Women Riding Ponyboy Work

That is the new face of ponyboy work. And she has been riding this trail all along. Are you a woman working with pack strings? Share your stories in the comments below. To find clinics on packhorse riding safety, visit the Backcountry Horsemen of America.

are being hired not as a diversity checkbox, but because their bottom line is better. They turn in pack strings with less sweat marks, fewer vet bills, and more miles logged per day. women riding ponyboy work

The iconic "Cowboy" is evolving into the "Wrangler"—a role defined by skill, not gender. The next time you see a string of five horses winding down a mountain pass, look closely at the rider in the front. Chances are, it is a woman with dirt on her face, a rope in her hand, and a quiet command over the chaos. That is the new face of ponyboy work

To understand "ponyboy work," you have to understand the hierarchy of the ranch. The "Ponyboy" (or pony girl) is the rider who handles the "ponying"—the act of leading a second horse (or a string of horses) from the back of one’s own saddle. It is the art of leading a packhorse, a spare mount, or a young, unridden colt while simultaneously navigating rough terrain. Share your stories in the comments below

Historically, this was the domain of the toughest wranglers. Today, are proving they are not just capable, but often superior at this specific, high-skill task. What Exactly Is "Ponyboy Work"? Before diving into the gender dynamics, let’s define the job. Ponyboy work is the backbone of the backcountry. When a ranch moves cattle from summer to winter pasture, or when a hunting outfitter needs to supply a remote cabin for six months, they don't use a truck. They use a string of packhorses.