My friends and I booked an 8 AM, 1hr ride on Friday and it was led by Krys and Brittney! We were…read moreall 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.

My bestie and I did the two-hour trail ride at Ponderosa Stables today and it was absolutely…read moreincredible 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!

Good cause and unique experience My group enjoy the wagon…read moreride and John Robinson was very common

Pro Tip: during the cooler months, you can schedule a hay ride at and around the south mountain…read morearea! Call the ranch to talk about it!!! Where do I begin with this update?? It's been about 3 years since my Girl Scout troop came to this ranch (see my previous review). Since then my kiddo and I have taken classes at the ranch and we both became volunteers at the ranch. We come to this ranch about as often as we can. The owners make it a point to make everyone feel like family! This IS our family now!!! Aside from the joys of the ranch, my kiddo has advanced riding skills so much that my kiddo has participated in the Black Rodeo, Competitive Horsemanship and Riding and trail rides. Like my kiddo, experienced students at the ranch can participate in parades, shows, and more as volunteers representing the ranch too! If you'd like the same opportunities, you just need to saddle up and start your horsemanship journey, or expand it, at the RR! And, For the person who wrote that they called and no one answered... keep in mind, this ranch runs off of its volunteers. There is a limited paid staff and a small army of volunteers who support RR. This ranch serves as a large animal rescue. This ranch is a place of escape for victims of a variety of situations and this ranch services folks with a variety of physical, emotional and mental needs---- on top of the herd of horses, goats, pigs and dogs that live there. THERE WILL BE MOMENTS WHERE ACTIVITIES ON THE RANCH TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER ANSWERING THE PHONE. Please, be gentle and understanding. Call back, leave a message and give grace. I've added as many pictures as I can. Come out and schedule a tour, sign up for a class or sign up to be a volunteer: you won't regret it! Return Factor: 10000000%

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!

Amazing location ! So much more than just a horseback ride. The town was a blast and Cowboy Bob our…read moreguide was a good time and wealth of information. Highly recommend

Our guide Rusty was fantastic, super knowledgeable about the desert and very entertaining in the…read moreold western town.

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

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

We had great time! Staff was fantastic and helpful. We had special needs and they were great with…read moreaccommodate my needs

We love MacDonalds Ranch! This is our happy place! We adore the animals in the petting zoo. I…read morerecommend Macdonalds Ranch to all my friends and family because it is such a rare gem in Arizona. The petting zoo is free, but they do accept donations. We enjoy petting the goats, sheep and little ponies. We were especially excited to see 3 baby goats today- they were the cutest. We love supporting this local business- go check them out! You can also hold company events or parties here too! We also love coming here in the fall for their pumpkin patch!

Fabulous ride! Our group participated in 1.5 hour ride. Hands-down, we had the best guide and…read morehorses! Highly recommend the 1.5 hr trail ride at Cave Creek! Cora was knowledgeable, was an incredible instructor, giving kind directions, and was a great resource for our group ranging in age from 25 to 78. We all cannot say enough great things about her, if you get the opportunity, ask for Cora!! And of course, we were on the best horses - Dickie, Amy, Ghost, and Fish. They all had fun personalities, remember to bring a sweet treat if you ride Dickie!

I took my girlfriend (now wife) there and we had a wonderful time, with one exception. And after…read moretwo years I'm still talking about him. Machos, the half draft horse. He misbehaved, annoyed the horse they said was his girlfriend (she had other ideas when she tried to kick him and he almost fell) and I have NEVER had to be that rough on a horse's mouth. The place was great but unless you're over 250 pounds, refuse Machos. He is more of an ass than a horse. A friend had a similar experience with Machos prior to mine. Say no to Machos!

Amazing experience! Victoria was our guide and she was wonderful. The horses all had distinct…read morepersonalities and they made the trip fun and entertaining. Thank you!

This was one of the best things we have ever done. You can tell these people really love what they…read moredo and the horses are well taken care of. Our guide, Frank was fun, knowledgeable and patient. The scenery is gorgeous and peaceful. I would recommend riding with them!

I have had my horse boarded here for the past year! They take great care of the animals and the…read morehorses are all happy! Pretty sure these are the largest pens in Phoenix for the cost. All the amenities and trails are right out the back gate to South Mountain. This is also a dog rescue, so if you are looking for a furry friend, give the owner Kitty a call.

Look no further as the Sanctuary at South Mountain is the place to be! The owner Kitty is the most…read moreloving and caring animal lover I've ever seen. The grounds are clean and the horses come first! Excellant location to South Mountain trails. No crossing busy congested streets, It's just right out the gate.Stalls are huge and the horses absolutely love it here! You definitely won't be dissapointed!

Foothills Ranch Horseback Riding in Mayer, Arizona, deserves every bit of praise I can give. From…read morethe moment I first spoke with the owner, Phyliss, I knew we were in good hands. She was flexible, accommodating, and genuinely committed to making our adventure special. I brought my two grandchildren along, and they had an absolutely wonderful time. The horses themselves were beautiful, healthy, and easy to ride--clearly well cared for and well trained. Our ride through the Prescott National Forest was nothing short of spectacular. As we followed Big Bug Creek and made our way deeper into the forest, both Phyliss and Janice shared an incredible wealth of knowledge. Their understanding of horses, combined with their deep appreciation for the area's history, made the experience unforgettable. We learned about the region's gold mining past, Native American history, early settlers, and even the geology, plant life, and wildlife that make this part of Arizona so unique. It was an education wrapped inside the best trail ride we've ever been on. Foothills Ranch offers far more than a simple horseback ride--it's a meaningful, memorable experience led by people who truly love what they do. I can't recommend it highly enough. Jim H

Me and my boyfriend came to the ranch as one our birthday activities, we had an amazing experience…read morewith the horses , very well trained and easy to handle ... the guide even gave us a little history about the place while riding and showed us how to open and close gates in the cowboys style .... The trail is beautiful and diverse, we also got to ride the horses in the water. They took amazing pictures for us and even had a cake waiting at the end of the ride , 10/10 experience .