David is great !!! the environment is beautiful and well kept ! Just a great place to be ! Such…read morebeautiful horses

That's the thing about David--he always has to have the last word. The day I was asked to leave, he…read morefollowed me around yelling at me in front of volunteers and staff. This made me feel completely backed into a corner. I repeatedly asked him to please let me get my things and go home, as I had been there since 6 a.m., had not eaten or taken a break, and it was 5 p.m. Instead, he continued provoking me until I responded in kind. His anger and the way he uses it to intimidate people have been a recurring issue in my experience. I also witnessed a similar situation involving Kelli and her husband Al, who has since passed away. On what was one of Al's last, if not his last, rides with Blue, several of Al's friends rode onto the property to meet them for a trail ride. After a verbal altercation between David and Al's friends over their gaited horses being too close to the barn, Al left with them to trail ride. David then approached Kelli, in front of me and another student/volunteer, and began screaming at her that she and Al were banned from the property and had to remove Blue that day. Kelli repeatedly apologized and explained that she and Al had nothing to do with his friends' behavior and had nowhere to move Blue on such short notice. After she continued apologizing, David eventually calmed down and allowed them to stay. Watching this interaction was extremely upsetting, particularly given the circumstances, and it was another example of the anger, intimidation, and instability I experienced in my time at the ranch. That being said, I appreciate the acknowledgment of the years I spent caring for the horses, but I believe the response misses the central concern of my review: the unprofessional behavior of the owner and barn manager and the welfare of the horses who work there. I also want to clarify that I was never a therapy patient at Heart of the Horse. I was a volunteer who spent years caring for the horses. Therefore, invoking confidentiality or HIPAA to avoid addressing the specific concerns raised in my review is misleading. The issues I raised concern my own firsthand experiences as a volunteer and the care of horses, not the private health information of a therapy client. In my horse Earl's case, he suffered from significant left stifle arthritis for years while he was a lesson horse at Heart of the Horse. Looking through photos of him on Instagram and Facebook, his recurring leg wounds and bedsores are visible, including photos where they appear to be bleeding or wrapped in vet wrap. Despite his pain and mobility issues, he continued participating in lessons without Equioxx or other appropriate pain/comfort management. His current veterinarian has since determined that his arthritis requires ongoing management, and he is now enjoying a comfortable retirement with appropriate veterinary care. I am also concerned about the "dental" care horses at the ranch received. In October 2025, the dental provider used by the ranch filed Earl's teeth deeply enough to expose the pulp. Subsequently, Earl broke tooth 306, which is closest to the Tom Thumb or Pelham bit that the barn manager insisted he needed for "brakes." These are not, in my opinion, examples of putting an individual horse's comfort and safety first. They also raise concerns for me about whether other horses have received similarly appropriate care while using ill-fitting tack. Earl is now retired, comfortable, appropriately medically managed, and living a much happier life. The greatest thing David ever did for Earl was give him to me, and I am thankful for that gift. At the same time, I remain concerned about the horses still in the establishment's care. I understand that the ranch may not wish to discuss individual situations publicly. However, that does not change my firsthand experience or my concerns about the way horses are managed and cared for. My review reflects my experience, and I stand by it. The positive reviews David references do not change that experience either.

We had previously purchased a horse in May 2014 from Linda and Laura and he was wonderful. We were…read moretold we could bring him back if he did not work out. We still have him to this day We had such a great experience and felt confident that we would get the same by going back to them when we decided to purchase another horse. We went back and as we were making the deal the horse acted funny and we were promised that if he didn't work out we could bring him back. He was just having a "horsey moment" Due to our previous experience and being told "You can always bring him back if he does not work out" we went ahead with the purchase. We had issues with the horse and attempted to work with him and these issues never resolved, so we contacted Laura and were told we would have to pay boarding fees while they tried to sell him and we waited for them to find another horse that would work out. We then decided that we would keep him at our place and take him back once they found us another horse to trade him out for. After several months had passed and no contact from them unless we called or texted. and then it was we are still looking. we decided to sell the horse. When a prospective buyer had the horse checked out by a vet we were told that the horse had Navicular Pathology and has had it for at least a year. We sent Laura an e-mail offering a chance to make this right and still have not heard anything back. we will no longer recommend them as we used to. we used to think very highly of them not any more!!

