Team Ranch Life

At Shalom, we also offer an exciting gap year program called TEAM RANCH LIFE for young people 18 years and older who are passionate about the cowboy way of life.

The program runs for a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 10 months and covers all the ranching basics: western horsemanship, stockmanship and herd health, the art of roping, ear-tagging, doctoring sick animals, dipping dosing, branding…. And the list goes on. Not to mention the priveledge of working daily in wide open spaces and fresh air with the beautiful animals under our care.

Ranching is both our work and our passion, and has been for many years. We would love the opportunity to pass on the knowledge we have acquired to young people wanting to further their understanding and skills of working cattle with horses.

But enough from us…. Why not hear for yourselves from this year’s Gap Year candidates?

  • This experience has reignited my passion for horse riding and for being with horses.

    The absolute highlight during my time here is when I trusted my horse enough to gallop at full in an open field when I had to separate a cow from her calve, this was an absolute boost in my confidence and that feeling will not easily fade away.

    The feeling of gratitude and love for your horse when he cooperates and is willing to work for you and give his best is indescribable. The techniques I have learned will aid me in my future farming activities and it has been life changing being here.

    I have been challenged and lifted out of my comfort zone, but at the same time found my feet and a passion for a different way of riding / discipline regarding farming by making use of horses.

    I have the utmost respect and admiration for the Buchan Family and I have truly been blessed to have been part of their daily life and the opportunity to have learnt so much from them regarding life and working on a ranch.

  • I had no idea what to expect on the Shalom ranch experience. However I've been blown away by what I have been exposed to, from roping to cutting cattle and spending long hours in the saddle.The scenery and environment are of the most beautiful I've experienced. I have been challenged beyond what I thought I could do.

    The Buchan family are amazing and have a special place in my heart. They have created a horse riding experience that is a dream come true and something I would do again and again.

  • This was one of the most extraordinary times of my life, where from the start, I felt as though I was living a dream. It wasn’t just a style of farming I learned, but a way of life - one that seamlessly integrated my love for farming and horses, taught with patient guidance and thoughtful correction.

    We weren’t merely taught how to ride trained horses; we were given the tools to train any horse ourselves. We were encouraged to grow not only our practical skills, but also in areas such as problem solving, perseverance and teamwork.

    From the moment I arrived it felt like a home away from home, with the whole family being so kind and welcoming (and Aunty Ash’s incredible cooking)!

    This experience is truly what you make of it; with hard work and dedication, it will reward you with a transformative, life-changing journey.

Spaces are limited to 6 Gap year students for 2025. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.

Don’t dream it, live it.