My friends and I booked an 8 AM, 1hr ride on Friday and it was led by Krys and Brittney! We were all a little bit nervous when we got started but Krys was very nice and calm when answering our questions. She gave really great affirmations throughout the ride as well. This was an amazing experience and I highly recommend you book with Ponderosa Stables. read more

Ponderosa Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

My bestie and I did the two-hour trail ride at Ponderosa Stables today and it was absolutely incredible from start to finish. The horses were calm, well-trained, and clearly cared for. Before we even hit the trail, the team took time to teach us how to properly guide and communicate with our horses, which made the entire experience feel empowering and very safe, even for beginners. Our guides were amazing, personable, attentive, and genuinely fun to be around. Even when we had to cross streets with traffic, the wrangler confidently stopped the cars and made sure we crossed safely. That level of professionalism and care really stood out. The views were stunning. We rode through beautiful desert trails surrounded by cacti, birds, and wildflowers. It felt peaceful, adventurous, and grounding all at once. Ponderosa Stables delivered a well-organized, safe, and memorable experience. If you're looking for something scenic, unique, and perfectly Arizona, this is it! 10/10. I'll definitely be back! read more

Ponderosa Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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It was amazing, our guide Dallas was so helpful and understanding. My horse Rubble was a sweet old guy. Loved it!

Really nice stables and beautiful horses. Honestly this is the best thing in the whole area. You can park at the South Mountain Park or Scorpion Gulch parking lots and just walk over to the stables to view the horses. Very western with the surrounding scenery. This is the only place in this area of Phoenix that I would return to. read more

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I was obsessed with my horse, Eleanore. She was the best. The second half of the ride she did seem quite tired though. The check in process was a bit terse, and the woman working was not very welcoming. The safety brief was quite quick and we started right on time. It felt like we had a fairly large group (16-20 people) and 3 wranglers. This would've been a great sunset hike if it was an hour earlier. The majority of the ride was in the dark (the trail is not lit; you just have the night sky). I had a head lamp so I could see the surroundings but was told to turn it off because it could interfere with the horses' sight (which makes sense, but by that same logic they should've mentioned no flash photography). I was hoping for more insight into the trail or the area as we were riding but the wranglers didn't say much- maybe they do for daytime rides, bc even if they did give anecdotes, we wouldn't have been able to see anything. Overall for the price and the length of the ride, it was fair; although it was a long time on a horse, if it's your first time or if you don't ride often. read more

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I really enjoyed my first trail ride experience here! I went on a solo trip to Arizona and found this place through a recommendation on TikTok. I arrived realllly early and basically had to sit around and wait until it was time to go over the instructions, get assigned a horse, and start the ride. The staff were all friendly, and I learned that they're a volunteer-only based establishment which makes me respect them even more. I had the pleasure of riding Yute, a cute male horse who helped me lead our group. It was a 9am ride, and I assume Yute isn't a "morning person" because he would walk slowly at times and I'd have to guide him to pick up the pace. Occasionally, he would get distracted by the greenery and I'd also have to guide him back straight so we could continue. Overall, he was a good boy! This was a very unique experience and I really enjoyed the ride. Kristen was the wrangler in front of me and we chatted quite a bit and became well acquainted. She deserves 5/5 stars too! read more

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We had the best time this morning with Nick! He was so nice, very polite, and very responsive to our talkative personalities. We really enjoyed the entire experience from check-in to check-out. We will definitely recommend Ponderosa Stables to everyone! My husband rode Jack, I rode Corn Dog, and our teenage daughters rode Eleanor & Cupcake. Thank you for sharing these beautiful horses with us to ride! read more

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We really enjoyed our ride today and we have been there 3 times Eddie was really nice and we love our horse spirit and beauty read more

Ponderosa Stables - Horse - Horseback Riding Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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What a great evening ride! We had a wonderful tour, and then an unforgettable dinner. Thank you to the staff Mo, Jenna, Eddie, Fernanda, Peter, and especially Court! Highly recommend for tours, group or team outings, fun for any occasion! read more

