Ranch Herd Assistant

Inspired and framed by the natural beauty of the central coast region of California, the Léal hospitality group is a one-of-a-kind collection of carefully curated properties located in Morgan Hill and Hollister. The collection represents a dynamic array of urban and rural assets, including restaurants, wineries, event venues, as well as full and select service boutique hotels that are dedicated to creating unique and memorable experiences for our guests. Whether your goal is to spend an evening dining and staying in comfort, hosting a wedding or corporate event for several hundred people, each of our properties delivers the ultimate hospitality experience while inspiring our guests to sip, savor and celebrate all of life's little every day and once in a lifetime special occasions.

Position Objective

The Ranch Herd Assistant is responsible for supporting the daily care, handling, training, safety, and overall well-being of the MOHI Ranch herd, including Highland cattle, mini-Highland cattle, young cattle, our bull, donkey, and other livestock that may become part of the Ranch herd. This is a hands-on animal care position requiring someone who is dependable, observant, physically capable, and comfortable working closely with livestock of varying sizes and temperaments.  The health, safety, and well-being of the herd is the first priority of this position. 

The Ranch Herd Assistant works closely with the Events & Experience Manager to maintain consistent standards of animal care and handling. This includes feeding, cleaning stalls and animal areas, monitoring pasture and enclosure safety, grooming, assisting with continued training, preparing animals for guest experiences and appearances, and supporting both onsite and offsite Ranch events involving the herd. 

The individual in this role is expected to develop familiarity with each animal's personality, behavior, routines, boundaries, and individual needs and to handle every member of the herd with patience, confidence, consistency, and respect. 

Essential Job Functions

Herd Care & Daily Responsibilities 

• Feed and provide fresh water to the herd according to established feeding plans and manager direction.
• Clean stalls, pens, shelters, feeding areas, water stations, and other animal spaces.
• Refresh bedding and maintain clean, sanitary, and comfortable living environments.
• Assist with turnout, bringing animals in from pasture, and moving animals between designated areas.
• Monitor animals throughout the day for changes in appetite, behavior, mobility, temperament, appearance, manure, hydration, or general condition.
• Immediately communicate injuries, illness, unusual behavior, changes in eating or drinking, or other concerns to the manager.
• Maintain feed, hay, bedding, grooming supplies, halters, leads, and other herd care equipment in a clean and organized manner.
• Assist with veterinary, farrier, grooming, or other animal care appointments as requested.
• Support additional herd care responsibilities as needs evolve. 

Stall, Pasture & Property Safety 

• Routinely inspect stalls, pastures, paddocks, fencing, gates, latches, shelters, feeders, water sources, and turnout areas.
• Identify potential hazards before animals are introduced into an area.
• Ensure gates, stalls, fencing, and animal areas are properly secured.
• Monitor pasture and enclosure conditions including footing, vegetation, fencing, shade, shelter, water access, and cleanliness.
• Immediately report damaged fencing, equipment, unsafe vegetation, environmental hazards, or other conditions that could affect the herd.
• Maintain safe and appropriate separation of animals when required. 

Animal Handling & Training 

• Safely halter, lead, move, tie, groom, and handle cattle and other Ranch animals according to established procedures.
• Assist with the ongoing training and socialization of the herd according to expectations and training goals established by the Events & Experience Manager.
• Reinforce consistent handling techniques, routines, boundaries, and desired behaviors.
• Assist animals in becoming comfortable with haltering, leading, grooming, tying, transportation, unfamiliar environments, photography, guests, and event activity. 
• Recognize individual animal behavior and respond appropriately to signs of stress, discomfort, fear, overstimulation, or agitation.
• Understand that handling techniques may differ based on an animal's size, age, temperament, training level, and role within the herd.
• Maintain particular awareness and follow established safety protocols when working with larger cattle and the Ranch bull. 

Grooming & Presentation 

• Routinely groom and maintain animals as needed for their health, comfort, cleanliness, and appearance.
• Prepare designated animals for Ranch experiences, weddings, photography, private events, educational programs, and offsite appearances.
• Ensure participating animals are clean, groomed, appropriately equipped, and presentation-ready.
• Maintain grooming and animal presentation supplies.
• Assist with bathing, brushing, coat care, hoof area cleaning, and other approved grooming practices. 

Ranch Experiences & Events

• Assist with handling designated animals during MOHI Ranch and MOHI Minis guest experiences.
• Support private experiences, weddings, corporate events, educational programs, photography sessions, tours, and other approved animal interactions.
• Assist with setup and breakdown of animal interaction areas, temporary fencing, supplies, water stations, signage, grooming areas, and related equipment.
• Help guests understand how to safely and respectfully approach and interact with the animals.
• Maintain control and awareness of animals while also providing a warm and welcoming guest experience.
• Continuously monitor participating animals and recognize when an animal requires a break or should be removed from an experience.
• Support the Events  & Experience Manager in maintaining appropriate guest and animal boundaries. 

Transportation & Offsite Events 

• Assist with preparing designated animals for transportation and offsite appearances.
• Prepare and organize halters, leads, feed, water, grooming supplies, fencing, cleaning supplies, and other necessary equipment.
• Assist with safe loading and unloading of animals under established procedures.
• Help establish safe temporary animal areas at offsite locations.
• Monitor animals before, during, and after transportation and throughout the event.
• Maintain appropriate access to water, feed, shade, rest, and quiet space as required.
• Assist with breakdown, loading, transportation, and returning animals safely to their Ranch environments.
• Ensure animals are appropriately settled and cared for following their return. 

Herd-First Standard 

At MOHI Ranch, our animals are members of our herd family first and participants in guest experiences second.  Every decision involving the herd should reflect an understanding and respect for the animal's physical and emotional well-being.  The Ranch Herd Assistant is expected to become familiar with each animal as an individual and recognize normal behaviors as well as signs that something may be wrong. 

No photograph, guest request, event timeline, or operational need takes priority over the health or safety of an animal. 

Team members are expected to advocate for the herd, communicate concerns immediately, and follow the direction of the Events  & Experience Manager regarding whether an animal should participate in an activity or experience. 

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Competences

The ideal Ranch Herd Assistant: 

• Has a genuine respect for animals and takes pride in providing exceptional care.
• Availability may include mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, Ranch events, and occasional offsite events.
• Is comfortable working around cattle of varying sizes, including a bull, as well as donkeys and other livestock.
• Previous livestock, ranch, farm, equine, veterinary, or animal handling experience is strongly preferred.
• Is calm, confident, patient, and consistent when handling animals.
• Understands that livestock require awareness and respect regardless of how familiar or friendly an individual animal may be. 
• Is highly observant and notices changes in animals or their environment.
• Can follow established feeding, handling, training, and safety procedures consistently.
• Is comfortable taking direction and understands the importance of consistency when multiple people are caring for and training the same animals.
• Is dependable and understands that animal care is required regardless of weather, weekends, holidays, or Ranch event schedules.
• Is willing to perform physical Ranch work including stall cleaning, feeding, grooming, moving equipment, and working outdoors.
• Is comfortable interacting professionally and warmly with Ranch guests.
• Is willing to learn and grow as the MOHI Ranch herd and animal experience program continues to develop. 

Apply Today:
Visit our careers page at www.liveloveleal.com/careers to explore opportunities, submit your resume, and complete an application.

Interviews begin soon—don’t miss your chance to be part of something exceptional.