Jaimme has always been professional, patient, and, most importantly, safety-conscious with both…read morehorses and riders. My daughter has grown tremendously under her instruction, and I've always felt confident that her well-being comes first. I highly recommend Jaimme to anyone looking for a knowledgeable trainer who genuinely cares about her horses and her students.

I can't recommend Jaimee Gregg enough! Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to refine your…read moreriding skills, she has a true gift for teaching. Every lesson is thoughtfully structured, safe, and incredibly fun. What really stands out is jaimee's patience and clear communication. She takes the time to explain techniques in a way that's easy to understand and always provides encouragement and constructive feedback. I've gained so much confidence in the saddle thanks to her guidance. The horses are well-cared for and clearly love working with Jaimee which says a lot about the positive environment that's been created here. If you're looking for someone who is passionate, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in your growth as a rider, look no further!

We used a Groupon for 2 riding sessions. The first is on Saturdays for new riders. The horses were…read morealready prepared for the riding session. I love that S.T.A.R.S. teaches Horsemanship not just riding skills. You can tell that Danya has a passion for horses and teaching others about how to care for and ride horses. We will definitely be back for more lessons.

We absolutely love S.T.A.R.S. of Horsemanship! My daughter Lailah takes lessons here, and it's been…read morean amazing experience. Her instructor, Rose, is wonderful--patient, knowledgeable, and great with kids. Lailah has grown so much in both her riding and confidence. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a positive and supportive place for their kids to learn!

Diamond Buckle Adventures is amazing! My sisters and I had some family business in Scottsdale and…read morewanted to spend an afternoon together doing something fun and adventurous. This operation did not disappoint. Diane was our guide and she was just the right combination of fun and informative; sharing interesting facts about our surroundings as we rode, yet not overwhelming us with too much information. The trails were absolutely beautiful, and our horses were delightful. We were also treated to a nice lunch, which was delicious...an added bonus to an already great day!

Took a beautiful New Years ride through the desert this week with Penny from Diamond Buckle…read moreAdventures. I'm a picky professional horse trainer who seldom enjoys the "rental horse" experience. This ride was quite an upgrade from the norm. The horses/mules were well cared for, well groomed, and perfectly behaved. The tack fitted well and was clean. Check out these ladies and their new made-to-order trail riding business!

I've been coming to the Arabian Horse show for a long time now, and let me tell you, this is by far…read morethe coolest thing going on in Arizona in the middle of February that you just cannot miss! 2400 Arabian and half horses competing for 10 days is no small feat, let me tell you. This show has been at Westworld for a long time now, long before I ever discovered this event. There's 11 arenas of competition going on, from Western Pleasure, reining, saddle seat and a whole lot more. Just about every possible competition goes on here for horses and riders, and the best of the best will show here. The riders do end up winning cash prizes and its a national show, so the awards really mean a lot to the barns and riders competing. Overall, there's 11 rings of competition going on for 10 days all day long. Competition starts at 8 am and generally runs until 6 PM. As long as your there during these hours, you can watch any of the competitions you like. You walk from arena to arena and watch the riders do their thing, and they announce the winners right then and there. They also have warm up rings so you can watch the trainers and riders warm up for those competitions that are coming up, and its an awesome sight to see. They also have an enormous amount of shopping here. Everything from Jewelry, to clothes, paintings, furniture, horse and animal products such as saddles, harnesses, natural dog products and beds and a bunch more. Lots of barn companies show up here as well for people who want to have one on their property! This is awesome to walk through and see! They have really cute affordable ones that are 4 stalls big, that can house up to 4 horses, or you can make one a tack room and put 3 other horses in there at your preference. They even have super expensive ones (the ones that I love and want) that are made of really fancy wood and have all kinds of awesome features in them. Some of these barns are as expensive as a house! Definitely a must see! Some of the features are so cool I can't believe it! They have lots and lots of food here to eat as well with a lot of vendors to choose from. Things like ice cream, lemonade and coffee from some of the small vendors who drive in to sell at the event, along with larger more well known local and national resturants who set up booths here to serve food of all kinds at the show. I usually eat before the show, but you can find just about anything to eat here that a person can think of. BBQ stands, chicken, veggie stuff, you name it, they sell it. Another thing they do here is barn tours twice a day, where you can meet and play with the horses that compete. They also auction some of the horses on site, so you can watch some of them get bid on in front of the barns, and it's an awesome experience to watch. Stud fees of $2000, and I've seen a few middle eastern men from Dubai spend 6 figures on these baby horses with fantastic blood lines to add to their horse collection. Oh, and don't think the auction is for the weak of heart. Plan on watching people spend several thousand dollars on these horses. I saw a horse that was up for sale at a barn for $25,000. um, yea. I've heard of people spending 6 figures before because of bloodlines and rarity. If you haven't been, please go check it out. The show runs for 10 days every February and its totally a great way to spend an afternoon or two in the sun out here. You don't have to ride horses (like I do) to appreciate what goes on.