Ponderosa Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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We had an amazing day with riding and touring the Arizona desert with Chris and Lefty and our tall club gang. The horses, Corn Dog, Darcy, Ben, Dean, Big Larry, and others were well behaved and obviously well cared for. We will definitely be doing this again! read more

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We had an amazing family horseback riding experience! Our guide, Chris, was absolutely wonderful super informative, incredibly nice, and she truly made the whole ride special and enjoyable for everyone. We rode Rocko, Ben, Chick-fil-A, Mike, Whiskey, and Eastwood, and every single horse was amazing , well trained, calm, and perfect for a family ride. We were visiting with family from New Jersey, and they loved every minute of it. This experience was definitely a highlight of their trip. We will absolutely be coming back and highly recommend this ride to anyone looking for a fun, memorable experience! read more

Ponderosa Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

We lucked into a private ride with Eddie as our guide. My 7-year-old was nervous because this was his first time riding solo, but Jenna helped soothe his nerves and hooked him up with Brownie, a lovely horse for a little guy. Our 12-year-old enjoyed his ride on Lucy, I had sweet Inky, and my husband was partnered with Chick-fil-A. Eddie had lots of great info to share about the local area and gave a shout out to Mr. Walker! :) read more

I recommend this stable. Staff & volunteers are always kind and professional. The trip is quite therapeutic. read more

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We had the best time today! Brandy was a sassy girl and made the experience great! The guides were very helpful and knowledgeable! The breakfast was amazing! Thank you! read more

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$65 for a one hour trail ride. Staff were nice and check in was easy. I never rode a horse before and everything was so easy! We even paused during the ride so the tour guide/wrangler could take our photos, which was perfect since I was by myself. Scenery was amazing. read more

Ponderosa Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Went on a 1 hour ride with Eddie and Courtney and I had the best time. My husband and I went to celebrate our birthdays. The horses were all very well behaved and I felt extremely safe! They offer helmets and waterbottle bags because you're not allowed to take your own purses or bags. Both wranglers had a lot of knowledge about the area which made the experience even better. There was one new rider who got sacred at the beginning but with Courtney's coaching and the other wranglers support they made it on the ride and had a good time. The wranglers checked in with us often and were always close by. They know the horses so well they would tell us when our horses were trying to sneak a snack or go off the trail. I'm looking forward to going again and bringing more friends. read more

Absolutely incredible ride! I took my dad on a two hour trail ride for Father's Day, and we both loved it so much! The desert landscape is breathtaking, and our guide Natalie was phenomenal. My dad was on Ben who was a gentle sweetheart, and I was easily accommodated as a large 280lb person on a beautiful big horse named Tank. As my dad joked, he was a little can-Tank-erous at times, but Natalie was there to get him moving again when he decided he wanted to just stand around and soak up the sun. The horses are all in excellent condition and clearly loved, and I got so many delightful happy horse hugs. The wranglers are all knowledgeable and passionate, the hitching area for the horses is shaded and lovely, and as a person with some physical disabilities I found the tall stable mounting block a nice change - especially as they allow you to dismount using it for a gentle end to the wonderful trail ride. 11/10, and I will definitely be back the next time I'm in Arizona visiting. The prices for the trail rides are also extremely reasonable, and so worth it. If you're looking for a great stable and a fantastic experience, go here and hit the trail! read more

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Booked an hour ride today and had a wrangler named Gregory (I think) he was extremely kind, helpful, and full of knowledge! The horse I had the pleasure of riding with was Waffles and he was a very well behaved and handsome man! My ride with him was very smooth and I definitely had full trust in him on the rocky parts of the trail! BUUUUUUT I had about 40 minutes to kill before the ride so I took the opportunity to get to know a couple of the horses outside the stables and one in particular definitely left an imprint on me. Duke was an extremely sweet boy who just rested his head on me while I gave him head scratches!! Overall this experience was one I will never forget and you can bet your butt I will be back!!! read more

