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29 Oct 2024
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Description
OCTOBER 2024:
Currently looking for one or two helpers for early December through early February (about 2 months). We are closed to guests, but need help looking after herd of 100+ horses. All 2025 applications will be answered shortly.
Paid Work
We are a family-owned guest and working cattle ranch just four hours north of Vancouver. 120 Horses, Large Heated Pool, about 30 staff. We generally have anywhere from 3 - 8 workawayers at a time, depending on the season. You will be part of a fun-loving team in a friendly and supportive environment. Accommodation is co-ed, dormitory-style. Some smaller rooms available for couples.
Please note that WORKING HOLIDAY VISA or other work visa is required if you are not a Canadian citizen. Go to cic.gc.ca and enter, "IEC" in the search window. (for "International Experience Canada")
NOTICE: Due to fire hazard considerations in our dry climate, cigarette smoking is not allowed on the property. Thank you in advance for your understanding.Types of help and learning opportunities
GardeningDIY and building projectsAnimal CareFarmstay helpCreating/ Cooking family mealsHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceCultural exchange and learning opportunities
Be part of our extended family on this historic, family-owned guest ranch. You will meet lots of Canadians, both staff and guests, but with our program you will also quickly make friends with other young adults from all over the world - great for traveling! Learn new skills in the hospitality industry, and either learn to ride or improve your riding dramatically or just have a blast riding the open country! Rides are about two hours long and go out with a wrangler, no more than 5 or 6 people per ride, and you get the same wonderful riding that the guests do! Since both meals and accommodation are free of charge to Workaway staff, there is a half-price charge for horseback riding that is deducted from your pay and is 40% refundable at the end of your contract period. The reason we do the charge and refund is this: one of the best things about the experience we offer is the opportunity to make new friends quickly, from all over the world, as we have so many young staff. Many of them like to go traveling together at the end of their time here, which we surely encourage, but it can be a hardship for our staffing if one person is leaving and several people decide to leave early in order to accompany them. So we provide a bonus/incentive to staff who stay until their scheduled departure date.
Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage
This host offers accommodation and payment.
Host has indicated that they will pay at least the minimum hourly wage of their country for each hour worked and that accommodation will also be provided. They are asking for help with a business or business activity. Contact the host directly via the site messenger for more information and details about the wage provided. Any arrangements should be agreed in advance with your host.
Help
We offer paid work as part of a team, working in various areas, whether helping in kitchen, dining room or housekeeping or outdoor maintenance. We do not offer work with the horses, as we have those positions filled, however horseback riding is available to staff on their time off.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
A/C accommodation, shared bathrooms, 1 or 2 roommates.
What else ...
We offer paid work plus gratuities for persons 19 years of age and over, running for the months of April through October. Minimum two month stay usually required, but shorter stays may be possible on short notice, please inquire.
Free laundry and wireless internet. Large heated pool.
Accommodation is shared with one or two room-mates in air-conditioned rooms with shared bathrooms. We provide bedding and towels.
Help would be mostly indoors, helping in the dining room or kitchen or helping clean rooms but also could be painting, gardening, town trips (running errands) . There would be someone to train you for these jobs of course.
Then of course - riding! Sometimes you will go out on the rides with guests, and other times you will go out on staff rides with a trained wrangler to take you out and make sure you have a safe and fun experience. You will enjoy the same wonderful riding that our guests enjoy, over thousands of acres, exploring riverside trails, galloping across open meadows, climbing mountain tracks to see stunningly beautiful views.
Riding helmets and cowboy boots or other riding boots are mandatory and are provided by the ranch free of charge.
EVERYONE WHO RIDES IS REQUIRED TO SIGN A LEGAL WAIVER OF LIABILITY. Working Holiday Visa or other work visa is required. You will be required to provide proof of travel insurance.
We offer free pick-up from the Kamloops airport (about 1 1/2 hours away), or you can take the Ebus from Vancouver to Kamloops where we will still pick you up. :)
You will make wonderful close friends and connections with both guests and staff. You will understand when you are here, why our slogan is: “ The first time, it’s a vacation - after that, it’s coming home.”A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Up to 40 hours per week, paid.
