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800 - 1400 Lane
Delta, Colorado 81416
(970) 874-7456
Apprenticeships (3 month minimum commitment)
We have been fortunate that all our apprentices became like just one of the family and we were sad to see them go. Hopefully we have provided them with the tools to make their carrier choice more rewarding. They came from all over the United States and even from Sweden , Norway and Holland as well.
For a person that wants to make a career in the horse industry in my opinion the best education is not in a college or university but in the actual world. You will start at the bottom and work up as with any profession in order to learn all aspects of the business. This is the true way to success. We here at Doubletree offer this rare hands on opportunity to those willing to pay for the education they get here with blood, sweat, and tears. Your only other costs will be for your food and spending money. You will live in a not so fancy bunkhouse that you will find quite adequate with other apprentices. Your real pay is being able to learn from a successful team at a nice facility. We have fun but get a lot done. I teach 4 or 5 breeding management courses a year, stand 10 stallions, break young horses, and train reining, working cow horses, and Versatility Ranch Horses, We have numerous clients who we give lessons to. I show all over the western United States . And here at the facility we put on shows and clinics. Some of my good friends include Al Dunning, Jimmy and Randy Paul, Gary Putman, and JD Anderson just to name a few people that you would be exposed to here. We bring in clinicians from all over to put on clinics here. We had Brian Digert the past President of the NRHA here to do a clinic. He will be back again. You work 6 days a week and do anything that needs done. Mostly your job would be to saddle horses, groom, maybe warm up and cool down horses, help with the breeding, working with foals, and some feeding. Your job does not usually involving cleaning stalls. We do have people that do that, but occasionally when they are not available you would have to do that also. You would be given a project horse to start and train under supervision. You would also get a chance to occasionally ride one of the trained horses, and at least once a week you would be given a formal lesson. You learn by being involved and exposed to the everyday decisions that make this facility work.
If you are interested in the position: We will need a video of your riding a horse (less than 15 minutes) and two references. One reference is from someone that knows your character and personality. The second from a person that knows your abilities with horses. Neither reference can be from a relative. I would also like to know a little about you. Likes, hobbies, educational background, accomplishments, family, where you live, goals, future plans, and the like. You must be 18 years old and only non-smokers will be considered.
Thanks for your interest,
Carl Wood
owner/trainer/director
Breeding Management Apprenticeships begin March 1 and are available through June.
Training Apprenticeships are available year round.
Make your applications at least 6 months in advance as many positions are filled quickly.
A few comments from our previous apprentices:
Syneva Peters from Colorado |
Lindy Savelkoul from South Dakota "My experience at the Doubletree was absolutely amazing. I could not have asked for a better place to do an apprenticeship. The greatest experience I had was working with my project horses. I felt so great accomplishing nice stops, decent spins, or just having a good ride. I had to figure out what worked for each horse, and sometimes it took a lot of tries. Dot was always willing to test me on everything I asked her. At the end of the summer I could ride her ten times better than my first ride. We were the first lucky apprentices to move into the bunkhouse where we had some pretty good times. I had the opportunity to live with two other girls and create memories painting the bunkhouse sign, water-fights when it was so extremely hot out, rides out into the adobes, and night after night of That 70’s show. The atmosphere around the barn was always fun and light-hearted even when we were working our butts off to set-up for the dressage camp, or getting ready for a show. I was involved in many different activities such as, saddling, bathing, braiding, riding, vaccinating, breeding mares, giving lessons, traveling to shows, and so much more. Carl, Jodi, and Pat are absolutely amazing; always willing to answer questions, give ideas to help my riding, or just give me a hard time. They believed in me and were willing to help with my future career in any way they could. It was a great summer!" |
| Carrie Rogers from Montana "My summer at Doubletree was an unforgettable experience. I met new people that will be friends for life, I learned more than I ever thought possible. I got to be a part of something bigger than myself, it was great. There’s so much hands on experience that it’s hard not to love it. There are lots of places to ride on in the area; going back in the adobes was one of my favorite pastimes. I was never afraid to ask questions and everyone was more than willing to answer them. I look forward to going back for a visit soon!" |