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I have been here 4 times now in the last month and I am bringing my friend to this place on Sunday because it's so much fun (twice on the T bone ride and twice on the 2 hour ride). There are times where staff can be a bit snappy but I believe it is for the safety of the riders and they just might not be having a good day so it is no problem at all but my experiences have been overall positive. I forgot the names of the Wranglers I have had but they have ALL been super friendly when I go, and they're ready to share facts about the history of the area and the horses you ride on. I've ridden Mike 3 times and Tyson once (recently learned they were on a drive team together). I love them both so much I wish I could put them in my pocket and take them home with me. They're so curious, friendly, and just cute cute cute. I plan to continue to come here as long as they're open! read more

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Four moms and four 12 year old gymnasts! We had so much fun. Eddie was one of our guides and he was really nice and informative. Pete was so helpful in setting the ride up for our group and the girls loved him. We will be back again! Thank you!!! read more

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We had our first trial ride today and it was amazing!! All of our horses were amazing and so well mannered!! Domino, Specks, Lucy, Michelle, and Tyson all deserve extra treats!! Our wranglers were amazing, full of information, and super friendly! We can't wait to go back for another ride! read more

Ponderosa Stables - One hour trail ride - Horseback Riding Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

We had a great experience on our trail ride. Our horses Friend and Jenga were awesome and our wranglers Krys and Jenna were super helpful and kind and made the whole experience really enjoyable. We had a lot of fun! read more

Eddy, Krys, and Jen thank you so much for a wonderful ride and even better company. You made our night special. MOONIE AND BILLY were our horse babies for the night and when we come back we will be asking to ride them again! We bonded and cannot wait to be back for another ride and probably enjoy some more steak and bread pudding too ;) Thank you again for tonight. Full moon, 75 degrees, and so peaceful. read more

Ponderosa Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I decided to surprise my wife with an experience at Ponderosa Stables. My wife's grandfather had horses and since we moved to Arizona we haven't done anything like this. Kristin and Kris were our guides and they were AMAZING. Both were very friendly and made sure everyone was safe the whole 1 hour ride. My wife's horse was Phoebe which was perfect since she's a Friends fan. My horses name was Sedona which I fell in love with her immediately. The hour tour was perfect for us since I am a beginner and a little sore towards the end( Sedona is a huge horse). We will do this again, what a great time. The whole staff was friendly and we could tell the horses were well taken care of. Thank you Kristin and Kris for making this experience great. read more

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Overall I had a great time, the guides were welcoming and helpful. Jessie on Dallas was our leader and he made the experience fun. Our horses Yute and Two step were great, I'd go again read more

Yelpers, The dinner ride 3 of my Grandchildren and I did on 5/18/24 was a 5+ experience riding at sunset for their dinner ride to T bones steak house. All the wranglers were all very friendly, having fun, and made sure our 2 mile ride each way was safe. We did 2 safety checks on the way to the restaurant, and 1 going back to the stables. Eddie was the wrangler that checked our 4 horses, made sure everything was just right and stirrups were in the right position. Our ride that evening had at least 30 plus horses!! great Job Eddie!! The let down was T bones steak house, at best a 2 star review. I would not suggest booking this ride. Check and see when Ponderosa Stables does a dinner ride all done by Ponderosa Stable. I called Peter the next day to let him know that the dinner ride was a great experience, but the steak house is a big disappointment at $44. for a t-bone and $19. for a cheeseburger, then $6. for a baked potato and $5. for mashed with red skins not the quantity of a steak paying that much for that I received.... Ponderosa Stable change the ride, ride into South Mountain, offer a campfire cook out. We seen a catered party as we rode past them in South Mountain read more

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Amazing horseback riding trail. Ed was a fantastic lead. Cupcake, Martini, Chick-filet, Whisky,Sacowhagea, and Beauty did a great job. Would recommend for an Arizona experience! read more

Ponderosa Stables - Ponderosa stables horseback riding group - Horseback Riding Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

It was such an amazing experience. Brit and Moe were such amazing guides! Bentley was such a good boy and he listened along the ride. I'll definitely be back!! read more

