Job offer „volunteer’s work on horse farm in Ecuador “

For 18 years the Green Horse Ranch has been offering tourists the possibility to explore Ecuador on horseback. We lead 1 – 8 days riding tours in and around one of worldwide only two inhabited volcano craters.

These rides which lead through cloud forests, farming land and tropical wilderness, are guided by experts fluent in several languages. We link the pleasure of horseback riding with the experience of a fascinating nature and social interacting in different traditional accommodations. In order to support these rides, the logistics, the necessary preparatory work, the constant horse training, but most of all the daily work on the ranch, we regularly look for horse-experienced volunteers, who would like to work with us for at least 2 months.

We offer…

... a unique life and work experience with great horses and international clientele in an breath- taking scenery

... intercultural experience and Spanish language training in the working environment

… a rustic but cozy cottage inside the sleeping volcano crater Pululahua (5 minutes hike from the ranch, 40 min drive from the equator monument „Mitad del Mundo“ and 1 ½ hours drive from the centre of Quito, Ecuador’s capital).

... kitchen, gas, electricity, shower, hot water available. Interferences possible. NO internet; this can be used occasionally in Quito.

... catering only when guiding riding tours. Please note: apart of the riding tours, volunteers have to cater themselves and cook independently. We are happy to assist with the transport of the purchases.

... rideshare opportunities from and to Quito in the course of our riding tours

... laundry service for our volunteers

... 2 free days a week, which can be taken flexible

... pocket money for independently guided riding tours (We can’t guarantee that job for everyone, depends on if we consider you’re competent enough to do so after at least one month training) - up to 3 persons 10 USD / day - as of 4 persons 20 USD / day

... good chance to get tips

... commission of 15% for own client acquisition

... occasional possibility to spend a couple of days in Quito; either with us in Cumbaya – outside the centre (a taxi to the centre costs approx. 10 Dollars) or against remuneration in a private pension directly in Quito.

... travel support We are looking for…

Dynamic, balanced, very independently working people with several years‘ horse experience, who will support us in the following fields:

… help with daily work on the ranch (f. ex. feeding, de-worming, cleaning, maintain equipment, washing boots, help repairing fences, clearing fields, mend trails, maybe paint a wall, etc.)

… be willing to take a machete in hand

... horse care

… break young horses, train them (f. ex. hoof care, getting them used to halter, saddle etc.)

… help correcting problems with riding horses (f. ex. fear of cars, fear of the blacksmith, head tossing etc.)

… guiding help on the riding tours (during the rides as a guide, but also possibly as the driver of the escort vehicle – please bring an international driving license if available)

… additional knowledge on alternative horse training is very welcome (Pat Parelli, Natural Horsemanship, riding without bit, ground work, work in round pen etc)

… prepare lunch for the riding tours

… office work (f. ex. Updating the homepage, marketing, translations, responding to inquiries, organization of riding tours)

... take on domestic work

You should bring:

- the personal riding equipement that you use to ride and work with at home (we need to give our limited helmets, gloves, chaps, boots with priority to clients) - several changes of old and robust clothing that can get dirty and torn - specially enough changes of socks - bandanna against dust in the dry season - gloves - solid shoes - slippers for the cabbin - very good sun protecion (high filter sun-blocker, long sleevend shirts, head-protection etc.) - suitable clothes for rain - warm clothes for the cool evenings - inspite of the bedding, many volonteers are happy to have their own sleeping bag for extra comfort - recommendable: lab-top or note-book as entertainer for the evenings for reading, music, DVD and writing - some of your favorit food- reserves - any medicine or vitamins that you usually use - full health and travel insurance! - emergency contacts that you hand out to us at the beginning of your job - a quart-band mobile phone, proved to work in Ecuador, plus a cheap sim-card of the local “Claro”- company. Requests:

- minimum age: 20 years, preferred: 25 years +

- maximum weight: 85 kg for men, 80 kg for women

- custody, accident and health insurance for the whole time being

- independent clearance of Visa matters

- signed statement that volunteers will play by the volunteer rules and take individual responsibility( see attachment)

- several years‘ horse and riding experience (especially in cross-country)

- desireable: certificate in first aid

- multilingual (preferably German, English and at least basic knowledge in Spanish)

- ability to take care for yourself and cook for yourself

- no allergies to animals (there are several dogs and cats on the farm and in our house in Quito)

- calm and fearless handling of animals

- environment friendly and fearless handling of nature

- good to very good physical condition

- ability to work independently

- ability to accept beeing corrected and to follow instructions

- open, communicative and friendly when interacting with people

- willing to UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES become amorously or intimately friendly involved with any person of the working environment: No flirts with employees, clients, co-workers, former workers and people living in the crater. We expressly list this point since this has already caused involved persons immense damage in the past as to cultural reasons.

- willing to bear liability for damage caused to material, animal and persons

- for this purpose, deposit of guaranty prior to commencement of work (200 Dollars, which will be entirely paid back after the employment relationship ends; we can also use this money to provide the volunteers with food, telephone cards etc. – against voucher)

- reliability

- punctuality

- sense of responsibility

If you think you fulfill and want to fulfill our demands, if you feel quite at home in nature by yourself for a longer period – please send your application per email to [email protected] . We are happy to answer all your questions. Based on our long experience we require our volunteers to sign the following statement prior to commencement of work:

I,...... , hereby confirm, that I will be working as a volunteer with Astrid Müller on the Green Horse Ranch in the Pululahua crater explicitly on my own wish.

I am aware that while doing this job I will be living partly with other volunteers, partly by myself in an isolated rural area. I am aware that there may be risks that may lead to problems such as the self-provision, planning and purchases, interacting with local population, the steep terrain, general risks when handling horses etc.

I hereby confirm that I was thoroughly informed about the risks and circumstances that may come with the pursuit of these activities and specifically state that neither Astrid Müller nor any other person in Green Horse Ranch direct environment can be held liable and responsible in case I suffer any damage.

Furthermore I am aware that I can be dismissed any time if I violate any of the volunteer or safety rules. I will be responsible and liable for material, animal and person damage that are obviously a result of my actual fault. I am prepared to take over the given work tasks independently and responsibly, to work 8 hours per day (2 free days per week that can be can be taken flexibly or be summarized) and to follow the ranch rules. This includes the polite and completely discrete interacting with colleagues, clients and crater inhabitants, the abstention of intimacies with these people, the prohibition to bring unauthorized persons to the ranch or volunteer house, as well as complete loyalty, honesty and openness towards my employers, also or especially in case of disagreement from my side. I’m aware that, once working at the ranch, I’m representing it and will adress accordingly to clients and surroundings to keep the name of Green Horse Ranch up high.

I independently take care of valid residence documents and will bring along comprehensive insurance protection.