We recently had the most wonderful trail riding experience at Rockin' Star Ranch with family ranging 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! read more

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After an extremely disappointing ride in Benson, with horses that could barely move I was beyond frustrated... 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! read more

The Rockin' Star Ranch - Stormy helped find keys. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Great experience! Definable book, you won't regret. Took my 10 year old niece, perfect for all ages.

Amazing ride, Braydon was a great lead and let us trot and run with the horses. Highly recommend Arrow and Iris for your rides! read more

The Rockin' Star Ranch - Horse Riding, trail, sky - Horseback Riding Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Fantastic place the lady that runs it is awesome. Great place for kids and adults. I highly recommend this great ranch. read more

Great petting zoo! She was so nice and knowledgeable. Great variety of animals and all the animals were very gentle. The nicest animals I've encountered at a petting zoo read more

It was our first time back in the saddle after many years and Chris couldn't have been a better guide and trail leader. The horses were so well behaved and responsive, I loved Luna and will ask for her in future when I take lessons with Rockin Star Ranch! Thank you for a fabulous trail ride through the Monument! read more

With a family of 5, all experience levels and ages 3 to 55+, we found this to be a good company with a solid offering of desert horseback trail riding . Our horses were great for each skill level and the 45 min ride through the Saguro natnl Forest was perfect to allow us some horse time, gorgeous desert views time, family time.... And still be able to walk afterwards. A lot of time, people don't realize that it's important to speak with your trail guide about expectations. Chris introduced us to our horses, Arrow, Luna, Missy and Iris and let us feel comfortable within our saddles. He took care to give us a nice mix of walk and trot and even took some pictures for us. The website is pretty easy to navigate, but I preferred to just call the contact phone number and speak to an actual person. Which was also super easy. The animals were well tended, all saddles and tack well maintained and I would recommend this company for all ages. read more

We had an enjoyable trail ride. The horses were very calm and easy to ride. Braydon was a good guide. We booked the 60min trail ride and we wanted to go through Saguaro East. When I booked we were sent a text explaining to go to Circle K on Tanque Verde to await a trailer of horses. They never showed and we texted Rocking Star. We were told they never received our booking even though we had paid by credit card. They then gave us directions to the trail head where we had our trail ride. Operation is a little loose but I would still go back. read more

We were so excited to ride with Chris after seeing the glowing reviews. Instead, we rode with two women who were introduced to us as "friends of the owner." They put the bridle on one of their horses incorrectly, and the horse was spazzing out and freaking out our horses throughout the ride. They also led us off trail and then asked us if we knew where we were. It was a sunset ride that got dark quickly, so no, we did not know where we were. We also waited 25 minutes at that gas station because they did not send the additional instructions to meet them down the road. read more

My wife, daughter and I did a 2 hour ride with Chris. We had an amazing time. Chris was great, super knowledgeable about the horses and the AZ landscape. The horses we rode were perfect and fun to ride. It was definitely a highlight of our trip. Thanks again Chris! read more

Wow! Went here for my birthday with my mom and we had such a fun and beautiful time! Our travel guide chris was the nicest and made sure we were comfortable the entire time. He even took some pictures for us for free which was super sweet. We did the sunset walk and it was so worth it, we got an amazing view that was just breath taking. We also got to learn a little history about tucson and the mountains which was a bonus! Also, our horses luna and pac-man were so well behaved/sweet and taken care of which was a big deal for us going in at first. definitely will be back and will be recommending to friends and family :) Thank you for a wonderful birthday! *PS- for new riders: bring water, go to the bathroom before heading down there, make sure to listen to instructions, stretch before getting on, wear good clothing (bugs and cactus around of course) and y'all will have fun! read more

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Chris was awesome, very patient and kind. I was thrilled to find a trail ride that allowed 5 yrs old to ride, and it wasn't even a pony! My son was very nervous being his first time on a horse but midway through he seemed a natural. His horse, Princess Stormy, was really sweet and extremely gentle - a perfect ride for little kids. The trail and hour ride was just the right level and duration, and the 2pm slot had the perfect weather! (And thank goodness we got to waive the helmet !) read more

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My husband and I had a wonderful time. We went riding in the morning on June 17. The trail our guide chose was very shady had streams, It felt like we had found an oasis in the desert. The horses were very tame and gentle. We had a great time! We definitely recommend and we'll go again!! read more

The Rockin' Star Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Our trail ride was amazing! We booked after finding this on Tripadvisor. Our trail guides were a lot of fun and they ensured a safe and fun ride. Our trail guides made us feel at home, like we were hanging out with friends. I appreciated how easy it was to book a time slot through the website. The views were stunning and our tour guides took lots of pictures of us. Definitely recommend. read more

Wonderful trail guides! Horses are extremely well trained and go at the pace of you. Beautiful trails to ride on. Would HIGHLY recommend!

Best trail ride ever. Full stop. Best trail guide ever in Chris. Full stop. And when Chris says he "has the best horses in Tucson," you better damn well believe him (shoutouts to Luna, Pac-Man, and Abraham). Chris and his horses truly made our trip to Tucson. Though my husband and I have been on dozens of rides apiece, we wouldn't necessarily consider ourselves "advanced" riders. Nevertheless, Chris made us feel like "real cowboys" (my words, not his) after we trotted, loped, and galloped through the Tanque Verde Wash. Even our daughter, who has just started taking riding lessons, felt comfortable and safe on her horse when we started to pick up some speed. The wash was the perfect backdrop for a ride -- some shady spots, some water splashing at your feet, some open space to take in the mountain views in the distance. And the best part? Chris takes pictures and videos throughout that he airdrops to you after the ride! The prospect of riding again with Chris is reason alone we will come back to Tucson. Thank you, Chris -- see you again soon! read more

Our intergenerational family of 8 did an hour-long ride in late December. It exceeded our expectations. First off, they accommodated us with a last minute reservation (the day before). We got excellent directions, and they arrived on time. On arriving, they were prepared to have our 4yo ride alone and did an excellent job of introducing him to the very gentle horse. He decided at the last minute that he didn't want to go alone and our guides immediately and graciously pivoted to have him ride with me, even though this left one of the horses they'd brought along unused. Our 6yo was thrilled to ride a horse all by herself! (she'd done pony rides on a lead before, but nothing like this) The older cousins, along with parents and grandma, all had a good time as well. The trail was through a dry arroyo, not the most scenic thing ever, but it was wide and easy and very "desert"--it felt desolate even though we weren't much out of the city. The guide took lots of pictures that he shared with us (free) at the end. Overall, an excellent experience! read more

We keep coming back. My 7 year old daughter rides Nugget and she loves to go fast! It's a really fun experience :)

We were visiting from RI and looking for a place to take in the beautiful Arizona views while enjoying a horseback ride and we found The rockin star ranch, we had an amazing time and saw some once in a lifetime beautiful sunset views on our 60-90 min ride with Chris in the Saguaro National Ranch. We could not of been happier and highly recommend them for your horse ride. Kotos to our horses Dexter,Luna,Iris &Arrow too. read more

Family run business who cares about their horses and helps city people enjoy them. Joyce was great. Highly recommend if you want a great family experience in Tucson. read more

I am not sure how long this petting zoo has been around. In all the years that I have driven up Mount Lemmon, I have never noticed this little spot. What I gathered based on our short visit is that Joyce, the owner it seems, opted to open this location after having left for a while on the mountain. She wanted to be closer to town, but not anywhere near the center. She is a lover of animals and so the petting zoo seem likely choice for a livelihood. I couldn't get a good handle of this place. There are a couple of different locations that house animals. So it has the feel of a ranch at times and a farm in other spots. A few animals looked like they were having a hard go, so I hope they're being rehabilitated. When we arrived, there were a few people milling about and enjoying the seating areas. There are quite a few places to enjoy a picnic. We came for the petting zoo. There were chickens, miniature horses, goats, alpacas, rabbits, ducks and a few other animals. Most everyone was cordial and open to visitors. The ducks, though, could care less that you wanted to stop in for a hello. The alpaca didn't want it to be touched. But the horses and the goats are very friendly. So are the chickens. The business hosts parties and also offer horse back rides. read more

