Stockmanship Lessons | The Ranch at Rock Creek

Montana Stockmanship

Activity Description

Experience a morning or afternoon practicing your cattle handling skills with our talented Wranglers and horses at the Camp Roosevelt Rodeo Arena. Effective stockmanship means understanding cattle and horse behavior while using techniques to minimize stress. You will also learn how to recognize signs of illness or distress during the handling process. Stockmanship is a unique opportunity to hone your horsemanship and cattle handling skills on a larger scale. Practice the skills needed to run our beef program like sorting, penning, and tracking steers with our expert Wranglers who will guide you through each step.

*Offered May 15th – Labor Day*

Practice the skills needed to run our beef program
Gain an understanding of cattle and horse behavior
Learn how to sort, track steers and pen with our expert Wranglers
Children must be 12 years old or older to participate
Stockmanship is only available for intermediate to advanced riders

Wisdom from the Wild

From Our Activities Concierge

“We came to enjoy some horse back riding and it did not disappoint. The entire staff are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and provide a very high level of service. We had the chance to try cattle sorting, trail riding, see a rodeo, fly fish, rifle shooting. The dining is truly gourmet with an excellent wine cellar for a ranch! As we both are still working, we also appreciated that there was WIFI available so we did not have to completely unplug. We loved the all inclusive aspect and look forward to returning.”

LET21

Tripadvisor, May 2023

“Worth every dollar / penny. It's magical. We stayed at the end of the Revel & Ride too, so was nice to have a rodeo and barn dance to kick off the first night, really created an atmosphere so if you can arrive with a special activity, that's a great way to get into the spirit. ”

lisandowns

Trip Advisor, May 2022

The best souvenir is a great story.

Twice-daily activities are included in your stay. Our all-inclusive rate structure ensures that visits to The Ranch are memorable for their adventures and amenities, not their logistical challenges.

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Horseback Riding

Frequently Asked Questions

We have over 70 horses. Our herd is primarily comprised of stock horses and draft crosses.

Children under the age of eight can take part in our arena lessons, obstacle course and adopt-a-horse activities. Guests aged 8-12 are permitted on trail rides with a parent accompanying them on their activity. Children participating in Stockmanship, Human & Horse Connection and community horseback rides must be over the age of 12-years-old. Please note, all children under the age of 12-years-old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18 at all times.

Our maximum weight limit is 240 lbs., which is standard for guest ranches to ensure the longevity of the horse herd.

To allow each family an opportunity to ride as well as for the preservation of our land and horse herd, we are unable to guarantee multiple horseback rides during your stay.

We are not a traditional dude ranch, but rather an all-inclusive ranch featuring an activities program designed to give guests experiences and instruction for a plethora of Montana activities and hobbies. Our landscape is uniquely suited to fly fishing, hiking, sapphire mining, archery, shooting sports, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, disc golf, snowmobiling, ice skating, cross country and downhill skiing and much more. Horseback riding is only one small facet of the breadth of adventure available.

Community rides are now available on our activities schedule with groups of 5-10 riders and a 1 to 5 wrangler to guest ratio. This small group activity allows our guests to foster friendships in a fun and comfortable environment.

The length of the rides will be 1 to 1.5 hours and are ideal for beginning and intermediate riders over the age of 12. These rides begin at a specific time and after a 15-minute grace period, any guests that do not show up will not be able to go on the ride.

Please speak with your Ranch Ambassador about your preference for a community or private ride.

No, we do not allow guests to bring their own horse for health and safety reasons. Not all horses are familiar with our Western landscape and we do have wildlife on property. New horses do not acclimate appropriately during their time here. We also believe that a horseback riding vacation is an opportunity to experience new and different equine personalities.

No. We encourage all riders to experience Western riding traditions while in Montana.

The Ranch at Rock Creek is not a traditional dude ranch where your only activity is riding. We have 36 year-round Montana hobbies and activities included in our all-inclusive activities program. Today, as a guest ranch, we help preserve the legendary West by maintaining a horse herd, cattle herd, hay pastures and sustainable farming and recreation practices, in addition to our all-inclusive guest services. Our wranglers are exceptional horse men and women, who enrich our programs with their passion for ranch life. Even our Flint’s Forest Rangers Kids Club helps our youngest travelers learn of the traditions and horsemanship involved in running a ranch.

While most dude ranches operate solely in the summer, we are open year-round, offering outdoor Montana adventures like snowmobiling, ice fishing, shooting and archery, to name just a few. Our Western traditions extend beyond our horse barn to include a summer Saturday barn dance, Friday cowboy breakfast, poker tournaments, our Silver Dollar Saloon, five ranges for shooting, archery and ranch-to-table cuisine sourced from local farms and ranches.

There are few places in the world where you can wake up in Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star accommodations, dine on gourmet, locally sourced meals, learn to shoot a bow and barrel race and then relax for a Saddle Sore Soak at The Spa at Rock Creek. This contrast creates an unparalleled experience for our guests.