My husband and I (late 60's early 70's) had a good time on the trail ride. The horses appeared…read morehappy and healthy, all the staff were very friendly and helpful from the initial reservation call to when we disembarked the horses. They narrated some of the highlights of what we were seeing during the ride and that was enjoyable.

This place checks all the boxes. Authentic experience, beautiful and I mean stunningly beautiful…read moresurroundings next to the Saguaro National Monument, East next to a wash with views of the mountains. The ride through the monument isn't too long or too short, just right. Definitely check this place out!

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 have been to Tanque Verde twice, and absolutely loved it both times. The staff are so friendly…read moreand welcoming, and most of them have been there a very long time. There are a wide assortment of rooms. Last time we had a nice Casita. This time we were in a smaller room, but it still had a wood-burning fireplace, which was so cozy on chilling evenings, The property is beautiful, the trail rides are wonderful and the desert landscape is stunning. It is such a treat to be around and ride the horses. We also went on great walks, hikes. They also have tons of activities I'd like to try next time, like pickleball, tennis, archery, fishing, etc. The pool area and Jacuzzi is so relaxing and beautiful. My husband loved the saloon, and it was a fun watering hole for happy hour. I was doing Dry January, and the bartender made me a tasty mocktail, and we met some nice people. The food was very good. We were there for Friday prime rib night, which was awesome, and loved the salad and soup bar. Looking forward to our next trip and hope to bring more family or friends next time!

This review is for Tanque Verde Guest Ranch, where I stayed for a local art retreat…read more Upon Arrival: The two front desk clerks were busy when I arrived, so Valorie who works up front offered to assist me. My room request was accommodated which I appreciated. Valorie gave me several documents to be aware of, including the list of events at the Ranch, costs and requirements. While I was going to be involved in the art retreat all day during my stay, to know these options existed was great and perhaps if I return I would take advantage of them. Be sure to get a map of the property so you can find your room and know where to park if you have a car! While buildings are marked, there are twists and turns on the roads into the property and within the property, so it is helpful to have a map you can use throughout your stay. Guest Room: Was clean upon arrival. There was an extra blanket in the closet which I appreciated since it got down to the 40's at night during my stay. The water in the shower came out nice and hot! There is a coffee pot with regular and decaf coffee stocked each day, iron and ironing board, a small mini fridge for beverages, a safe in the clothes closet, but no microwave. Therefore, for those of you who have gotten used to a microwave in the room, be aware the Ranch does not supply one, but there was coffee, hot water and tea in the restaurant building which you can access along with granola bars and fresh fruit. There was a fireplace in my room, but there was not any wood in the fireplace nor outside the room door. Because the fireplace was around the corner from the bedroom, I did not call the front desk to inquire about having a fire started or wood delivered because I prefer to have eyeballs on fire at all times and a fire would not have been in my sight had I gone to bed while it was still smoldering. Food: Considering the kitchen staff was serving a large number of people at the art retreat at the same time, they did a good job of getting the food out on time, items kept up with being supplied, and having the guests beverages brought to tables timely. Issue: There was a barbecue on Wednesday night which was a great idea with music and large pit fires going to keep us warm because it was chilly outside. But the outdoor temperature made it hard to keep the food warm and by the time we went through the food line and sat down at one of the picnic tables, the food was cold so we passed on this meal after realizing the food temperature issue (chicken, beef, ribs, mac and cheese, and beans). Grounds: There was a fairly decent rain storm a day prior to the Retreat arrival, which resulted in the horse barns, stable areas, and the cattle areas were soaked and muddy. This meant the manure was also being trampled into the mud. Therefore, the smell of manure permeated the Ranch until everything had a chance to dry out by the end of the week. The Ranch hands used machinery to pile up the waste to try to get it out from underneath the animals, but the smell was what it was due to the circumstances. I only bring it up to say, if you don't mind this odor or if you are going to be at the Ranch when rain is not in the forecast, this won't be an issue. But, it is a "Ranch" so some things mixed with mother nature, cannot be avoided! Overall, I found the grounds to be quiet. I heard the guests next to me coming and going when they slammed their room door, but otherwise, it was quiet, which I very much appreciated, since I went there for a personal art Retreat. Staff: The staff at the Ranch were all very pleasant and tried to make people happy. There are golf carts to get people where they are going, or for those who do not want to walk on the uneven surface or prefer not to walk for any reason. Staff tried to make the stay enjoyable. Memorable Issue: There was a power outage during our stay at 8:00 PM. Our group was in The Barn when this happened. Staff said this has never happened before. We were instructed to head to reception so we could be directed accordingly (guest rooms needing a fire for heat as an example). By the time we got to reception flash lights and lanterns for light were all distributed because there was a large group on-site. Therefore, one of the staff walked me back to my room with their cell phone light. When we got to my room I told him my phone flash light only had about 26% life remaining on it. A staff member came with a flash light about an hour later. I believe the Ranch would benefit from a disaster kit which is kept on-site with at least one flashlight per room (among other items) that can be distributed to guests. The electric came back on about 1:00 am, but it was a cold dark night with no heat with the outside temperature in the 40's that night in the dark. This brought my overall rating down to four stars as a result. Overall: This would be a great family vacation or to stay at if you love dude ranches and horses!

