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.

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 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!

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!

David is great !!! the environment is beautiful and well kept ! Just a great place to be ! Such…read morebeautiful horses

That's the thing about David--he always has to have the last word. The day I was asked to leave, he…read morefollowed me around yelling at me in front of volunteers and staff. This made me feel completely backed into a corner. I repeatedly asked him to please let me get my things and go home, as I had been there since 6 a.m., had not eaten or taken a break, and it was 5 p.m. Instead, he continued provoking me until I responded in kind. His anger and the way he uses it to intimidate people have been a recurring issue in my experience. I also witnessed a similar situation involving Kelli and her husband Al, who has since passed away. On what was one of Al's last, if not his last, rides with Blue, several of Al's friends rode onto the property to meet them for a trail ride. After a verbal altercation between David and Al's friends over their gaited horses being too close to the barn, Al left with them to trail ride. David then approached Kelli, in front of me and another student/volunteer, and began screaming at her that she and Al were banned from the property and had to remove Blue that day. Kelli repeatedly apologized and explained that she and Al had nothing to do with his friends' behavior and had nowhere to move Blue on such short notice. After she continued apologizing, David eventually calmed down and allowed them to stay. Watching this interaction was extremely upsetting, particularly given the circumstances, and it was another example of the anger, intimidation, and instability I experienced in my time at the ranch. That being said, I appreciate the acknowledgment of the years I spent caring for the horses, but I believe the response misses the central concern of my review: the unprofessional behavior of the owner and barn manager and the welfare of the horses who work there. I also want to clarify that I was never a therapy patient at Heart of the Horse. I was a volunteer who spent years caring for the horses. Therefore, invoking confidentiality or HIPAA to avoid addressing the specific concerns raised in my review is misleading. The issues I raised concern my own firsthand experiences as a volunteer and the care of horses, not the private health information of a therapy client. In my horse Earl's case, he suffered from significant left stifle arthritis for years while he was a lesson horse at Heart of the Horse. Looking through photos of him on Instagram and Facebook, his recurring leg wounds and bedsores are visible, including photos where they appear to be bleeding or wrapped in vet wrap. Despite his pain and mobility issues, he continued participating in lessons without Equioxx or other appropriate pain/comfort management. His current veterinarian has since determined that his arthritis requires ongoing management, and he is now enjoying a comfortable retirement with appropriate veterinary care. I am also concerned about the "dental" care horses at the ranch received. In October 2025, the dental provider used by the ranch filed Earl's teeth deeply enough to expose the pulp. Subsequently, Earl broke tooth 306, which is closest to the Tom Thumb or Pelham bit that the barn manager insisted he needed for "brakes." These are not, in my opinion, examples of putting an individual horse's comfort and safety first. They also raise concerns for me about whether other horses have received similarly appropriate care while using ill-fitting tack. