Helena, Montana
Rocking Z Guest Ranch
About the ranch
Experience Parelli Natural Horsemanship put to a purpose. Whether new to horses or highly experienced, you will have the opportunity to expand your skills. Learn to work cattle from the back of a horse, ride long trails or play at liberty in a round pen - we do it all. Because horses and riding are the center of what we do at the Rocking Z, extra activities are done in none-riding hours. Families love it here, because we can cater to what each individual needs. From the horse-crazy teens, to the excited novice, from playing pool or soaking in the hot tub, families make great memories here
Also offers
Guest capacity
22
Best for
People of all ages
Months open
All year
History & hosts
Zack Wirth grew up on the Rocking Z from the age of 8. At that time it was called the 7-bar, and his dad raised hay and cattle there. In 1993 Zack and Patty purchased the ranch from Zack's mother and moved their family onto the ranch. At that time, Zack was running his company 'Wirth Excavating' and was successful in the construction industry. Patty raised their children as well as raising cattle on the ranch from 1994 to 2000.
In 1999, Zack and Patty felt it was the right time for them to start on their dream of becoming a guest ranch. In March 2000, they poured the footings for the two guest buildings and in July, 2000 they welcomed their first guests. When they started the guest ranch we only had 18 horses, and in seventeen years have grown to needing a herd of over 60 horses. They have never looked back, and it is their new dream that the guest ranch which they have founded will be receiving guests into their great grandchildren's time.
Ranch founded
1993
Guest ranch since
2000
Owners
Zack and Patty Wirth
Managers
Zack and Patty Wirth
Accommodation types
Ranch rustic
Gene Kilgore's notes
Conservation
This is the motto we live by. Ranching and farming culture reuses everything that it possibly can, from used horseshoes becoming bridle racks to old barn wood becoming beautiful picture frames; we reuse even the humblest of things. Here are a few of the things that we do in order to conserve both our finances and our environment.
Horse-Power, using our Team of Belgians for Feeding Hay
Solar-Paneled Movers for Irrigation
Pure Vegetable Oil for Running our Irrigation Pump
Bio-Diesel for Starting and Cleaning the Pump Engine
Hydroponic-Sprouted Barley Fodder for Horse-Feed
Why we love it
- If you're looking for a ranch that specializes in Parelli Natural Horsemanship practices, you've come to the right place!
- They practise Green Ranching and adopt a 'waste not, want not' philosophy, they reuse everything that they possibly can, from used horseshoes becoming bridle racks to old barn wood becoming beautiful picture frames; they reuse even the humblest of things.
- They offer personalization, meaning that the daily schedule and activities are tailored to the needs of the day, not the same schedule, week after week all summer long. Keeping the horse's health as priority, they alter each day to best suit the group and the weather you wake up with! Let them know what you want from your day!
- You can get involved with cattle herding and roping, cowboy-style!
What to consider
- The ranch operates on a day-to-day basis when it comes to riding and activities, so if you're looking for a tight daily activities and eating schedule, this may be a little too relaxed