Beautiful facility, quiet, and always very clean. I have boarded horses here since 2016 while I was…read morein college, since graduating I will stop here to stay between rodeos. Linda and Laura are always very helpful, they truly care about you and your horses!

Wonderful staff, and well kept horses. The whole ranch is beautiful with a full view of the…read moreCatalinas. The atmosphere is inclusive and warm, and all the trainers and barn help are professional and courteous.

Susan is very skilled with horse training and she gives great lessons to all her clients. The…read morehorses are well trained and results are very positive. A

Moved my horse here over a year ago. It is 45 minutes from my house and is worth the drive. First…read morethe owners are very accommodating to fit their facility to my needs allowing me to build a trail course with challenges for all skill levels. The staff are very helpful with any needs I have for my horse. I like that you can bring in your own trainer from the outside at no extra charge. There are also trainers on site who teach and/or exercise your horse which helps if you need to be out of town or cannot give your horse the exercise he needs. Easy access on quiet streets to trails and the Pantano wash. Its park-like setting offers several places to read a book while your horse grazes on the grass. Stalls are cleaned twice a day and horses are fed three times a day. Though I don't have a trailer, I understand they don't charge for parking your trailer on the property. It's working out great for my horse and me.

I boarded my two horses at River Valley Ranch for several years and my experience there was…read moreexcellent. The ranch owners, Crystal and Taylor are kind and thoughtful people and really care for the horses in their care, as well as caring for their boarders (the people). They were very kind and supportive and helpful when it was time for my old guy to move on. He was my heart horse, 26 years old and it was his time. Crystal helped find someone to help with his body after he left it, and that was a huge help. They are kind people and the ranch has a family feel about it. The care the horses receive is top notch! They have grass turn-outs for the horses, as well as multiple arenas and round pens. River Valley Ranch is a great place to board your beloved horse (or horses).

This place continues to go down hill. The current owners have owned the ranch for four years. They…read moredon't live on property, and don't even live in Tucson. They have not been hands on ever. Instead they hired a tyrant manager who threatens boarders when they question anything happening on property, including light feedings, which occurs frequently. When asked about repairs we are ignored, to the point of horses being injured and having to be put down. After putting the ranch up for sale for an insane price, as we all know it wasn't worth even close to what they were asking, they decide to make the poor decision to lease the ranch to a 26 year old with a record. Including misuse of livestock. Prior to this they stopped dragging footing, allowed weeds to grow all over the property and continue to not engage in any proper fly control. They were reached out to by numerous boarders and yet nothing happened or improved. The "new" manger at least fired all previous management, who had not done anything at the barn in years. She calls her self a trainer and doesn't even work with her own horse. Takes people's money to work their horses and then does nothing with them. She constantly lies about why she is constantly late to feeding at night and or not doing her job, EVER. Now that the ranch is under 50 horses, with one arena left with decent footing that still isn't being maintained properly, the owners have determined they are now going to "manage" the ranch and have hired new employees, yet have been duped into bringing back the previous manager as an hourly employee. The only reason most of us stay is for the best trainer onsite, Casi, and the owners continue to refuse to realize that listening to her and her boarders would actually help them make the ranch much improved. It's unbelievable that boarders have continued to stick it out in the horrible conditions and the lack of use of half the property. All the owners want is to make money and they some how thought this ranch would make it for them through a "flip". They don't care about the welfare of the horses and they don't really even know what they are doing because they are not horse people themselves. Not sure what will finally make them wake up and realize they continue to make one bad decision after another. This is a customer service business and their customer service is just as dilapidated as what they have turned the barn into.

I cannot recommend Raven Ranch based on my experience boarding here. For over $500 per month, I…read moreexpected better communication, and care for both horses and boarders. Communication from management has been extremely poor. Concerns often go unanswered, and there is little to no management presence on-site. Important issues affecting the barn and horses are not communicated to boarders in a timely manner. The facility itself has also declined. Stalls are falling apart, weeds are overgrown throughout the property, and stall cleaning and water maintenance have been inconsistent. My horse has had vet visits from being cut on the fences that were supposed to be fixed. Feedings have not always occurred on schedule, which is concerning when horses rely on routine. Arena access has become increasingly limited. One arena is the only available riding space, and it is frequently set up with jumps, making it difficult for riders of other disciplines to use comfortably. My biggest concern is the handling of pigeon fever outbreaks. Multiple cases have occurred, yet communication and management of the situation have been inadequate. Horse owners deserve prompt notification and clear protocols when contagious illnesses are present on the property. For the amount boarders are paying, I expected better facility upkeep, more reliable horse care, and significantly better communication. Unfortunately, my experience has been disappointing, and I cannot justify the cost based on the level of service provided.

