Fantastic experience Superior wranglers…read moreDelicious food friendly service Wonderful to see owners socialize with guests Will return!!

one of the nicest experiences i've ever had. came here for my birthday trip and it was truly…read moreamazing! food was spectacular, service and hospitality was amazing, and scenery was so beautiful!

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.

Great Horses and Company! Allen obviously cares for his horses, they are his own personal horses…read more The desert landscape is very nice, we even saw coyote. V.Z. Mn.

The horses are well cared for and Allen thoughtfully matches his horses to riders based on rider…read moreskill and experience. I've had great rides, good conversations, and enjoyed scenic views. I've come back to ride with them each year I've come to AZ.

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!

I rode with my daughter out there, CJ was our girl and she was the BEST. It was soooo good and sooo…read morerelaxing. I thought it had closed, so very relieved it is still open and we'll go out and ride when I'm out there. There's also a great Mexican restaurant out that way... laid back and GREAT. I'm so happy Way Out West, is ALIVE!

I got a Groupon for a horse back ride for 4 for my wife's birthday. It sounded like fun. And this…read moreplace far exceeded my expectations. I fell in love with this place and we definitely will be going back. Our trail leads were awesome. Our horses (and my mule) were great. And the views of the mountains were beautiful. Be warned. It is out in the middle of nowhere. But worth the drive. Good for beginners and experienced riders. Very friendly and helpful.

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.

I volunteered at Heart of the Horse Ranch for approximately three years and devoted countless hours…read moreto caring for the horses. I fed, mucked, groomed, administered medications, treated wounds, purchased supplements and supplies, and assisted with therapy group activities. I poured my heart and soul into this ranch. Unfortunately, my experience with management ultimately became deeply troubling. During my approximately three years as a paying customer, I went through six different riding instructors due to constant turnover. In hindsight, this level of turnover was a significant red flag. From January 2025 through April 2026, I paid $85 per week for "lessons" with the "barn manager," who was also my riding instructor. Most of these sessions consisted of trail rides where she rode ahead of me and provided little to no instruction or feedback. I did not feel I was receiving actual riding instruction for what I was paying, but no other instructors were available. After years of volunteering and caring for the horses, I was banned from the property and told to find another place for my own horse. I was not allowed to see him until he was moved. I was also accused of making statements I deny making, including the extremely serious accusation that I had wished someone dead. I found the way these conflicts were handled--in front of other staff and boarders--to be inappropriate and emotionally intimidating. I love the horses and am grateful for the time I spent with them. However, based on my experience with management and my concerns about the way the ranch was operated, I cannot recommend this ranch.

What a fun time riding with Catalina Riding Club!! We had the honor of having Mel (Melvin) as our…read morewrangler and he was awesome, very experienced and a great leader. We rode as a family (myself, my partner, Tom, and our two kids) and Mel made everyone feel comfortable, inclusive of being provided nice cold water during the warm temps. We opted for the ride from the Stables, at sunset, which was perfect for us as we had mixed levels of riding experience in our group and it was good to be a little closer to civilization. But when we are back in Tucson, you better believe we will ride with Catalina again and take the remote desert ride to experience more of that incredible Tucson charm. I'd also like to give a shout out to riding club owners, Rose and Bob, who were incredibly helpful and super responsive before, during and after booking. Not only were they awesome to work with in regards to finding a good day/time for our ride, and finding the right horse for each of us, but also so fantastic to offer up other activities for us to do while we were in Tucson. Our only issue with this experience... it had to end and that made us sad. We loved it so much and can't wait to ride again with Rose and Bob and their team of wranglers and horses at Cataline Riding Club! 100/10 recommend... so call them when you're in Tucson and get ready to enjoy the heck out of good people, great horses and amazing landscapes/vistas (and occassional cool critter or two)! :-)

I had a fantastic experience with Catalina Riding Club from start to finish. Rose worked with me to…read morefind the right trail experience, even offering to pick me up if I opted for a mountain ride as I was along the route to the trailhead. I ended up choosing a shorter ride, but she accommodated my request for an English saddle and assigned me a wrangler for a private ride. Her horses are well cared for and well trained (I rode Copper). Melvin was a terrific trail guide, taking me to scenic vistas and offering to take as many pictures as I wanted. After the ride, he even gave me a lift back to the hotel. As a bonus, I got to pet a sweet little foal and her mama while Melvin put all the tack away. A wonderful way to spend the morning!!!