Expectations for Independent Contractors and Monthly Workers

·          Independent contractors will have a current CPR/First Aid card, proof of insurance, and an independent contractor license on file with the ranch. The Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana  <http://www.foam-montana.org/faq.htm>   has a good web site that provides directions for obtaining an outfitters’ Independent Contractors license.
 
·          Independent contractors always have first choice for guided rides. There might be situations where monthly workers may also conduct guided rides but like the independent contractors, they must have a current CPR/First Aid card.
 
·          Guides are expected to inspect tack as they saddle horses each day.  1) Hair pads should be checked daily and matted pads set aside to be pressure washed.  Efforts will be made to always keep a hair pad in contact with the horse's back. 2) Halters will be rotated to protect horses from unnecessary rubbing; most of our horses will not be tied but halters will be necessary for tie down purposes. (loose halters are dangerous) 3) Many saddles have pressure points (all different) and must be rotated from horse to horse. Special attention must be given to match horses with extra high or extra low withers with appropriate saddle trees. 4) On a regular basis, baby powder will be applied to the latigos. 5) Saddles will periodically be oiled; beeswax leather cream will be used on areas where people’s clothing come in contact and Neatsfoot Oil on all other leather parts. Saddles requiring repairs will be “pulled out” as the damaged area develops.  At the end of each day, any horse that will be available for use the next day will have a complete, usable, saddle on their rack.

·         Horses will be rotated on a regular basis; guides will make sure that all horses are included in the rotation regardless of how popular the horse is.  Guides will watch carefully for saddle sores, breast collar rubs, and halter burns. Horses with these problems will be put in the time-out pasture along with the horses in rotation. On light days especially, horses that are saddled in the morning will be unsaddled as soon as possible after they are no longer needed. Every horse, not used on the evening ride, will be put out to pasture soon after the evening ride has left the corrals.

·          With the exception of guiding, monthly workers and Independent contractors will be doing the same type things. 1) Monthly workers will be expected to do some shoeing as part of their employment, but rigorous, daily shoeing is not part of their job description. Contractors will be paid $10.00/hoof for shoeing and the ranch will furnish shoes, nails, and tools. 2) Fences, gates, and corrals will be constantly maintained. Contractors will be expected to do everything that needs done in order for the horseback riding operation to be successful; these tasks will be done without the contractor having to be told to do them. 3) Contractors as well as monthly workers will be expected to constantly maintain the physical facilities, but they may also be asked to do improvement tasks such as painting and new construction.
 
·         Board and room are not furnished; however, the bunkhouses can be utilized in exchange for irrigation and maintaining an aesthetically pleasing barn and grounds. Independent contractors and monthly workers who utilize these sleeping facilities will be expected to work out, among themselves, a “who-does-what” system which, most importantly, includes daily pasture irrigation. Less time consuming items that will be included in the sleeping facility arrangement includes periodic grounds maintenance which includes: gopher control, cutting weeds, and caring for the lawn. Bunkhouses will be left in as good as, or better, condition than when occupants move in; this includes frequent application of a pine-oil disinfectant such as Pine-Sol.
 
·          Providing guests with a great experience has top priority: 1) Guests pay for a half-day ride, guides will strive to give them what they pay for.  2) Regardless of what trails are used, every effort will be made to make guests feel that it’s the type of ride they asked for; frequent rests and photo stops have proven to be very productive as far as gratuities are concerned. 3) Enthusiastically greet guests and then make every effort to make them feel important during the entire time that they are with us. 4) Guests will be corrected for non-compliance of rules, but it will be done in a way that will not cause embarrassment. 5) Extensive time will not be spent entertaining early arriving guests, but they will not be ignored; spending extensive time pleasing guests, puts a burden on those who are doing the things that everyone should be doing such as saddling and grooming. Allowing guests to observe the saddling process tends to enhance gratuities.
 
·         Guests expect to see real cowboys, don’t disappoint them! When confronting the public, contractors will wear western shirts, hats, belts, boots, and chaps.  Although it’s not necessary, on cold days a western bandanna is appropriate as well. Clean clothes and clean language are a must.
 
·         Regardless of what tasks independent contractors and monthly workers are involved in, when its time to mount, everyone will immediately drop what they are doing and work together mounting guests.
 
·          Neat appearance of the barns and corrals is important; each contracting guide as well as monthly worker will be expected to clean up each day. Everything will have its place in the shop, office, and saddle area and every effort will be made to return things to that area, this is especially true of saddles.  Items such as curry combs, spare breast collars, and spare bridles will be kept in the same general area.  Contractors will keep things clean and organized as the day progresses; no one wants to spend time at the end of a day cleaning up the barn and corrals.  Items in the tack repair room will not be included in the “keep-it-clean” expectations.
 
·         Independent contractors will notify the ranch, as well as the other contracting guides, when they do not plan on being on the job. There will be a list of substitute workers and if a situation occurs where the contractor will not be available to guide rides, unless the ranch specifically determines that a substitute will not be necessary, that contractor will be required to furnish a substitute.
 
·         Although the independent contractor chooses his own route and rate of speed, they will not use unauthorized trails or run the horses.

·          Independent Contractors are welcome to bring their own horses but must have health inspections on file with the ranch and their horses will be available for use with the guests. Unless used as a wrangle horse, contractor’s horses will not be pastured independently. Unspayed mares, colts, and stallions are not allowed.

·           Independent Contractors will have a valid e-mail address.