Mountaintop Ranch offers a volunteer resident student program for the serious horseman to hone their equestrian skills in our resident student program. We welcome students from both the United States and Abroad.

 We are a barn that offers training to a horse and rider to become a well educated "using and handy horse". We ride in both English and Western disciplines. Many of our former students come back later for additional training, are active professionals in the business and are part of our extended family. When you come here as a resident student, your riding, training and general horsemanship skills are accelerated. We offer further experience and education in training, riding lessons, all facets of equine reproduction, foaling and imprinting services and horse preparation and marketing.

Requirements: Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and have current medical insurance. Participants may apply for a 90 day or 6 month apprenticeship. We do ask for a resume of any work experience with employers' names and contact information.  

Minimum riding qualifications: Applicants need to be moving toward an independent seat, understand basic riding principles and be safe and confident on young horses. Less experienced riders may apply if they have a strong work ethic and efficient stable skills and have special interests in Equine Reproduction or Stable Management.

Housing: We offer individual and group housing in log cabins that have two bedrooms, living room, kitchen and bath and a shared laundry room. It is a non-smoking environment both in the houses and in the barns. Due to the nature of our facility and housing, we do not generally allow pets but can make allowances.

Transportation: We also provide a shared ranch owned vehicle for non resident students.

Time Commitment and Educational Stipends: The volunteer working student position requires a 12 week minimum commitment. This position is a non-paid short-term placement only. An educational boarding stipend of $100 per week can be earned by applicants who show tremendous promise, skill, responsibility, commitment and expertise in their area of concentration. All apprentices who have completed their internships will be rewarded with a certificate of performance and an excellent reference for any other job that they may want to pursue.

We provide: Housing including all utilities (except long-distance phone), and the possibility of an earned educational boarding stipend of $100 per week to offset expenses. We also provide hauling to riding events and plenty of horses to ride, exercise and train. Our apprentices also learn Stallion collection, foaling, imprinting and breeding techniques if they work with us February through June. A vehicle is provided for international students.

Application Process: Please email resume and letter of interest to mttopranch@aol.com This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Let us know the best time to reach you so we can call to talk to you about designing a training program around your goals. Candidates then arrange to come and stay for at least a full 24-hour period (a few days is better!) to see what our program offers. Shuttle service to/from Dulles International Airport in Herndon, VA will be provided.

Foreign Candidates: If you reside out of the country, you may send us a DVD or written resume introducing yourself and what horse experience you have had in the past and what your special interest include. Please send us a sample of your riding skills and /or working and riding references to: 

Mountaintop Ranch
1030 Mountaintop Ranch Rd.
Elkton, VA 22827
USA

Be sure your resume/introduction letter has your telephone contact information, including your country code and your time zone.