Greece
Chalkidiki
Ranch Manippos
07.06.-14.09.2024
What can I expect when working at “Ranch Manippos”?
Here you will find all important information about the accommodation, meals, a typical workday, the horses, and my conclusion.
Table of Contents
General Information
Greece Halkidiki Ranch Manippos is a family business, and for 2024, an employee was sought for the first time. Whether someone will be sought for each summer season again, I cannot say. Changes are possible.
For this job, the following were provided for free:
· Accommodation
· A baguette sandwich
· (Tap) water
This was a paid job. Working hours were 8 to 9 hours daily, 7 days a week. Optionally, you could take one day off per week. For days off, I could create a “desired day-off list” and almost always got my choice, or I could alternatively choose another day. The only requirement was to announce the day off at least one week in advance.
I had to provide my own meals. The mini-market was diagonally opposite my apartment and reachable within a 2-minute walk.
Advertisement
While riding, I wore the Royal Horsemen riding leggings – they were extremely comfortable and pleasant to wear.
Find all available options on Amazon here.*
Accommodation
The host rented a studio apartment for the employee, which included a bed, a wardrobe, a small kitchen with fridge and stove, and a bathroom. On request, the landlord could add a second bed or a table with a chair.
For the apartment, the employee had to bring their own bed sheet, a light blanket, pillowcase, towels, dishcloths, and sponges.
The bathroom was quite small. The small shower had no curtain, so the bathroom could get wet when showering. There were only limited storage options for toothbrushes and toiletries, but it was sufficient for one person.
The house had free Wi-Fi, and the password could be requested directly from the landlords.
The apartment was about 2 km from the ranch. If a bicycle suited the employee, it could be borrowed for free, or one could walk along the main road or the beach to the ranch.
The sandy beach was 300 meters from the apartment and offered an ideal opportunity to go swimming.
Meals
The employee was responsible for their own meals. A pot and a pan were provided by the landlords.
Alternatively, meals could be eaten at a restaurant during lunch breaks or after work. The most affordable option was the restaurant “Hunger.”
Each day, the employee either received a baguette sandwich or, alternatively, the food money was paid out.
Working Day
Our workday started 1 to 2 hours before a booked ride. After training, it was up to us when to complete our assigned tasks independently. During training, we performed the following tasks together:
· Feeding the horses
· Bringing horses to water, tying them up, grooming, saddling, and bridling
· Cleaning guest seating areas
· Cleaning up after horses (if a horse pooped)
· Greeting guests, distributing helmets, assigning horses, and adjusting stirrups
Once all riding guests were seated, we either mounted the horses ourselves or led a child on a 20-minute ride on foot. For longer rides, we always rode along. Almost always, we were two people on the ride—one leading, the other as a backup guide. After returning to the ranch, we performed the following tasks:
· Taking photos for guests, bringing horses to the tie-up area, helping guests dismount, collecting helmets, tidying up, and distributing water bottles
· Unsaddling and unbridling horses
· Showering horses if it was too hot
· Bringing horses from the fields to the water and back
· Feeding horses in the paddock
· Tidying pads and ropes, washing bits, cleaning after the beach ride
After our lunch break, which lasted approximately from 12:00 to 17:00 (or shorter, depending on the booked rides and their start times), we continued our work with:
· Feeding the horses
· Offering water to horses
· Grooming, saddling, and bridling horses
· Cleaning up after horses (if necessary)
· Cleaning guest seating areas
· Greeting guests, distributing helmets, assigning horses, and adjusting stirrups
Once all guests were mounted, we either rode ourselves or accompanied a child on the 20-minute ride on foot. In the evening, there was also a sunset ride.
After the ride, tasks included:
· Taking photos for guests, bringing horses to the tie-up area, helping guests dismount, collecting helmets, tidying up, and distributing water bottles
· Unsaddling and unbridling horses
· Bringing horses into the evening and feeding them
· Tidying pads and ropes
The workday ended about half an hour after the sunset ride.
Horses
There were 13 horses on the ranch.
Some horses were in the paddock, had 24/7 access to water, and were regularly provided with hay.
The other horses were tied on a 10-meter rope in the meadow, allowing them to graze 24/7. The boss rotated the horses daily, and when there was no more grass, they were moved to the paddock. Horses were regularly taken to water.
When it became too hot, all horses were showered before lunch to cool them down.
Great care was taken for the well-being of the horses.
My Review
I really enjoyed the workplace. It was a wonderful experience to have the opportunity to reach the beach every day through work. We were lucky to witness stunning sunsets during our activities.
English 
German 