WORKING -- RAY YBARRA

-- Story by Torus Tammer, photo by XXXXX

HE IS

A horse-wrangler.

OLD HAND

Ybarra, 27, grew up around horses, and says that the 20 years of

experience he has working with them makes what he does for a living

enjoyable.

“I grew up around horses and have also owned my own,” he said. “You

learn quickly because whenever you ride a horse you go through the same

process each time.”

THE TASKS

As a wrangler, Ybarra says he undertakes a variety of duties

throughout the day. He arrives in the morning and immediately tends to

the horses by giving medication to those that need it. He then begins

preparing them for the first lesson of the day.

“I take the students and the horse to the arena where I instruct them

on how to apply a western saddle on the horse,” Ybarra said. “The lesson

is usually an hour long, and the student learns to properly groom the

horse, which is important when it comes to saddle application. The

students learn everything from walking to trotting to cantering.”

Ybarra also takes people out on trail rides where he says the rider

does not do the grooming. Rather, he and other wranglers are responsible

for preparing and grooming the horses before their departure and upon

their return.

Ybarra says he has performed the usually-laborious task for so long

that it is second nature to him.

“On average, I will groom and saddle and then unstack and groom the

horse again about 10 times a day,” he said.

ALWAYS WORTH IT

He starts his day at around 8 a.m. and usually doesn’t leave until 7

p.m. For the most part Ybarra loves being around the horses. He says that

the answer to why he looks forward to work is simple.

“Riding the horses is the best,” he said.