Feedback (81)
I'm so glad we had Julie on our team this season - she is such a sweetheart and an absolute ray of sunshine! Would recommend her for anything.
Julie took the time to make me a personalized gift before… read more
I worked in service… read more
Head Chef Dan really loved having him in the kitchen, and it was a shame to see him go!
David, we would have you back here any time, and we wish you all the best for wherever life takes you - but certainly hope to see you again!
xx
- Taylor… read more
My main aim was to improve my riding skills and after riding for 2 months I definitely… read more
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I'm so glad we had Julie on our team this season - she is such a sweetheart and an absolute ray of sunshine! Would recommend her for anything.
Julie took the time to make me a personalized gift before… read more
I worked in service… read more
Head Chef Dan really loved having him in the kitchen, and it was a shame to see him go!
David, we would have you back here any time, and we wish you all the best for wherever life takes you - but certainly hope to see you again!
xx
- Taylor… read more
My main aim was to improve my riding skills and after riding for 2 months I definitely… read more
This was my first of many workaway experiences and it really set the bar high. I ended up extending my stay to over 2 months that’s how much I loved it here. It is such a unique place, I would recommend everyone to come here if you get the chance.
Nature is stunning and exploring it on horseback might be one of the best… read more
During my first season I was working as a housekeeper and in the second one in the kitchen, as well as in housekeeping. The work can feel repetitive, but since I was working together with nice people it was still fun.
Most weeks I… read more
I spent about a month at the ranch and i really enjoyed every single day there.
I worked in house keeping for the entire 4 weeks. The work is not too hard and i got two days off every week which i used to hang out at the pool, road trips to lakes, rodeos or sometimes we drove to… read more
I worked in both the kitchen and in housekeeping, 5 days on and 2 days off. There was always… read more
Both month I worked in the… read more
You can meet a lot of people at the ranch and I have even been lucky enough to meet people with which I… read more
I met really nice people, there is a lot of… read more
I spent six weeks there towards the end of the season, and it was quite the experience. I met incredible people that I know I will keep in touch with and see again in the future.
I worked in service… read more
You get to know soo many people which some might find overwhelming but it was perfect to me.
I worked in the service and I learned to really like it as you alwaya… read more
We only stayed a few weeks at the end of the season but the atmosphere, the people, the horses, the food and even the surprisingly glorious weather made our stay one to remember. The work… read more
I stayed for about 6 weeks at the end of the season through fall, which has got to be the most beautiful time to visit.
I worked in housekeeping and maintenance, a typical day would be… read more
My stay was supposed to be a month, but ended up being 2 months, so don't plan too much ahead when you come here. Chances are high this place will put you under a spell.
The work you'll do here is either service, kitchen, housekeeping or maintenance. Each with their own perks, but never heavy or dull.… read more
I stayed here on three occasions for about 18 weeks total.
I instantly fell in love with the place, the scenery is absolutly beautiful and especially in the evening you can get some breathtaking sunsets.
I also met some oft he most amazing people there, some of which I hopefully will see again.
Working is not hard at all, I… read more
I stayed 6 weeks and I shared an accomodation with about 8 people so it was easy to make good friends, very good meals are eaten with all the staff and the work was in team. Personally I worked in the housekeeping team and it was really fun.… read more
The chores were pretty simple and straightforward work. One of the great things was being able to go on rides with the beautiful horses twice a week (you have the option to work more hours for extra… read more
I mainly worked outdoors helping with painting, roof tiling, collecting firewood and few other maintenence jobs. Also helped with housekeeping and in the kitchen with chef Lauren. Definitely the most fun kitchen… read more
The staff are unbelievably friendly and come from all over the world. The family are wonderfully accommodating and motivated by a genuine civic spirit. The (excellent) meals are eaten communally so within a week… read more
The riding is fantastic! you can work 25 hours and get two free rides, 30 hours and get 3 rides, or 35 and get 4… read more
I worked mainly in housekeeping and while that was hard work, it was definitely worth it. The feeling of freedom you get when running a horse down a trail in that beautiful countryside is… read more
Now I am back to college and sometimes I get bored by my civil engineering classes, and at this moment i wish i were thousands of miles away, riding in the Beatiful British… read more
You get to ride 4 times a week and as others mentioned the views are all stunning! The horses are great too!