I went with some friends to the Blues and Vine event and it was so fun. The property is so…read morepeaceful. The women running the bar and wine were very friendly and had lots of information. I will defiantly be back to this event. The wine tasting was on $15 for 5 tastings and the Wicked Good Lobster Rolls which were always amazing.

The Secret Garden at Medella Vina is an oasis! My husband and I go just to see all the green! There…read moreis always beautiful wildlife and wonderful people!

Wonderful 1.5 hour ride into the Ricon Mountains. Horses are…read morevery nice and beginner friendly. Took my 10 grand daughter who had never ridden before and Jay our lead wrangler was amazing with her. Kind and encouraging. Jay was very knowledgeable and had a lot of interesting history and facts about the area. Highly recommend the Saguaro Stable for a great ride.

Came here for Valentine's Day without knowing anything about the trail or horses. My boyfriend and…read moreI had an amazing time! Perfect weather and our tour guides were greats. Highly recommend Jay and Larry. Definitely plan on coming back another time to ride a horse!

Marshall your energy, the gulch awaits! My dad and I decided to take on the Marshall Gulch and…read moreAspen trail loop this Saturday and had a nice time exploring this area of the Mount Lemmon wilderness. Unlike much of the mountainside, this trail has a significant amount of forested area with ferns, aspen trees, and of course the fairly steeped sides ravine where the gulch stands, now dry in the hot Arizona summer temperatures. Also interesting is a significant wild fire burned a large portion of Mount Lemmon about five years ago. As a result, many charred trees still stand upright in the area towering above areas rich with plant growth due to the nutrient rich ash fall. The trail itself, combined with Aspen trail forms a loop that is almost exactly 4 miles long. I noticed that All Trails has it listed as 3.6 miles but was able to track our walk with my watch. The hike is what I would consider to be moderate. There are definitely portions with steeper ascent and also portions that can be a bit narrow. If you're a beginner hiker, it is doable but be prepared to take breaks and drink a lot of water. Regardless of your hiking skill, I would strongly recommend going counterclockwise as there is significant elevation change on the southern and eastern parts of the loop. This is much nicer to go down this section rather than up. Other notes - there are bathrooms at the trail head but no handwashing sinks so try to bring some hand sanitizer or wipes. There are also a few small parking areas near the trail head but these do fill up quickly and require a $8 daily fee, paid by an envelope dropbox honor system. Overall, great hike!

Let's just get this out of the way - I am completely, totally, and wholly a hiking novice. My…read moreintermediate (she would say "advanced beginner") hiker friend thankfully planned all our hiking getaways during our Tucson stay and I'm so pleased she opted for Mount Lemmon to be one of our destinations! We arrived at Marshall Gulch Trailhead . . . a little intimidated about how to proceed so we asked some hikers, we assumed to be more seasoned than us (we were right to assume this, as nearly everyone was more experienced than us, har har) and they recommended the easier trail. I wish I could remember the specifics, but I relied on my directionally-able friend to guide us (I am truly useless)! We went counterclockwise to save us from grueling inclines, but that just meant our descent was a little trickier than we would have ideally liked, haha. A segment of our hike was on the Arizona Trail, so that was pretty cool. We then did a second much easier flatter hike. Anyway, this particular hike ended up being my favorite because of the varied elevations, beautiful views, and friendly other hikers we encountered while on our hikes!

We recently had the most wonderful trail riding experience at Rockin' Star Ranch with family…read moreranging in age from 2 to 72, and every single person had a fantastic time! The horses were thoughtfully matched to each rider's size and experience level, and it was clear how well cared for and well-trained they all are. The guides were absolutely phenomenal -- not only friendly and professional but they went above and beyond, even riding backwards at times to capture incredible photos and videos for us! As someone who tends to be nervous around horses, I was given the most patient, gentle, and intuitive horse, which made the entire experience enjoyable and safe. When my 2-year-old decided he had to ride with Mama AFTER everyone was saddled up, they went out of their way to help us rearrange and make it happen -- and I still felt safe and confident holding him, which speaks volumes about both the horses and the staff. We've been to Rockin' Star Ranch a few times over the years, and it's always been a special place for our family. In fact, our now 12-year-old once rode the same sweet pony on a lead ride that our 2-year-old recently did -- a true testament to the love, care, and longevity they provide for their animals. Every single interaction we've had with their staff has been warm, professional, and full of kindness and patience. They are always happy to teach, answer questions, and help everyone -- from total beginners to more experienced riders -- feel welcome and confident. I can't recommend Rockin' Star Ranch enough for families or anyone looking for a safe, fun, and memorable horseback riding experience!

After an extremely disappointing ride in Benson, with horses that could barely move I was beyond…read morefrustrated... and having only one day to myself in AZ while on a work trip I was feeling down. I called a bunch of places, and this one answered. Oh my word, this was exactly what I needed! Chris is an incredible, experienced, and funny guide, and the ride was FUN. He even took videos and photos and shared them after the ride. I lost my keys, and he helped me find them at the end of the ride, which was extra time and effort. Iris and Stormy are awesome horses, Stormy helped with finding the keys. I would say this is the single best trail ride I've ever done, and I ride A LOT but usually have a "no trail" rule--most trail rides are a snoozefest experience, and I would straight out recommend lessons with a trainer instead. Chris' place does fun trail rides, lessons, parties, you name it.... And such great horses. Can't recommend them enough!

TROT is incredible! I truly cannot say enough about the services, staff, environment, and focus. I…read moream a disabled rider. At first, I was very hesitant to pursue "therapeutic" riding, expecting that I would have to endure constant reminders and corrections based on my disability. My expectations were absolutely unfounded. The staff is so expert at working with people with a range of disabilities that they don't need to harp on what we can't do. They focus exclusively on what we can do and push us to think like riders, not disabled riders. I'm just taking riding classes! Staff: The quality of the entire TROT staff is exceptional. Although everyone has a role, they all fill multiple roles and truly work as a team. Every individual's credentials are top-notch, with advanced degrees in fields such as education and social work, plus decades of riding and horse care, and without exception, passion for horses and for their clients. These are some of the most dedicated, caring, professional, skilled, and genuinely good people I've ever met. Instructors (also part of staff, but special note): My instructor is Dora, a natural horsewoman who takes nothing for granted. She trains regularly while teaching others. Dora notices the details and is ever-vigilant in keeping us safe while we are having the time of our lives. She makes classes enjoyable while making us work to become better riders. She treats everyone with the greatest respect, and is never too busy to answer questions, help a particular rider, or provide extra information. Dora exhibits extraordinary control, patience and passion, and makes lessons fun. I love learning from her! I have heard similar kudos about other instructors, and I don't doubt a word. Horses: The horses are screened and chosen carefully, and trained with an eye toward both the safety of the rider and happiness and comfort of the horse. Horses are hand-selected to match each rider, ensuring safety and comfort. They are all so gentle and beautiful, with a range of personalities and styles. Finding the right match is not difficult, and it's very easy to bond with them. They are clearly healthy, happy, well-cared-for horses who love what they do. I've also learned the extent to which the staff ensures that the horses are well taken care of, from their very specific, nutrient-laden diets to the grooming, quiet time, and horse-to-horse bonding. It's a wonderful life for a horse, and they are very much loved animals. Volunteers: People volunteer at TROT because they love the environment, horses, and incredible staff. The volunteers are there because they want to be, and it really shows. They are always there to help, protect the riders, and support the instructors. I don't know what we'd do without them! Environment: The ranch is accessible, beautiful, well-kept, and peaceful. It is ideally suited to the mission and activities of TROT, and encourages a back-to-nature feeling. I wish I could live there. Activities: It seems like there's always something happening at TROT! Before the pandemic, it was always bustling with classes and events. They don't just support the need to ride ... they fulfill a range of needs of their clientele. Plus, they offer special events just for fun and getting to know other riders and volunteers. A warm, fun, supportive environment! COVID: I've been really impressed with how well TROT has responded to the pandemic. They know that they're working with many people who are in vulnerable populations, and they've really taken that into consideration. From delaying classes to revamping the ranch and putting up sanitizing stations, to making their annual gala online and introducing new protocols for staff and volunteers, they are taking every measure to ensure everyone's health. This really speaks to how much they really do care about people. I've never written such a long review, but I've never had so many wonderful things to say! If you have a physical or emotional disability and are considering riding, don't hesitate to go to TROT - it will make your life so much better! If you're looking for an organization to support, donate to TROT! (And to be clear, my only connection to TROT is as a rider and occasional volunteer. I have no reason to write this review other than they have changed my life for the better, and I love this organization!)

