Amazingly quiet. The owner, host onsite, was gracious and welcoming from the first messages. Very…read moregood directions and greeted me at check in. The well water is deeelish! The vistas calming. I extended my stay as soon as I set up, sat done and took a good look around. As a solo female traveler I feel completely safe. There's adequate cell signal. Electric hookup. Cows and horses. Birds and grasshoppers. Great RV spots, but this tent camper was over the moon satisfied. Kim at Rancho del Nido rates five stars plus!

What a wonderful find! We camped here for a few nights and felt like we almost had the whole ranch…read moreto ourselves. Quiet and peaceful, with a million stars at night.

A&A Equestrian is a horse boarding and training facility located on 20+ acres in Santa Ynez, CA…read more For me, it's important that (1) Adrianna and Agapito (the owners, trainers, and riding instructors) live on site; (2) There is a large covered arena and a large outdoor arena which makes for good riding all year round; (3) For the horses' living quarters, there is a variety of outdoor pens and paddocks as well as stalls inside the main barn. There is a common tack room and a bathroom with shower. A&A accepts horses in training at all levels and riders of all levels and ages, too. Don't worry if your horse has flunked out of, or bucked off, a few different trainers. They have a couple of schooling horse available for lessons and there are a few cows on site, too. I have been boarding and training at A&A for the past six months and it has resulted in significant improvement in my seat, my aids, my horse's movement and behavior, and my horsemanship skills. Adrianna and Agapito are bonafide dedicated professionals who aim to develop capable riders and horses, whatever the goals may be. Expect to be positively challenged, engaged, and riding. Between the two of them they have experience in Classical and Competitive Dressage, working cows, Hunter/Jumpers, Eventing, Working Equitation, Californio Bridlehorse, and other Western roping and riding styles. The broad experience encourages an inclusive and supportive environment because the focus is not on a specific discipline. In my group lessons, no one is in exactly the same tack as another rider but we are all working on the same foundation that prepares us to do, with success, anything we want to do with our horses. It's great to not be at a "Name Your Discipline" barn but know that at anytime, if I want, I could get specific. Although they make a genuine effort to accommodate and customize services for all, if you are super high maintenance and make demands that dismiss all professional advisement, you may be better off somewhere else. This is not a pristine facility with a dozen staff to accommodate your whims. With that said, vet, farrier, and other services can be scheduled through the barn. If you can't be there, your horse will be taken care of. Most services can be invoiced to you with your monthly board, too.

I took lessons from Agapito on my dressage horse. He is a young master, very accomplished and…read morehelped improve my confidence, riding and ability. Adrianna and Agapito really care about their clients and horses and keep a beautiful facility. I would recommend them for beginners to knowledgeable riders.

I've ridden horses off and on throughout my life, but never with proper instruction--basically, the…read moreonly advice I ever got was "don't fall off." That all changed when I moved to Arizona and, after doing some trail rides, decided two years ago that I really wanted to learn how to ride. That's when I found Heart of the Horse, and it's been an incredible experience ever since. Lessons here are one-on-one and thoughtfully structured, blending arena work with trail riding--or both, depending on what you're working on. The property has its own scenic trails where you can walk, trot, and canter, plus access to extended trails along a wash for longer rides during lessons. You can choose between English or Western disciplines, and every instructor I've worked with has been kind, knowledgeable, and exceptionally patient--especially appreciated since I started at age 39! What really sets Heart of the Horse apart is how much they prioritize horsemanship. Each lesson begins with grooming and tacking up your horse, which I genuinely enjoy. It's a refreshing change from typical trail rides where you just hop on and go. Taking that time allows you to bond with your horse, and I love being able to spend extra moments with them before and after lessons to say thank you--they really do carry us around with so much grace. The horses themselves are absolutely wonderful, each with their own unique, quirky personality. And the ranch? It's peaceful and shaded, with a cooler, breezier feel compared to the rest of Tucson. Lessons are offered in the mornings and evenings on weekdays and in the mornings on Saturdays--I personally love the early morning sessions. If you're in Tucson and want to truly learn how to ride, not just sit in the saddle, I can't recommend Heart of the Horse enough. It's been such a rewarding, joyful journey.

