**~ Paradise Riders ~**
By: Ryan Brooks – Wrangler (2007–2020)
A Wrangler must be a leader—unafraid to take the reins and guide the way. Tasked with caring for a remuda of horses, a wrangler relies on solid horsemanship and sharp horse sense. Whether driving cattle or moving livestock, a good wrangler rides alongside the crew, always knowing where to find fresh water and suitable pasture for grazing.
Beyond livestock, a wrangler may also track and hunt wild game, preparing fine camp cuisine that turns a meal into an experience. Wranglers are often creative souls—storytellers, musicians, and artists around the fire.
The Head Wrangler serves as a mounted guide to travellers from all walks of life, while assisting wilderness guides and clients deep in the backcountry on expeditions or big game hunts.
Wranglers play a vital role in backcountry safety and logistics, often assisting in remote wilderness emergencies. On horseback, they are ideal for reconnaissance and Search & Rescue operations. Skilled in bushcraft, equine and advanced first aid, a good wrangler is as much a woodsman as a horseman—capable, calm, and confident in the great outdoors.
Whether riding in groups of three, with a partner, or solo with the help of a well-trained dog or familiar, wranglers manage their remuda and attend to the animals under their care while out range riding.
Wranglers ride as a gang—for the benefit of the gang. But more than a job, wrangling is a way of life. And above all, the finest quality in a wrangler is humility—and a sense of belonging in the wilderness.
**~ PDR ~**
WRANGLER CODE
By Ryan Brooks – Wrangler One
1. Ride for the Gang
Wranglers ride as a gang, for the good of the gang—lead, point, swing, and sweep.
2. No Hoof, No Horse
Barefoot or shod, every wrangler must keep a sharp eye on hoof health. A hoof pick solves many problems—never ride without one.
3. Halter & Lead
A rope halter and lead rope are a wrangler’s best tools. A good wrangler leads a horse; a great one rides bareback with only those tools.
4. Dust, Don’t Bathe
Wranglers don’t bathe—they dust off.
5. Tie Your Knots
Clove hitches, bowlines, slipknots, double diamonds, basket hitches. If you can’t tie knots, tie lots.
6. Rope Skills Matter
A wrangler handles a rope. A better one can throw it.
7. Confidence is Quiet
Wranglers are cool, calm, and confident—around horses, guests, and fellow riders.
8. Feed the Crew
Horses and dogs eat first. Know what your animals need, and provide it.
9. Companions, Not Tools
Horses and dogs aren’t pets or beasts of burden—they’re your partners. Treat them with respect.
10. Wild Means Potential
The wilder the colt, the better the horse.
11. Backcountry Awareness
Situational awareness, risk management, hazard anticipation—these are daily duties out on the trail.
12. Gold in a Broke Horse
A good broke horse is worth her weight in gold—twice over.
13. Scout the Land
Know where the water runs, where the grass grows, and where the game roams.
14. Camp Clean, Meals Hardy
Oats, bannock, tea, and cowboy coffee start the day. Bacon and eggs every Sunday. Dry meat on trail. Keep camp tidy.
15. A Good Life
Wrangling isn’t easy—but “Das Leben ist schön” — life is beautiful.
16. Respect the Range
Show respect to the land, to wildlife, and to every rider you meet.
17. Live Off the Land
Hunt. Fish. Forage. Farm. Know how to survive.
18. Ride in the Rain
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass—it’s about learning to ride in the rain.” Be comfortable in all weather and seasons.
19. Build Strong Fences
Horse high. Pig tight. Bull strong.
20. Use Your Voice
Use your daddy’s voice with livestock. If that doesn’t work, use your mother’s.
21. Quick Wit, Sharp Mind
Humor, clarity, and thinking from the saddle are the wrangler’s sharpest tools.
22. Walk Before You Run
Anyone can run a horse. A true wrangler masters the walk and trot.
23. Listen to the Horse
A good wrangler whispers. A better one listens.
24. Efficiency Over Effort
Good horsemanship is maximum result with minimal force.
25. Fire Maker
Build a fire—anywhere, any weather. No excuses.
26. Wilderness is Home
To a wrangler, the wild is where they belong.
27. Stay Humble
A wrangler is always humble.
**~ Wrangler One ~**
Horsemanship – PDR
A wise old cowboy once said, “Good horsemanship is maximum efficiency with minimal effort.” Some have described horsemanship as a battle of wills or even the breaking of a spirit—but true horsemanship is far simpler, and far more profound. At its heart, good horsemanship is built on trust and mutual respect. It’s about treating your equine partner not as a beast of burden or a pet, but as a travelling companion on a shared journey.
Before one can begin to master horsemanship, they must first overcome fear. Stand close. Be silent. Learn to be comfortable in your horse’s presence. Approach with calm intention. You must be able to catch, halter, and pick up all four feet, to run your hands safely and confidently across their body as you groom. This is the beginning—where the apprentice horseman or horsewoman starts to sense the energy of the horse.
Learning to stand quietly and confidently with your horse—to feel their breath, their heartbeat, and to remain calm in return—is the first true step toward mastery. This is how you begin to develop the “mind melt”—that desired connection where horse and rider think, feel, and move as one.
This connection can happen both in the saddle and on the ground. It comes not all at once, but as a series of “aha” moments that grow stronger and clearer with time. Through your daily routine—catching, grooming, saddling, and working—you begin to discover that less pressure leads to greater response. You realize that the raw power of the horse is something awe-inspiring.
Horses are majestic creatures, embodiments of strength. To harness that power is no small feat. In the beginning, it feels explosive, even unpredictable. But with time, trust, and consistency, it becomes refined—manageable. Daily routines like grooming, groundwork, feeding, and turnout are not just chores; they are opportunities to observe and understand your horse’s habits, personality, and boundaries.
What may seem small to us can feel enormous to a horse. So let the small steps guide you. Remember—it’s about the journey, not the destination.
Choose communication over control. Be clear in your intentions. Horses are highly sensitive beings, capable of reading subtle cues and body language. They can sense your subconscious mind—your posture, your tone, even what you’re not saying. If you don’t know what you want, your horse won’t either. And that confusion can create a dangerous situation.
So, ask yourself again and again until your message becomes clear. Be patient. And take it one small step at a time.
Some say the best horsemen whisper. I say: the best horsemen listen. Your horse is always trying to tell you something. Taking the time to truly hear what your horse is communicating may be the difference between success and struggle—or even safety and danger. Ask yourself what you’re trying to do. Then ask your horse. When you truly listen, you’ll find the answers often become clear.
Horses are acutely in tune with their environment, often more so than we are. In a moment’s notice, they can sense something we might miss. And if we listen, truly listen, it might just save both of us from trouble.
“Horse sense” is the ability to make wise decisions based on intuition and awareness. It’s a deep, internal knowing—something some are born with, and others develop over time, through quiet observation and presence. It’s an ancient, sacred connection between human and horse. And like anything worth learning, it takes time, patience, and dedication.
Horse sense lives in the gut, in the breath, in the bond between rider and horse. It is not taught—it is earned.
To be continued…
