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Horse Trail Riding Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Show Jumping Trainer

San Gregorio, CA ยท On-site

$32 - $38/hr

Train show jumping horses aged three years and older, incorporating flat work, jumping, trail riding, and conditioning exercises. * Lunge horses to prepare them for training sessions and maintain ...

Train show jumping horses aged three years and older, incorporating flat work, jumping, trail riding, and conditioning exercises. * Lunge horses to prepare them for training sessions and maintain ...

Safely lead trail rides and guest riding experiences. * Recognize changes in horse behavior, soundness, or health. * Administer medications as directed. * Assist with evaluating horses for lessons ...

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Horse Trail Riding information

See California salary details

$5

$21

$26

How much do horse trail riding jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for horse trail riding in California is $21.03, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.59 and $24.90 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a horse trail riding guide, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Horse Trail Riding Guide, you need strong horseback riding ability, knowledge of horse care, and often basic first aid or safety certifications. Familiarity with tack, navigation tools (like GPS or maps), and sometimes equine management software is commonly required. Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills help guides instruct riders and handle unexpected situations on the trail. These skills ensure both rider safety and an enjoyable experience, which are critical for success in the role.

What are some common challenges faced by horse trail riding guides, and how can they be prepared to handle them?

Horse trail riding guides often face challenges such as unpredictable weather, managing riders of varying skill levels, and ensuring the safety and well-being of both horses and participants. Being prepared involves strong communication skills, thorough knowledge of first aid for both humans and horses, and the ability to assess and adapt routes based on trail conditions. Guides also benefit from ongoing training and collaborating closely with their team to coordinate group logistics and respond quickly to emergencies, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

What is a horse trail riding guide?

Horse trail riding guides are professionals who lead individuals or groups on horseback riding excursions along designated trails. They are responsible for ensuring the safety of riders and horses, providing instructions to beginners, and sharing information about the local environment and wildlife. Guides often assess riders' skill levels, match them with suitable horses, and manage the pace of the ride. Their goal is to create a safe, enjoyable, and educational experience for all participants.

What is the difference between Horse Trail Riding vs Horse Stable Worker?

AspectHorse Trail RidingHorse Stable Worker
Required CredentialsBasic riding skills, sometimes certifications in riding or safetyKnowledge of horse care, basic grooming, and stable maintenance
Work EnvironmentOutdoor trail areas, parks, or ranchesStables, barns, or indoor facilities
Employer & IndustryTourism, recreation, outdoor adventure companiesEquine facilities, farms, or stables
Common Search & ComparisonRecreational riding, outdoor activitiesHorse care, stable management

Horse Trail Riding involves guiding riders on outdoor trails, focusing on riding skills and outdoor safety. Horse Stable Workers handle daily horse care, grooming, and stable maintenance. While both roles require knowledge of horses, trail riding emphasizes riding proficiency and outdoor experience, whereas stable work centers on horse care and stable operations.

What are horse trail riding jobs?

Horse trail riding jobs include positions at a variety of horse ranch locations, especially those used for horse camps and similar activities. In this equestrian role, you may guide visitors through a horseback riding lesson, clean and maintain a horse trail, and groom horses to prepare them for daily rides. Depending on the employer, you may also help clean stalls, feed horses, provide basic medical treatment, or otherwise support all horse-related activities. Some horse trail riding jobs involve supervising children, providing transportation, and fulfilling miscellaneous tasks not directly related to working with or riding horses. Horse trail riding jobs may be seasonal positions and can have unusual hours.

What are the most commonly searched types of Horse Trail Riding jobs in California? The most popular types of Horse Trail Riding jobs in California are:
What job categories do people searching Horse Trail Riding jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Horse Trail Riding jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Horse Trail Riding jobs? Cities in California with the most Horse Trail Riding job openings:
Infographic showing various Horse Trail Riding job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $43,747 per year, or $21 per hour.

Head Horse Wrangler (Female) - Full Time

Palomar Christian Conference Center

Palomar Mountain, CA โ€ข On-site

$17 - $17.50/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 19 days ago


Job description

Description

PCCC VISION

Palomar exists to reach the lost for Christ and pursue spiritual growth through the study of God's Word. As a staff team, we fulfill our mission by creating an uplifting, distraction-free, and Christ-centered camp experience for guests and staff.

We serve our guests through our Core Values: Ready to Serve, Ready to Host, Ready to Give. We build a healthy organizational culture by living according to our Organizational Behaviors: Operate with Kindness/Grace/Respect, Maintain Conversational Integrity, Take Personal Ownership, and Pursue Growth.


POSITION SUMMARY

The main responsibilities include assisting the Horsemanship Supervisor with (1) the care and readiness of the herd, (2) the development, implementation, and safety of PCCC's horse programs, including trail rides and Girls Summer Horse Camp, and (3) training, advising, and supporting PCCC staff who work with the horses.


ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The employee must accept the lodging from PCCC as a condition of employment in order to carry out responsibilities as outlined in the fire evacuation plan. The employee would not be able to perform this service without the lodging. (It is for the convenience of the employer.)

Must take part in the fire evacuation plan for the specific area assigned (including preparing horses for and assisting in evacuation if needed).


(1) Assists with the care and readiness of the herd

ย ย ย ย ย ย a. Assists in keeping the herd healthy and well cared for.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย i. Follows assigned feeding schedule and nutritional needs of the herd and senior animals.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ii. Grooms horses as needed to keep their coats and skin healthy, check for injuries, fungus, etc. and treat as needed.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย iii. Provides essential first aid care under the direction and supervision of the Horsemanship Coordinator.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย iv. Helps with the fly management system as directed by the Horsemanship Coordinator.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย v. Maintains written horse health records as directed by the Horsemanship Coordinator.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย vi. Reports supply needs to Horsemanship Coordinator (feed, medical, etc.).

ย ย ย ย ย ย b. Assists in keeping horses fit, well trained, and ready for guest use

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย i. Rides horses as needed to keep them in shape, continue their training, and ensure excellent behavior from them for all campers and retreatants.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ii. Follows direction for the correction of bad behaviors.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย iii. Assists in the training of horses as directed by the Horsemanship Coordinator.ย 

ย ย ย ย ย ย c. Maintains a clean and safe stable and facilityย 

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย i. Clean stalls and small turnout areas daily to manage manure build up and present a clean barn area.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ii. Assists in checking pastures for hazards and fencing fixes.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย iii. Assists in trail maintenance such as cutting back limbs, branches, and brush that start to grow over the trail.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย iv. Assists in maintaining tack by cleaning and oiling on a regular basis.

(2) Coordinating the development, implementation, and safety of PCCC's horse programs, including trail rides and Girls Summer Horse Camp

ย ย ย ย ย ย a. Assists in providing a safe and enjoyable trail ride experience for guests.ย 

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย i. Prepares horses for trail rides.ย 

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ii. Welcomes and orients guests.ย 

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย iii. Evaluates riding skills of guests.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย iv. Safely matches suitable horse with rider's ability and mental state.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย v. Prepares them for their ride.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย vi. Conducts a safe, enjoyable and successful ride/lesson.

ย ย ย ย ย ย b. Assists in providing a safe, fun, educational, and impactful experience for Horse Campers.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย i. Assists with the development and implementation of the horse curriculum and program curriculum as directed by the Horsemanship Coordinator.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ii. Works in conjunction with the Horsemanship Coordinator to develop existing and new horse programs.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย iii. Assists in the direction of activities at the barn during Horse Camp.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย iv. Responsible for helping keep wranglers-in-training and campers on task.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย v. Assists with the Showdeo as directed by the Horsemanship Director.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย vi. Helps welcome and greet parents and ensures the safety of family members at the facility.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย vii. Participates in program camp activities as directed.

ย ย ย ย ย ย c. Maintain a safe atmosphere and facility for staff, guest, and horsesย 

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย i. Helps enforce all barn rules and safety procedures on a daily basis.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ii. Notices and corrects safety hazards to campers, staff, and horses.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย iii. Recognizes when a horse is unsafe for a particular rider and takes action to provide safety for riders and horses.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย iv. Reports to the Horsemanship Coordinator campers having difficulties or are not feeling well.

(3) Helps train, advises, and supports PCCC staff who work with the horses.

ย ย ย ย ย ย a. Assists with training and directing all Horse Camp staff (wranglers, counselors, WITs) to PCCC standard operating procedures.

ย ย ย ย ย ย b. Assists with training and directing PCCC staff who help take care of horses throughout the year.

ย ย ย ย ย ย c. Helps improve and implement the WIT program.ย 


Keep regular, timely attendance while maintaining a clean, safe and unobstructed workplace *

* These duties are not exhaustive; with consideration of the job requirements and employee's skills, this job description may be amended at the discretion of the employee's immediate supervisor.


Note: This position becomes a salaried position for the 10 weeks of Girls Summer Horse Camp and Summer Summer Staff Training.

Requirements

  • Demonstrates a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, exercising personal faith through consistent daily living in accordance to God's Word.
  • Understands the mission of Palomar Christian Conference Center and is in agreement with its Statement of Faith, and submits all other goals and desires to that main goal.
  • Possesses excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Possesses interpersonal skills such as are required to maintain positive relations with both staff and guests.
  • Possesses excellent customer service skills and presents a professional appearance and demeanor.
  • Possesses strong attention to detail and organization while managing multiple priorities.
  • Is proficient in basic Microsoft applications (Windows, Office, etc.).ย 
  • Must have (2) two years prior work experience in related field.
  • Must be certified at or have equivalent training to a CHA level 2 (PCCC will provide certification class).
  • Must have extensive horse experience and understand horse behavior.
  • First Aid/ CPR/ CCAC certified (will train).
  • Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. and move a minimum of 100 lbs.