I'm giving Pusch Ridge 5 stars but would give them 10 if I could!…read moreMy husband and I went on the hour and half Sunset ride and it was amazing! We are both experienced riders and went with a group of people who had a variety of experience. The trail was on varied terrain, up hills and down into a small canyon, all in the beautiful Catalina State park. Our guide didn't talk too much and since it was couples she let us us talk amongst ourselves which was nice. She made sure everyone was having a good time and that the group was staying together. She also gave a little bit of history on one of the historical sites in the distance. The stables themselves are very nice and everything is really well taken care of. The horses are extremely well taken care of and are not overworked. They have shade when resting between rides and even a small snack. The owner lives on site and really cares about the comfort of her guests and makes sure you are given a horse to match your experience level. I can't wait to to go again, thank you Pusch Ridge!!!

The horseback riding was a Christmas gift to our daughter and her family which included girls aged…read more8 and 11. The staff was friendly and the facilities were nice. All the horses were well behaved and well-groomed. The staff picked appropriate size and temperament horses for each rider. Ample instructions were carefully given to each rider. We purchased the 1 hour trail ride since all were novice riders. The trail offers great views of the Catalina Mountains. An hour was just long enough. Everyone was happy with the riding experience. The stables are conveniently located just east of Oracle Rd.

The trainer Scott is a certified judge , teaches children to older adults , lovely view , bathrooms…read moreand friendly owner Becky

Lucky Charm Riding Center has been a haven of happiness for my children. They look forward to their…read moreprivate lesson all week. The instructors are superb, location is gorgeous, the horses my children ride are calm, intelligent, well trained and obviously loved very much. There is a wonderful playground under the shade of a tree. Grooming the horses has turned out to be just as much fun as riding. It's such a joy to watch my children care and bond with these wonderful creatures and develop new skills each time. Good for the soul. I highly recommend Lucky Charm Riding Center!

I purchased Bagheera, an 11 year old Shire mare who was sold to me as "bomb proof". I paid what I…read morefeel is an extreme amount for a horse than turned out to be green and very unused to more advanced riding. She's scared of dogs, cars, trucks, mud, etc. She has zero knowledge on leg commands and does not know how to move her rear. Anytime someone puts leg pressure she begins to act out by throwing her head. If you use your boot heels lightly or have light spurs on and gently use them to get her attention, she rears and kicks. In thick brush of a creek bed she began to buck and kick about 6 feet into the air because of the brush hitting her (at least that's what I think happened because there wasn't any other issue I could see). She bucked and kicked quite a ways and rubbed me against a tree where I lost a stirrup and went down. I'm a widow who lost my husband in January. I have two teenage boys who are terrified of being orphaned. My son now has ptsd from seeing her come out of the thicket kicking about 6 feet into the air (his words) without me and having to run to find me thinking I was gone too. They knew my story and sold me a green inappropriately handled mare anyway. I gave them a chance to make the situation right but all they offered was to bring her back on my dime and get no refund. When I declined because my boys were attached to her already (this was before she went rodeo on me) I asked about a second at a discount price. That way I wouldn't feel taken advantage of with what I paid. Thus far they've declined. This doesn't even cover the fact that there's a good chance she has cushings because she's lactating NOR the fact that I asked for a vet health check and all they did was a coggins test and lied about getting a vet health clearance. So I have one mare I'm going to have to spend a lot of money on testing her for hormone issues, plus have to spend months for a professional trainer. I purchased my second from another place in hopes of more honesty and professionalism. I do not recommend.

This place is amazing. Great for children and all ages. Francesca and the whole family are…read morefriendly and love what they do. What can be better than helping people with their wedding and saving horses, a pair made to fit. Lots of amazing horses for all levels. Friendly horses who just want to love on you. Great carriage rides, amazing sunsets and great venue not only for weddings but for all events plus they cater home cooked amazing food to fill your belly. Love Horses come adopt one, they rescue and re-train all their horses and they find amazing homes for them. They rock, give them a call you will not be disappointed, remember to take a carriage ride