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For two city slickers on their first horse ride in over 19 years we had the most memorable trail ride thanks to Chris. He took the time to explain in novice terms commands for Arrow and PacMan. He seated us on the horses and made sure that we were secure and comfortable in the saddle. Chris' sense of what we should experience coupled with a charming sense of humor made for a delightful time on the trail. HIGHLY recommend. read more

We will definitely be back! Had tons of fun riding the horses! Beautiful scenery and water crossing.

Great experience! Took my 6 year old granddaughter and she loved it! Our guide, Chris, was very nice and made it very enjoyable! He even took pictures and shared them with us! read more

We had an excellent experience with the horses and the ranch hands at this ranch. I would highly recommend a trail ride here especially of you have inexperienced riders in your group. The horses, especially Stormy and Luna are so sweet and gentle. Enjoy!! read more

My wife and I were looking for a safe outdoor activity. This was a good experience, especially during sunset. Booking was easy (on my phone). Our guide Chris was personable, timely, and took great photos as well. The horses looked cared for too. We were grateful for the ride, given the global pandemic. read more

Great experience. We are novices and they showed us how to handle the horses. Highly recommend if you are new or experienced rider. You'll have a great time. read more

My grandkids were visiting me from North Dakota over Easter. I wanted to plan something special for them to do. So I found Rockin' Star Stables. They looked like they might be a good choice. Wow, it was terrific. Every step of making the reservation, having important questions answered, to the actual ride was awesome. my daughters and grandkids really enjoyed the trail ride. They said it was the best ride they had ever had. They mentioned that they didn't have to just follow the horse in front. They wanted another ride right away. Lloyd the trail driver was so cool and laid back. Thank you for a fantastic memory making event. read more

Very poor customer service!!! Have been attempting to call for 9 days to schedule a visit. No return calls from the owner. Did speak with him briefly, long enough to be asked to text him, as he was driving, and he would get back with me. Never did call me back. Have sent 2 texts and left a few voicemail messages and still no call back. If this is how he runs his business, I will take my business elsewhere! read more

This was a wonderful experience and a Covid friendly activity to do while my out of town family was here. The guide Chris was considerate of everyone's different riding levels and ages and we even had a little extra adventure time no charge which everyone appreciated. I've been on lots of rides myself and this was by far the most realistic cowboy feeling, giving us views of the beautiful Rincons in the Saguaro National Forest, some up and down riding - not just flat- which is exactly the ride we had hoped for and requested, surrounded by saguaros and the beautiful desert landscape. We scheduled it to watch the sunset go down and he got us to the most beautiful backdrop to watch it fall below the horizon. It was magical. He took some awesome photos for us which was nice. He was very knowledgeable about the area and we took turns being the horse behind him so we all got a little time to hear all his interesting tid bits about the area. I will definitely be calling them next time I want to go for a ride. The horses we all very friendly, gained our trust fast and were the perfect riding companion. This is by far my best riding experience in Tucson and was custom to exactly what we wanted out of our ride. read more

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This was my first time horseback riding and I loved it! Our guide was so informative about the desert fauna and had great stories to tell along the trail. I highly recommend the sunset ride. read more