Amazing horse competition at Westworld with the beautiful Arabian horses and their very skillful…read moreriders. So much excitement for the entire family as you cheer on your favorites. Local participants as well as many from around the country. And the different costumes for each event that the riders wear are stunning!!! The event also has many many vendors selling everything from clothing, jewelry, horse related gear and so much more, food booths and food trucks. Not to mention that the event itself has many interactive experiences, especially for kids, including tours. Free parking at Westworld, which is a definite bonus!!

Crossroads Farm is an excellent hunter-jumper barn with a trainer owner (so emphasis is on riding…read moreand horses instead of profit)! A wide range of riders who have everything: ponies, quarter horses, thoroughbreds, and warmbloods. The prices are excellent, too. I was surprised to find a barn within 30 minutes of the South Mountain area that is reasonable with excellent training and a fun, down-to-earth crowd. http://www.crossroadsfarm.com/

The amenities offered at Crossroads Farm, at first glance, appear and sound incredible. However,…read moreafter several months of boarding there, I began to have a feeling that my horse was not being tended to per the contract. To verify that my horse was not being given his supplements and also not being turned out regularly, which I paid for, I devised a way to keep track of my horse's care and found out my hunch was correct. Even after voicing my concerns to the barn owner twice, nothing changed. I believe socioeconomics played a big role in the lack of care for my horse. As a school teacher, I was not one of the clients at Crossroads Farm whose horse was in training nor was I able to afford regular lessons. Neither of these variables should have diminished the care that my horse was guaranteed in my contract and the services I was paying to receive. I was a client at another hunter jumper barn for many years and never experienced this type of "you are less than" regardless of a training program, going to shows, or how many lessons I took. That barn made always made my horse and myself feel no less important than their other more wealthy clients. The same certainly cannot be said for Crossroad Farms.