Trine Boehnsdalen from Norway Apprentice at Doubletree Horse Farms Summer 2006 I arrived at Doubletree Horse Farms in the middle of May 2006. I was one of three apprentices that were going to work and learn at the great facility for that summer. Little did I know that I was going to end up staying twice as long as the normal three months length. I arrived with an open mind and eagerness after learning as much as possible about horse training during my stay. Now I realize that I have also learned so much more. Project horses I was given two project horses to work with at the start; one young horse and one older, well trained reining horse. As I improved and learned Carl’s program of exercises, I soon advanced to riding even better horses and starting young ones. With every horse Carl was there to help and guide, and I was given lessons whenever there was time for it. This summer we were fortunate to have our own young horses to start from scratch. These horses had not had much handling and the process we went through with them was very learning and rewarding. Nothing beats starting a horse of your own and finding out that he is doing well and shows talent! Education Carl is a true horseman and is capable of getting his horses to perform their very best by consistent and correct training. He is also a very good teacher, with a willingness to share his knowledge with those who wants to learn and has the desire to work for it. He gives a lot of himself and got me to feel welcome from the very first day. His knowledge about horses, riding, training, breeding and showing is amazing, and whenever I had a question, Carl could always give me a good answer to it. Hard Work A complete training- and breeding facility like Doubletree Horse Farms, I soon found, does not run itself. It takes dedication and work to keep the wheels turning. One has to help wherever help is needed, and also take responsibility to see what needs to be done without supervision - and then do it. To be an apprentice does not mean you ride horses all day. There is a lot more to learn about running such a big facility, and we all had to take our responsibility in keeping the place clean, helping during shows and clinics, feed, weed, clean tack, saddle horses, stack hay, cool down horses etc. Credit was given to those of us who did take this responsibility. Some days were long and hard, and didn't really quit until you were in bed at night - exhausted. Other days, when everybody was helping and the work was done efficiently - was nice. Especially during the breading season there is a lot to do all the time and we had to be alert and ready to help with whatever. The Bunkhouse The apprentices live in the Bunkhouse, which is good, ok or bad after what standards you have. To me, this was not a bad place to live at all. At one time we were four girls living there at once - and we had a lot of fun. Be prepared to share some of the facilities with a couple of mice and spiders - but there is a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, living room with TV, three separate bedrooms and a big dining room, so there is plenty of space for all. ;) The aspects of horse training These six months has gone very fast and I have enjoyed every day of my stay. I have learned very much about horse training in general, starting young horses and training horses for reining and working cow horse. But the learning did not stop there. I have learned a lot about how much dedication and effort it takes to keep such a big facility running. There are a lot of small bricks that needs to be put down to build a solid foundation - and even then it never stops. There are always more bricks to put on and to run such a big facility takes a lot of responsibility, effort and organizing. In working with horses, there are also aspects that are not so nice, but which has to be dealt with. The loss of good horses to sickness or age, the decision to put a horse down, the realization that a horse for training will not make what the owners want, or reach the potential set by humans. This is not what we want to learn about, coming as apprentices to learn horse training and riding. But being able to become a successful trainer, these are aspects we need to be aware of and I am thankful for all of these experiences. Accomplishments I am very grateful that I was welcome to Doubletree and think this has been an excellent place to stay, work, learn and mature. It has been a memorable and fun summer, full of new learning, acquaintances, happenings, horses, riding, clinics, friends, training, fun, shows, roping and lots more. I have met wonderful people, and found good friends I will miss a lot. I have been fortunate to be under the wings of a great horseman the last six months, and I couldn't have asked for any more than what he has helped me to accomplish in this time. I am very thankful for the time I could be here, and hope I will return someday to work and learn even more. Sincerely, Trine Boehnsdalen, Norway |
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