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

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.

Amazingly quiet. The owner, host onsite, was gracious and welcoming from the first messages. Very…read moregood directions and greeted me at check in. The well water is deeelish! The vistas calming. I extended my stay as soon as I set up, sat done and took a good look around. As a solo female traveler I feel completely safe. There's adequate cell signal. Electric hookup. Cows and horses. Birds and grasshoppers. Great RV spots, but this tent camper was over the moon satisfied. Kim at Rancho del Nido rates five stars plus!

What a wonderful find! We camped here for a few nights and felt like we almost had the whole ranch…read moreto ourselves. Quiet and peaceful, with a million stars at night.

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

My daughter has been taking riding lessons wth Kate for a few months. We love Lucky Charm, they are…read morevery professional and teach riding in an encouraging and positive way. The ranch itself is a beautiful property and always has people around who are friendly. There are benches and chairs around the arenas so parents or family can watch the lessons, which is awesome. There are also a number of arenas including a fun obstacle course type arena. The tack room and barn are super cute and seem to have varying sizes to accommodate everyone.

Every detail was taken care of. Presentation of each line was discussed clearly. We met all of…read morethe dogs. Jennifer is extremely knowledgeable and shares freely. Very professional. A truly bona fide, Australian Shepherd breeder.

We have two wonderful pups from Iron Side Ranch. Jennifer is really awesome and we are incredibly…read morethankful for her...especially when we got our second pup. They are both fun, loving and super duper smart!! Sampson is our first and is the sweet little guy with the roosters behind him in the main photo on here. If you are thinking about getting an Aussie puppy, I would a million times recommend Iron Side!

great!! we had a blast! Rose was so friendly and knowledgeable!! good experience, you should give…read moreher a call.

From the owner: Full care Horse Boarding includes bermuda and/or alfalfa hay fed two times daily and the stall or…read morecorral cleaned every morning. Your horse can have a barn stall with an outside run attached or a partially covered outside pipe corral. The swamp coolers on the barn have been on all summer. The outside pipe corrals are 6' tall with the back half covered for shade. Tack rooms, rest rooms, and an area for parking trailers is provided. We have a full-sized lighted arena for riding and access to Rillito River by way of a con-arch bridge under River Road. Horses do not have to cross traffic. When trail riding you can be in the Tucson Mountains quickly.

We boarded here for several years. Kerri and her husband are great! The property is well…read moremaintained. Our horses were happy there. I've recommended Spirit Dog to others.

Good God, don't use this place. The female owner seems pleasant enough but the male owner, a man…read morenamed Tim, is a maniac. Having some experience with horses, a horse trailer, and an area to put horses, I drove down to this facility to offer my help, my equipment and my facility. The entrance gate was closed. I parked and walked in. The male owner in his "gator" (after chewing a lady out for driving too fast on his property) came up to me. I started telling him I was there to offer my help. All he wanted to do was chew me out for parking in a no No Parking area. Things escalated and he got out, pickrd up a hammer and trheatened to beat me with it. Changed his mind and got back in his "gator", saying he should get a gun and use it on me. Got back out of his vehicle and braced me again, saying "My name is Tim, shake my hand." I refused and walked away. He turned around in his "gator" and followed me. That's as close to being assaulted as I want to come.

We are fortunate to have Elizabeth Poulin in Southern Arizona at Amado Equine Hacienda. Trailering…read morein to ride with Elizabeth has been very positive for my horse and I. We have competed successfully through the Grand Prix, yet, working with Elizabeth has led to significant improvement. I believe we have improved all aspects of our work because of her educated eye and depth of knowledge about gymnasticizing exercises to develop horses correctly. I have watched Elizabeth teach a variety of horses and riders. She definitely has the best interest of the horse and rider as her central focus. She provides exercises that lead to improvement without creating negative tension in the horse or rider. This is a gift as a teacher and coach that I have rarely encountered. Bobbi and Gus have a lovely facility and provide a welcoming atmosphere. I definitely recommend Elizabeth and Amado Equine Hacienda. I am looking forward to taking my young horse for lessons as well as continuing with Corey. Debra Haber

From the owner: We offer pasture boarding for your horse.read more

Paul and Candice own this wonderful horse sanctuary and provide an amazing environment for more…read morethan 20 horses, ponies and mini's. They provide all of the horses needs from hay, nutritionals, dental work, hoof care and most importantly love. The grounds are superb and tranquil. My wife and I volunteer as often as possible, and they provide training for kind people that want to be in a serene horse-based environment. Please visit their website for contact details and to set up an appointment if you wish to volunteer or if you are interested in making a donation.