My 11-year-old daughter and I have been taking lessons with Janet at Kira's Dream Horses since it…read moreopened last June. We were previously taking lessons at a different barn and had the pleasure of having a make-up lesson with Janet, and I appreciated her style of teaching both riding and horsemanship - I'd never had an instructor who would grab a horse and jump on mid-lesson to demonstrate a skill. She had my daughter executing a reining spin at the end of our first lesson! My daughter found her confidence and joy while riding and leasing Lucky, one of Janet's lesson horses, and was heartbroken when she left the program with Janet, so we followed them both to KDH. As a healthcare professional who works with children and adolescents, I can confidently recommend KDH for any level of rider who is interested in learning more about riding or horsemanship. Janet is a patient, persistent, professional educator who values safety and fun for both horses and riders and provides a positive environment for her students to learn and grow. I would specifically like to encourage adults who would like to return to riding horses after a lengthy period away to consider KDH. I was an enthusiastic, but unskilled rider as a child. I have always loved horses, but never had formal lessons. I am ridiculously uncoordinated, and more than a little anxious. While my love for horses was put on the back burner once I became an adult, it never completely faded. As I arrived at a place in my life where buying a horse of my own became a possibility, I wasn't sure how to proceed. How do you go try out a horse when you haven't been on a horse in 25 years? How do you try a horse without a saddle of your own? Which should come first, the saddle or the horse? What about a trailer? What do you feed a horse and how do you find a good vet and skilled ferrier? These were all questions that I never had to consider when riding as a child. I seriously considered just jumping in -- picking a horse from a Craig's list ad and figuring it all out myself. I knew that I should take some lessons and ease back into horse ownership in a safe, responsible way, but the thought of being the only adult in a lesson full of little kids was mortifying. I pored over all the reviews I could find for lesson barns in the East Valley, but none seemed to cater to adult re-riders who weren't interested in competition. Luckily, my daughter and I were able to find a program that worked, and were able to eventually connect with Janet. I am so glad that I didn't jump into horse ownership on my own. After 18 months of lessoning and learning, I realize what a disaster that would have been for both me and any horse I would have bought without knowing how to handle, communicate with, care for and (least of all) ride. Since I started spending time around horses again, I have met quite a few adult re-riders who have struggled with confidence in riding or handling their horses who would have benefitted greatly from professional guidance, advice and time re-building their confidence in the saddle before buying a horse. KDH is a great place for adults as well as kids. People of all ages and experience levels come together in a friendly, non-competitive, encouraging environment to share their love of horses. While I feared being the only adult in a lesson full of kids, I have been pleasantly surprised with all the support that I get from riders of all ages and from fellow parents at the KDH barn. There is no drama, no competition and no negativity. My daughter loves it as much as I do, and my husband has even started coming to watch lessons because the atmosphere and people at the barn are so enjoyable. Finally, I must say a few words about Janet's great lesson horses. A great instructor can't be effective without safe, reliable, well-trained and well-cared-for horses. KDH has a variety of horses for people of any ability. Her horses truly love being lesson horses - they meet you at the stall door and love being groomed and tacked to get ready for lessons. They are in great health, fed well, shod regularly, and receive regular vet care, massage and chiropractic treatments. Janet has an intuitive ability to match a rider with the horse that can teach them what they need to learn. It is a great feeling to master riding one horse, and then be able to move on to learn from another. She has several retired reiners (and if you haven't ridden a reining horse, you should!), retired ropers, English horses and general all-around good mounts. She has several horses that are appropriate for anxious or fearful riders, and who treat even the tiniest students with care and respect. Janet selects her horses with temperament and safety in mind, and I always feel that my daughter and I are safe when handling them.

If you need horse riding lessons or just want something to do! Take your kids over to this place…read more Fun times for the whole family!

Wildcat Ranch is my happy place. It's a safe space where people go to feel like they belong, and…read moreflourish in the moment. I'm so grateful for this community and the friends/family I've made being here. I started as an intern working with another amazing nonprofit (EmpoweRanch) and WCR graciously took us on to hold programs and give us a space to grow as a new nonprofit. ER has since moved but WCR continues to provide services and opportunities for everyone to thrive. Stalls are cleaning 2-3 times daily, water is cleaned daily, fresh alfalfa and bermuda, turn out for socializing and exercise, and supplements or other health products are given based on the owner/boarders request. The horses are treated loved on daily and have good size stalls to roll around. Chickens running around demanding you feed them meal worms and three goats! Renovations coming in the near future will make the property even better! Any donations are so appreciated as they benefit the whole community. Also, I need to give a bigger shout out to Jose Ramirez, owner of WCR because I didn't mention he is a Licensed Social worker and retired army infantry. Maeve is also now a ESMHL certified through PATH, which Sayda and I are working on now but Sayda is way closer than me. Everyone here is a total baddie

This place is a slice of heaven on earth the owners live on site and take great care making sure…read morethe animals are well cared for and are always doing improvements to the place to make it more enjoyable for the boarders and guest it is an awesome Ranch in the city they have horses, goats, cats, dogs and chickens and always a party... Love this place

I had a very nice writing lesson here the staff and the horses were great…read more I would definitely come back again

We love horseback riding at AZ Rodeo Ready! My high functioning autistic daughter loves it here and…read morethey've been fantastic with her, teaching her how to do hard things and requiring her to help clean and care for the horses. They also often offer camps and programs outside of class that are really awesome.