recognizing behavioral problems like kicking or biting
- Training to prevent behavioral problems
- Rewarding horses when they follow commands
- Preparing horses to ride on several types of terrain, like dirt, gravel or mud
- Aiding with waste management and stable maintenance. 1
How to Learn Horsemanship:
For a person to qualify for the position of horse trainer, they need to have prior experience working with and riding horses. This includes professional riding experience, former training, or an educational background in veterinary care. 2
Schooling is not required in order to become a horse trainer, although people who aspire to become trainers can take specialized courses which include horsemanship, facility management, equine behavior, animal ethics, and nutrition. Many trainers work their way up by starting out in the stables, cleaning and grooming the horses. Some trainers start off as apprentices where they exercise the horses, perform stable chores, feed, groom, and perform other duties that are required of them. 2
Many horse trainers become entrepreneurs who eventually have their own training businesses. Not only are these horse trainers dealing with horses every day, but they are also working with the owners of the horses to make sure everyone’s needs are met. 2
Horsemanship vocational benefits:
A person who loves working with horses may train for a variety of careers, including:
Stable hand, horse groomer, barn manager, horse trainer, veterinary assistant, ranch hand, veterinary technician, horseback guide, horseback riding instructor, equine therapist, horse caretaker, ranch manager, park ranger, horse breeder, or a horse veterinarian.
Employment of animal care and service workers is projected to grow 22 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth along with high job turnover should result in very good job opportunities.
The median annual wage for animal caretakers was $26,080 in May 2020. 3
The median annual wage for animal trainers was $31,520 in May 2020. 3
Where to Begin Learning Horsemanship Skills
Young boys and teens at Triangle Cross will be responsible for the general care of the ranch including care of livestock, and horses. Through this western cowboy way of life, young men learn to work hard, stick to things even when it gets tough, and to finish what they start. This is terrific preparation for his preparation for vocational skills.
Triangle Cross Boys Ranch Vocational Training Program in rural WY, helps young boys take control of their lives and develop independence. Young men develop a wide variety of job skills in various industries, as well as build a foundation in general life skills. We believe that our long-term residential ranch environment and western “Cowboy Culture” promotes honesty, integrity, responsibility and determination.
That’s why we offer young boys and teens hands-on exposure to a variety of vocational skills training such as: agriculture management, crop irrigation, carpentry, welding, heavy equipment operations, mechanics, horsemanship/horse training, and animal husbandry.
Call to learn more about our program for boys, ages 10–17, in Powell, Wyoming. We accept young men year-round. Call Triangle Cross Boys Ranch and School at (307) 645-3322 today!