My CoHearts and I had a phenomenal time! We absolutely loved every moment from beginning to end! Joyce (tour guide) was an angel that was heaven sent!! Love, Love, Love her!! From the time we walked onto the ranch until we left, she gave us the best of everything!!! You have many choices when you visit Tuscan or the surrounding areas, but I promise you, you will not regret coming to this ranch!!!!! It was my first time, and I'm so happy I made the decision to experience this moment with Joyce! Thanks and I wish you and your ranch nothing but the best! read more

The Rockin' Star Ranch - Princess Stormy and I !!! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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We had a great trail ride. I saw some aspects of Tucson that I had never seen before. Chris was very knowledgeable and helped everyone get comfortable with the horses. The horses were great too. They all have distinct personalities that were fun to learn about. It was very memorable to connect with an animal and discover the fun of working with them. I'm looking forward to the next ride soon! read more

We had a wonderful experience with Joice. We have been on three rides in Tucson on three different visits and this one was the best one yet. The horses were truly sweet as well. Joice is the nicest, most knowledgeable horse person I have met and provides the riders with the sense of security and confidence they need to enjoy the ride. read more

Went for a ride with the hubby for his bday. They worked with us on short notice and scouted out several trails for us since it had recently rained and some were washed out. The horses were great and well behaved. Rockin' Star Ranch, thank you for an amazing evening! read more

We luckily found this horseback riding place open even though most of the places are closed because of COVID-19. And I realized this is one of the best things you can do in the tIme like this, away from people, enjoying nature and having fun riding horse. Their horses are well trained and really relaxing riding with their horses. They will teach you so many how-to and my 2 daughters were riding horses like they've been riding for years after the 65 min ride we had. It's amazing you will be able to run (loping) with horse within an hour on this trail ride. We are ready to go on a mountain ride for the next time now, lol. read more

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Last year I went riding here on my 71st birthday. I was really impressed how well behaved the horses were and how well cared for. The owner and the hands who helped her were extremely helpful. On Saturday, Jan 19, I returned with my son, son-in-law and 5 year old grandson. We rode the Arizona Trail (a special event) and everyone loved the adventure. The owner made me feel safe to bring my grandson because she had a special child's saddle, a child's helmet and his horse was led on the trail by the owner herself. By the way, she also gives great riding instructions before you head out on the trail. My son had a bad experience with a horse that took off with him at age 7 and was reluctant to come along. At the end of our adventure, my now adult son is anxious to ride again! read more

We had a great time on our trail ride with Chris. He was amazing with our son who was going horseback riding for the first time. The scenery was beautiful. I highly recommend The Rockin' Star Ranch if you are looking for a place to go horseback riding. We are already planning our next horseback riding trip. I would give ten stars if I could. read more

Pros and cons. (And I don't usually write reviews.) Pros: not a traditional trail ride, in that we went up a wash, over streams...and it wasn't just single file line, straight at the butt of the horse in front of you. It was a bit more of a free for all, with wide spaces to explore. Cons: The "guides" were more like just along to accompany us and keep track of time. They just rode together at the front of our group, talking to each other--they never really talked to us. Plus, we were two adults with 5 kids aged 7-14, and we had to kind of keep an eye on the littlest kid, who was by herself at the back because the guides weren't really watching the group. But again, this was kind of nice--felt a bit more independent, I guess. BUT, the biggest con was that I got bitten by one of the horses. Pretty badly. I ended up needing to keep my leg elevated and icing for the entire rest of the day because the swelling was intense. It's now two days later, and I have an extremely painful purple bruise from my knee to my hip. No one checked on me when it happened. Even the "boss" when we got back to the horse trailers didn't even bother to ask if I was ok. They simply said that that horse was trained as a rescue horse, and sometimes bites, then made it stay away from other horses--which impacted my son's experience, since he was riding the horse that bites, and he then needed to stay away from the rest of us. I am just glad it was me that gotten bitten, and not one of my kids! I get it, we sign up knowing that we are taking a risk...these are large animals. Fine. But I would have expected the company to have at least seen if I was ok, apologized, checked to see if I needed medical attention...anything. read more