The other… read more
We got to go on 4 rides a week. The views were amazing and sometimes you see some wildlife, thanks to the wranglers for being good guides!… read more
The nature around is beautiful and the view from spots like top of the world or nighthawk is just breathtaking! On the rides you often see deer and if you are lucky you can even meet a bear.
The rides were always great, even if it was raining (it doesn't happen very… read more
I spent one month at the ranch , definitely not enough! The nature around is wonderful, the horses adorable and the staff really sweet ! I already miss this sunny place full of joy and full of peace. Thank you so much! Lots of love and special hugs to jess, lauren and roo :-)
Words can not describe how much I loved my time at this place!! Cynthia, Greg, Taylor, Daniel and the rest of the family and crew are a great bunch and will make sure that you want to come back to their ranch.… read more
If you're a horse lover this is the place to be!!
It never gets boring as there's always someone to hang out with:)
Cynthia, I'm sorry that it took me so long to write this review, but better late than… read more
Missing it every day,
Sam
I worked here as a server/kids program worker and occasional house keeper. I stayed for about 5 months and have the best time of my life. I experienced so much of Canadian/cowboy culture and the ranch totally felt like home! I… read more
I helped in the service and had to work up to 25 hours in the week. In exchange I had:
- fantastic horseback rides (I felt in love with my horse)
- more than enough food
- amazing girls and guys around me
- a real western landscape
- a pool (!)
- nice accommodation
-… read more
Thank you Cynthia for this great experience!
I absolutely loved my time here! I volunteered here during April and May 2015. I am a beginner rider and would of loved to have stayed on. It's a very organized volunteer experience - you have a weekly schedule, set meals times and pre-scheduled times… read more
I am sorry I didn't wrote this earlier, I left about 3 or 4 weeks ago. And I still dream about my time there! All the staff are just having a great time. The views are amazing! Some Mornings you wake up and hear the horses, it's so awesome.
I am definitly are coming back when I am in Canada next time :-)
And I… read more
They were incredible hosts and I had soooo much fun! I alway think back at this awesome time and that always keeps me smiling. It was so hard to leave the ranch. To leave this little paradise with wild kojodes which where howling all night long and this unique landscape, my sweet faforite horses simba and tia and ofcourse it was hard to say… read more
I've worked here for 1 month in September 2014 and I had an awesome time.
My first workaway experience couldn't have been any better. I made a lot of international friends and my first horseriding experience is something… read more
I stayed the month of April, meeting so much people, riding in the amazing landscapes. I liked working in the dining room and the kitchen, all the staff are friendly.
Cynthia and her family are very kind.
I will definitely come back there if I have time.
Thanks for the great… read more
Cynthia will do everything she can to be sure you have the best stay.
If you have the opportunity to work there, do not miss it !
I… read more
It was such an amazing and fun time at the ranch!!!
It was my first workaway experience and it was so much better then I expected!
I met so many nice people and made the best walks with the horses! breathtaking views!
I highly recommand this program, Cynthia is a lovely and helpfull person!
I hope I can go back someday!
thank you Cynthia and all the others,… read more
Miss the ranch a lot:)
As beautiful as the surrounds and horses were, it was the awesome people I met there that I remember best. Going on staff rides together and then going for a swim, line dancing… read more
And of course Lauren is the best cook you can get!!!
Thanks so much for everything, miss you!!
It's a great setup for work exchange volunteers and they are very fair in the work they do, the horsemanship program is good for new riders and I would highly recommend people give it a go.
… read more
Cynthia xxx Mmmerrrp!
Everybody who gets the chance to experience life here is a lucky person. All the staff members are so lovely that you can feel the family atmosphere everywhere=)
Riding is the best I ever had, great runs passing the endless fields - in the summer even sunset rides.
Work is often pretty easy since you always have your… read more
Cynthia Nichols
co-owner, GM
For those who might feel that the ranch is a little remove, thus boring - YOU ARE WRONG!!!! You have everything you need and more, there's ample opportunity to go into… read more
Cynthia Nichols
co-owner,
Cynthia Nichols
co-owner, GM
xo Cynthia and everyone
The horses are great!! The trails are beautiful, you can't find a better place to learn and have lots of fun! I miss… read more