I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.  I had quit teaching and was mucking stables at a barn when their wrangler left and I was volunteered by the barn owner to take over as wrangler for the resort.  I had never even been out on a dude ride. 

I went to work that first day at about four in the morning.  I had 18 horses to feed and I wanted them to finish breakfast before we went to work.  I had watched the boys every day when I was working in the barn next to them so I had seen what happened but I had never done it.  Wow!

I went down to the front desk and to pick up my ride sheets for the day.  There were two rides everyday.  I had names, room numbers and weights.  I went in and caught whichever boys looked like they would fit the size of the rider.  I had no idea who the boys were.

I pretended I knew what I was doing.  I got the guest in, adjusted their stirrups, got them up (sometimes with a shove), told them what to do, and off we went.  

Let the adventures begin!