“We don’t just train horses — we raise horsemen.”
Preserving Californio traditions, one colt and one rider at a time.
Are you ready to step into real ranch life?
Our Cowboy Internship isn’t a vacation — it’s an immersion. You’ll spend long days doing real work. Time will be spent on horseback, fixing fences and learning to handle cattle. You will learn the skills required to maintain herd health, develop young horses, and do what it takes to keep a working ranch running.
Before you apply, we ask every candidate to complete a short, private video course that lays out what life on the ranch really looks like — the work, the challenges, and the rewards. If you finish the course and still feel the fire, you’ll be one step closer to joining the 2Rein Cowboys at Nitehawk Ranch, where horsemanship is more than a skill — it’s a way of life.
What to know:
If you’re interested in the internship you can contact us directly. We will ask you a few screening questions to help prepare you for what could be ahead and to help us get to know you. There is no worry of “rejection” for this internship. Being fully transparent and honest is the fastest way to acceptance for the program. Honesty simply helps us to place you in the best learning environment. We do suggest you gain some experience with horses before beginning the internship, but that doesn’t mean you can’t apply. We have a long list of applicants and there is a waitlist for each upcoming season. So it’s actually a great idea to apply as soon as you are interested! You can always take the time to gain some experience before arriving at Nitehawk.
Before acceptance into the program we will ask that you complete a short course so that you can see if this program is truly for you. You will get an insiders look at what our program will teach and what it requires of participants. The course is free but it is password protected. Just contact us for the password and we will forward it to you by email. (As of October 1, 2025 we are updating the course so it is currently down. It is expected to be back up within a few months)
About The Course:
The course contains approximately 20 short videos that range from 30 seconds to 10 minutes long. Once you have completed the courses you will have a form to fill out that will notify us of the completion and what you have retained. It is not a test. Simply a way for us to see where you are at.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long is the course?
The course is usually completed in 1-2 days depending on how much time you commit to it. We may always change content or add new content over time.
How long is the internship?
There are a few different tiers of internship to help suit the needs and lifestyles of students. We currently offer 30 day to 6 month internships. The 6 month internship being over the summer months.
Details about the Program:
2 meals per day are provided
Housing is provided during the program
Many immersive ranch programs cost students between $4,500 and $6,000 per person. At Nitehawk, our goal is to keep the Cowboy School as affordable and accessible as possible. In some cases, that may mean little to no cost for the student.
The exact cost will depend on the length of time you stay. Short-term programs require more intensive teaching, while longer stays allow students to contribute to the daily work of the ranch once they’ve learned the basics. This balance helps keep costs lower for those who can stay longer.
We want to be transparent: if we spend every moment teaching without also keeping the ranch running, the program becomes unsustainable. By sharing the workload as students progress, we can continue offering this opportunity for years to come.
What we need from participants:
Physical ability: You must be able to lift at least 50 lbs, stay on your feet for long hours (sometimes up to 16 in a day), and mount a horse without assistance. Ranch work is physically demanding, and safety depends on being fit enough for the job. Though excessively long days can happen - we do not plan for them. However, we do not control when the cattle decide to break the old fence and go visit the neighbors 10 miles away through the thick forest. Sometimes things just happen and we can’t stop until we get our stock back where they belong. This is the reality of the cowboy life.
Horse experience: For the safety of everyone here, some prior horse experience is strongly recommended. While we can teach many skills from the ground up, arriving with basic experience ensures you’ll get much more out of the program. At minimum, you should feel comfortable catching and haltering a horse, saddling (English or Western), and riding at a walk, trot, and canter.
Stress management: Ranch life can involve high-pressure situations with livestock, weather, and long hours. You must be able to remain calm, think clearly, and work safely under stress.
Teamwork & Attitude: Ranch life is not a solo job. You’ll need to take direction, communicate clearly, and work respectfully with others. We are sorry to say but the “lone cowboy” fantasy is just that. Yes, there may be times you get to work alone, but a lot of the time there will be a team set to a task.
Weather & Conditions: Be prepared to work in all conditions — sun, rain, wind, or snow. This is part of real ranch life and not something we can control.
Safety First: If at any point we feel you are unsafe with horses, livestock, or equipment, we reserve the right to limit your participation until you’re ready.
“Ranch life demands adaptability — from teamwork to working in all kinds of weather. We’ll give you the guidance, but we need you to bring the right attitude and willingness to step into the reality of this life.”
- Ashley
What People Are Saying
“This has been a life changing experience. I can’t say enough. Not only has this program opened doors for me it has given me lifelong friendships.”
— Melanie B.
“Working with Ashley and Arthur has been a greater experience than I ever expected. I gained more knowledge in 30 days with them than the past 15 years working under a renowned horsemen.”
— Andre F.
“The hardest experience of my life. So far out of my comfort zone, yet I would do it 100x over.
10/10 recommend!”
— Olivia G.
“I had never heard of Californio horsemanship. I also never would have guessed that it was shaped from classical riding. Learning it’s history and how it shapes each horse in the way the horse needs instead of fitting every horse to a specific mold was fascinating. It is such a gentle and mindful approach.”
— James B.
FAQs
How long does the internship run?
We understand that life is a series of problems and events to navigate. For that reason we are working hard to try to make this program accessible to as many people as we can. We hope to be releasing short programs of 7-14 days. Mid range programs of 30-90 days. Then, also the longer programs of 90 days to 1 year. After program completion (60 days to 6 months) There may be the possibility of a paid position on the ranch. This will be extremely limited.
How do I apply?
Applications will open as we finalize details. You can join the waitlist on our website to be notified as soon as applications go live. Just enter your email in one of the email forms on our website and state that you are interested in the program. There is a form at the bottom of this page.
What is the learning structure like?
This program is built around real ranch work, not classroom lessons. We’ll show you how to do a task — then you’ll spend time working at it independently before we check your progress and offer feedback.
It’s a great fit for people who learn by doing, take initiative, and thrive with hands-on responsibility. If you’re looking for constant supervision, this may not be the right program — but if you want to grow through real work and mentorship, you’ll feel right at home here.
Is the program paid?
No, this is a learning program, not a paid job. However, for a very limited number of students, successful completion may open the door to a future paid position at Nitehawk Ranch. This includes foreign applicants though they will have to go through a Canadian work-visa process which we are very familiar with.
What will I learn?
Students will gain hands-on experience in colt starting, handling wild horses, Californio horsemanship, cattle handling, stockmanship, roping, herd health, daily ranch work, and cowboy etiquette. On top of that the skills required to survive in this line of work can be taught if you are here long enough. Things like leatherwork, farrier work, forging, vaccinations, blood draws, and more. We also share how to put together a resume to find ranch work and more information that you will need to succeed after the program.
Do I need to have experience to sign up?
No prior ranch or cowboy experience is required, but a willingness to work hard, learn, and adapt is essential. Applicants with enough horse experience to ride at a walk, trot and canter will be considered first as this is required to do the work. Applicants with horse or livestock experience may be challenged at a higher level. (If you do not have horse experience and really want to learn we recommend that you reach out to us by email and get on the waitlist. While being on the waitlist you can pursue learning the basics of how to halter, saddle, and ride a horse. We can give you suggestions on how to do this)
Can international students apply?
Yes, international applicants will be considered. However, you are responsible for securing any necessary travel documents or visas. We can guide you on how to move forward with this as we are familiar with the process.
Internship Sign Up Form
Interested in the internship? For access to the course to see if it’s right for you, fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly! We can't wait to hear from you! (Password will be shared in our email response)