We did the T-Bone Steakhouse ride last night with Fern, Mo, and Eddie as our wranglers. Our horses were Specks, Whiskey, and Storm. It is an absolutely amazing ride through South Mountain Park!! The view of the city lights is beautiful, dinner at T-Bone Steakhouse was delicious, and our wranglers were professional, kind, and courteous. It's an experience we are looking forward to repeating!! Every single horse we saw on property looked well cared for, well fed, and the facility as a whole is clean and well maintained. The value for the price is fantastic! On the T-Bone Steakhouse ride you get about 2 1/2 - 3 hours of saddle time depending on how fast the horses are moving. A couple suggestions for anyone going on a ride: -Take cash to tip your wranglers!! -Take a handkerchief if you're really bothered by dust. It hasn't rained here in many months so some parts of the ride are pretty dusty. read more

Ponderosa Stables - Horse- Specks - Horseback Riding Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Such a great experience. Super friendly trail ride. Make sure to get there about 15 min early as it takes time to check in, use the bathroom, and find your horse. My friend took me out here as she is a regular! Definitely gonna be returning soon!! As always; they are looking for volunteers!! Ps if Dallas ever retires, call me ;) read more

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This is one of the must hits when visiting! The team will take you on a great adventure and the horses are beautiful and well trained! The wranglers are amazing and note they are all volunteers so MAKE sure you tip cause they are amazing! Eddie was our wrangler and Peter who runs it are all amazing! read more

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did a sunset tour with Krys and had an amazing time. Krys was very personable and checked in on each and every one of us to ensure we were having a good time. Wish I would've booked a longer ride because it was so fun! read more

Ponderosa Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This is my 4th time over the years riding with Ponderosa stables and it's always such a lovely time! We always enjoy bringing family/friends from out of town for the real southwestern experience. Our horses were: Waffles, Tank, Jenga, Bertha, Cherokee & Spirit. All had lovely, unique personalities and our friends and family (group of 6) had an AMAZING time! Our wranglers were Fernanda & I forgot the other's names but they were both amazing. We've been here with 6 yr olds riding their own horse and 70yr old+ and let's just say we couldn't ask for a better time. Thank you Ponderosa for always providing such exceptional experiences. p.s It's busy season when the weather is cooler so book asap and bring cash to tip the wranglers as they are not paid employees, but volunteers! read more

My horse was Angus..He was just so beautiful, gentle, and sweet. Our wrangler Greg was very helpful and informative. Breakfast at the end was worth the wait. All in all it was a wonderful experience read more

Ponderosa Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

What an AMAZING experience!!! Mo, Fern and Eddie were the best wranglers and made our time with them extremely memorable! Not to mention that each horse was loving, gentle and hard working. I rode Spirit and my husband rode Rusty; both exquisite creatures with much personality! We will definitely return! read more

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I enjoyed my time with Wrangler Eddie and The ponderosa crew. I rode Lil' Black (my good sis) who was very mild mannered and chill. She loved my pets and compliments. Wrangler Eddie was very knowledgeable of our surroundings and of horses. I would return read more

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Peter is amazing and has consistently shown up for us on our trips! We are return riders and will continue to be so. We found this gem for our school trip from Wisconsin and the entire team there is consistently amazing!!! We being a bunch of our 7th grade students on our trip to tour AZ and hike the canyon, and year after year the trail ride is still a top memory of the students! We did the cowboy cookout this year and the food was beyond delicious!! Thanks Pete!! We will be looking forward to our next visit! read more

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Absolutely beautiful ride!! Eddie was our wrangler and he was amazing!! Very accommodating for beginner riders, instructions were easy and clear. The views were absolutely stunning. Made safety stops along the way to make sure everyone was secure on their horses. Our horses Rubble and Michelle were the BEST!! Loved them!! 10/10 experience!! read more

Ponderosa Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Eddie the wrangler was kind, knowledgeable, and made me feel so comfortable as a first time horse rider. I rode Chip who was easy to handle and so much fun to ride! Can't wait to bring my family back in the future. Definitely a must do in Phoenix and the best way to see the Sonoran Desert. read more

we had (mike and lance) for our evening tbone trail a couple days ago and i usually never write reviews but that trail ride is one of my most memorable moments. the scenery, kindness, beauty of the horses and city is beyond words can explain. i've been a local majority of my life and i never knew something from this perspective can make you fall more in love with our city. we definitely recommend 1000% read more