I cannot say enough good things about this place! I'm a…read moremiddle-aged man, who has always wanted to learn how to ride horses, and I finally took the plunge to commit to ten lessons of Western riding. The ranch is beautiful, and just five minutes from my house. The horses are beautiful, healthy, and well-cared-for. David, the owner, Jordan, and all of the instructors are wonderful people and excellent at teaching you all that you need to know. If you live on the east side and want to learn to ride, this is the place to go.

We are fortunate to have Elizabeth Poulin in Southern Arizona at Amado Equine Hacienda. Trailering…read morein to ride with Elizabeth has been very positive for my horse and I. We have competed successfully through the Grand Prix, yet, working with Elizabeth has led to significant improvement. I believe we have improved all aspects of our work because of her educated eye and depth of knowledge about gymnasticizing exercises to develop horses correctly. I have watched Elizabeth teach a variety of horses and riders. She definitely has the best interest of the horse and rider as her central focus. She provides exercises that lead to improvement without creating negative tension in the horse or rider. This is a gift as a teacher and coach that I have rarely encountered. Bobbi and Gus have a lovely facility and provide a welcoming atmosphere. I definitely recommend Elizabeth and Amado Equine Hacienda. I am looking forward to taking my young horse for lessons as well as continuing with Corey. Debra Haber

From the owner: We offer pasture boarding for your horse.read more

We were more than pleasantly surprised with this find! With gracious hosts Tom and Alicia who are…read moreas lovely as the picturesque landscape, you may be planning your next stay on the way home. Get ready to unwind and relax. Family style meals and a wealth of activities and history to take in and experience. Our family hiked Cave Creek of the Chiricahua Mountains, toured the old west towns of Douglas, Bisbee and Tombstone, and took time to experience ranch life. A great museum is near the ranch complete with a desert garden, wildlife and historical exhibits. We brought our family of 5 including three boys, ages 10, 12 and 15. We all had a blast with our hosts touring the canyon and spending time with the horses, and of course eating Tom and Alicia's delicious meals! If you are looking for a real taste of the American Southwest, look no further.

I stayed there this year, and it was great. For one, they provide breakfast, lunch and dinner…read more That's huge because in this community there are only two tiny restaurants, not always open. The next nearest food is 45 minutes away! The food was excellent. The hosts are clearly foodies and put a lot of thought in each meal, which were upscale-restaurant-quality. I even had several dietary restrictions and they made that work. The beef from their own cattle was delicious, as well. They even made me dinner on the evening I arrived, which I wasn't expecting. The lodge was appropriately rustic, one of the historic stone buildings of this region. They have a lovely patio with bird feeders close by. I learned several new bird calls this trip just from sitting on that patio, The ranch itself was also in very good condition. I love animals, but I don't love smelling animals - and they are doing good farming because it smells great there. The large livestock has a ton of room to range about, and the smaller ones (the mini horses) are kept close for their safety, I assume. Everything was clean, the animals were happy and entertaining, and adorable! The Great Danes were well behaved, sweet dogs, too. And the hosts - they were so lovely; World travelers with lots of fascinating tidbits to share. They are happy to talk and share stories if you want, and they are also very respectful of guest's time and privacy. This was a fun, convenient, and picturesque place to stay. I wish I would have been able to do one of the trail rides. An excellent trip.

It's been years since I have ridden here. But since 2000 I have come to Fort Huachuca for different…read moretraining and leadership courses and always come visit the Buffalo Corral. This is a nice place to come ride horses in the desert. The staff is always friendly with a variety of horses you can ride. They also stable horses here if you live here.

Great ladies! Clean facility, great horses…read more I will definitely be back when I need another ride