Working with horses in the USA?

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Cameo_x

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Hi there, looking for people’s experiences of working with horses in the USA. I’m potentially looking at travelling out west for a season working as a trail leader/wrangler. Would only be a temporary seasonal positon so was wondering how that would affect my chances in getting a work visa? Will be contacting the USA embassy here in the U.K for guidance but would love to hear from other posters about their experience.
 
My daughter spent a summer working on one of the summer camps in Kentucky, and the organisation helped her sort out her visa, so if you do it through something like that, it's not a problem
 
I have a few friends who travel to America to do seasonal work with harness racing trainers in Florida during our winter (roughly 3 months out there) and I don't think they had any problems with their work visas. Pretty sure the trainers they were going to helped them sort everything out though so as above, if you find somewhere first they may be able to help you.
 
Thanks for the replies. When I was doing a bit of research it all seemed very doom and gloom about getting a work visa. It's encouraging to hear that it can be done!
 
I did it through BUNAC I think, but I'm afraid I can't remember the details. I worked with hunter jumpers on the show circuit in Southern California and had a brilliant time. I did the same in New Zealand but with trail horses at one place in South Island and with eventers/ show jumpers and racehorses in north island. Ended up working for mark Todd for a bit so had an amazing experience. Good luck!
 
I will send a link to another forum friend who has done this very thing this and last summer and loved every second of it...stand by, I'm sure she won't take long to come and post. :)
 
Thanks GG

I've done two summers out there now and debating a third currently!

The visa you'll want is a j1 it will give you a maximum of 6 months of work and I think 25 days post work just as a visitor visa. You have to go to the embassy to get one but once all the paperwork is sorted it's pretty easy to sort. My only advice is to get to the embassy early on one of the j days as it gets mega busy really quickly.

I found working out there really hard work but totally worth it, you'll need a good work ethic. It will be hot, especially out West I'm not sure the length of days you'll do but I taught for 6 hours a day but was working from about 6:30am to 8pm. You need really comfy but lightweight shoes as my first year I got the worse blisters which absolutely crippled me and made the first few weeks pretty miserable.

The western horses I worked with were an absolute pleasure to look after and ride. The hunter jumpers I worked with not so much.

My last tip would be to travel after you've finished your work placement. I've done about 28 states now. Seeing as your West hawaii is only a short flight away ;)

Any questions just get in touch :)
 
Thank you for the replies. Really useful to hear from someone in terms of what visa etc. Have always been fascinated by the west and am at a point where I want to go do something I want to do rather than something that seems the sensible option!
 
I did a summer in North Dakota on a dude ranch through BUNAC. Amazing experience, would take the herd of horses out grazing on the plateau & then led rides around the bad lands.
 
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