Montana Horsemanship and Horseback Riding
Popular Pick
Experience horseback riding during your Ranch vacation
The Ranch at Rock Creek’s herd of 73 beautiful horses await you. Part of the experience of our Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star luxury guest ranch is having everything for exceptional horseback riding at your fingertips as part of a privately guided activity, available once per your stay.
Our program includes other customizable options, like arena lessons, roping and an obstacle course for younger guests. With wranglers at the ready to guide you through this essential ranch vacation experience, you can improve your skills as you see Western Montana between the ears.
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Twice-daily on-ranch adventures are included in your stay
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73 horses – horses selected based on rider ability
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Safety is our top priority
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Must be 8 years old to trail ride; arena lessons are available for ages 4-7 in lieu of a trail ride
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Diverse trail system and open land
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1-2 hour trail rides
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3-4 hour advanced trail rides
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60-minute arena riding lessons
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Tack and gear provided, although we recommend bringing hats and boots if possible
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Small group sizes with 1:5 wrangler to guest ratio
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Obstacle course designed for riders age 4-8, or beginning riders of any age
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Maximum weight limit is 240 lbs.
Horse Experiences
Learn Montana Horsemanship
With 6,600 acres to explore and miles of trails, there are always new adventures for all riding levels. Flat creekside trails are best for beginners while treks to peaks and rolling pine trails are enjoyed by intermediate to advanced riders. After you get fitted with boots and a hat, our wranglers ensure you are comfortable on a horse that matches your experience level. They give a basic lesson on natural horsemanship skills, horse tendencies and rider safety. Our small group size ensures we are not a nose-to-tail property. There are opportunities for trotting and loping on all trails, contingent on rider ability and comfort level. Longer half and full-day rides are offered for intermediate and advanced riders when scheduled in advance.
Horseback Riding Lessons
Enhance your riding acumen with one-hour arena riding lessons. Arena lessons are suited to children and adults at all riding levels. Riders of all disciplines can benefit from a personalized learning experience at The Ranch. Lessons are a great opportunity for beginner riders to gain confidence or for intermediate riders to discover new techniques. Arena games are created at the discretion of the wrangler to best suit the ability and comfort of the riders. Complete an obstacle course, learn how to barrel race or how to pole bend. Try a Horsemanship 101 session in the round pen, learning ground exercises that develop trust with horses. During the summer, you can see how the pros do it during our weekly rodeo.
Roping Lessons
Roping lessons are available to guests of all ages. Guests will first learn the basics of building a loop and practice roping a dummy-steer. Roping is also available during special events and lawn games, as well as during the Ranch Rodeo.
Obstacle Course
Our obstacle course was made with younger guests, aged four to eight, in mind, (although guests of all ages are welcome to try it). Guests can work on their skills through a fun thought-provoking obstacle course along Rock Creek. Riders will improve their abilities and confidence by making their way through steps, bridges, mazes and other obstacles under the instruction of our experienced wranglers.
Wisdom from the Wild
From Our Activities Concierge
Gary L
TripAdvisor, September 2020
mcr0132
TripAdvisor, May 2021
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.
Horseback Riding
Frequently Asked Questions
We have approximately 73 horses. Our herd is primarily comprised of Quarter Horses.
Children under the age of eight can take part in our obstacle course or adopt-a-horse programs. These programs are included in your stay.
Our maximum weight limit is 240 lbs., which is standard for guest ranches to ensure the longevity of the horse herd.
If a guests is 11 weeks or under in their pregnancy they will need to supply The Ranch with a doctor’s note permitting them to ride. If a guest is 12 weeks or further along in their pregnancy they will not be permitted to go on a horseback ride.
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.
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.
Please read about activity safety in response to COVID-19 on our dedicated page.
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.
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