Horse Wrangler (Motor Vehicle Operator)

Bureau of Land Management•Litchfield, CA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

This position serves in the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program at a holding facility. The incumbent is responsible for the care and welfare of wild horses and burros (WH&Bs), including feeding, safe handling, preparation for adoption, veterinary treatment, and facility maintenance. The work includes interacting with the public and adopters and is subject to the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP). The role involves receiving and sorting WH&Bs, operating trucks and horse trailers to transport animals and supplies, and riding and handling saddle horses to manage WH&Bs on the open range and in corrals. The incumbent may need to control animals reluctant to enter traps or corrals and rope them from horseback when necessary. Vehicles may be operated within facilities, on highways and interstates, off-road, and over rough terrain in all weather conditions. The incumbent troubleshoots vehicle issues and performs basic maintenance, seeking assistance for major maintenance. The position requires considerable physical exertion and agility, including riding, roping, maneuvering, and restraining horses and WH&Bs weighing up to 1,500 pounds; lifting heavy materials; and operating trucks and equipment. Work takes place outdoors in varied weather, temperatures, and terrain, with hazards associated with handling animals and driving vehicles. The incumbent may be required to humanely euthanize WH&Bs with a firearm and must qualify with firearms twice annually.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
Must possess a valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), or be able to obtain one within six months of employment.
Must have skill and ability to ride horseback and rope wild horses and burros or closely related stock.
Must qualify and maintain certification and proficiency with firearms; qualification is required twice each year.
Must meet the job-related factors of operating without more than normal supervision, safe WH&B handling during unloading, providing adopter guidance, operating various sizes of horse trailers, technical practices, dexterity and safety, and using and maintaining tools and equipment.
Appointment is subject to a background investigation and favorable adjudication; pre-employment and random drug testing are required.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
Must participate in Direct Deposit and successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
Must not hold an active real estate license or have an interest in or hold stocks in firms with interests in Federal Lands.
May be required to serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period.
Must be able to perform strenuous physical work, including handling, riding, roping, maneuvering, and restraining horses and WH&Bs up to 1,500 pounds; lifting hay bales over 100 pounds and carrying other materials and equipment; and walking, standing, bending, and operating trucks and equipment.
Must be able to work outdoors in varied weather and temperatures, on slippery, muddy, frozen, uneven, or rocky ground, and around hazards associated with handling horses and driving vehicles.
All qualifications must be met by the announcement closing date of November 12, 2026.
Resume documentation must state full-time or 40 hours per week, or part-time with hours per week, for applicants other than current federal employees; current federal employees may need to submit a non-award SF-50 if weekly hours are not shown.

Responsibilities

Receive WH&Bs from trucks and trailers into corrals and separate them by gender.
Safely handle WH&Bs in trucks, corrals, and chutes during unloading and take steps to reduce risks of injury to animals, the incumbent, and coworkers.
Operate horse trailers up to 36 feet long and other similar-length trailers to haul WH&Bs.
Load, arrange, and transport WH&Bs according to BLM guidelines to promote safe and comfortable transportation and reduce injuries or deaths.
Select transportation routes and identify alternatives; drive within facilities, on highways and interstates, off-road, and over rough terrain in all weather conditions.
Ride and handle saddle horses to control WH&Bs on the open range, in corrals, and in pens during gathers or general care.
Control WH&Bs that are unwilling to enter traps or corral systems and rope them from horseback when necessary.
Operate trucks and other motor vehicles with gross vehicle weights up to and ranging between 26,000 and 32,000 pounds to haul hay, manure, dirt, gravel, water, supplies, materials, and equipment.
Troubleshoot vehicle issues, perform basic maintenance, and seek assistance for major maintenance.
Provide care and welfare for WH&Bs, including feeding, preparation for adoption, veterinary treatment, and facility maintenance.
Interact with the public and adopters; provide adopters guidance on animal handling, training techniques, and feeding practices.
Humanely and safely euthanize WH&Bs by firearm if necessary and maintain firearm qualification and proficiency.