I have been a volunteer off and on for about 3 years. I love this program and find it to offer…read moresome of the best therapeutic equine programs in Tucson. Everyone I've worked with has a wonderful disposition. They are gracious, humble, and excited to work with the children, adults, and veterans with special needs.

Amazing overall. The ranch itself is pristine; the arenas and round pens are dragged regularly, the…read morecross country track is maintained beautifully, and the stalls are picked once to twice daily. The covered arena is one of the largest I have seen, is lighted, and open late. Raven Ranch is right off the Pantano wash and offers amazing trail riding right from the property. The few trainers that work from Raven Ranch are very friendly and all treat the horses they train very well. Cows are even often on property to use in training with one of the trainers! The owners are very pleasant and are very active in ranch duties. While one mucks stalls, the other helps with maintenance of the property. Owners and trainers are immediately alerted of even the smallest issues with their horses so immediate action can be taken, if needed. They feed the highest quality hay at the weight recommended by the owner and even offer lunch, supplement, and medication feeding for a little extra per month. I would highly recommend Raven Ranch to anyone looking to board, learn dressage, cow work, or anything in between. Great place to be, great vibes, positive energy.

Raven Ranch is truly the most amazing facility I have experienced in Tucson. This place is the…read moreepitome of care, service, and community. The owners, Dave & Lydia are a godsend - They have created a tranquil and cohesive environment for both horse and human. The property and facilities are clean and well maintained. If something breaks they are prompt to fix it. If you have a special request or need assistance, they are always on site and more than happy to help. Everyone is treated equally with fairness and respect regardless of breed, skill level, or riding discipline. This is definitely a drama (and b.s.) free facility! The owners do not cut corners when it comes to supplying quality alfalfa and/or bermuda. Lydia feeds, cares for, and loves every horse as if they were her own. She is quick to recognize if something appears amiss with your horse and contacts you immediately. The individualized care provided is clearly reflected by the healthy and content horses that reside at Raven Ranch. You really need to experience Raven Ranch in person to get a true grasp of all that it has to offer; individual tack rooms, clean his/her bathrooms, oodles of wash racks, trail access, multiple round pens and arenas with lights for nighttime use, a large covered arena which is a rare commodity that cannot be overlooked during the peak summer sun (or rainy season), as well as a water misting system in the barns to help keep the horses cool. Honestly, the list of items that makes this place special is endless. To sum up Raven Ranch in 2 words ... It Rocks!

Great experience! Our guide Bob was so informative and fun…read more You can't ask for better scenery!

Wrangler Bill was great. He educated me about the people, culture, history, flora and fauna in the…read morearea. It was beautiful. My horse was super chill and easy to ride. I had a great time!