Pen Rider – Colorado Beef

A year-round horseback job at the Colorado Beef yard in Lamar, on the plains of southeastern Colorado, reporting to the cattle manager or head cowboy. Pen riders ride their assigned pens daily to spot sick or injured animals, cut them out and drive them to the hospital pen, call in deads and bring treated cattle and strays back to their home pens. The job includes helping ship finished cattle — gates, driving to the scales, counting, separating strays and checking withdrawals — and moving cattle between areas of the yard with slow, low-stress handling. Crew keep the horse facilities and break room clean and report pen maintenance problems. Requirements are riding safely, furnishing your own gentle horse and tack, knowing cattle breeds and characteristics, basic arithmetic with units and weights, and flexibility on hours during shipping.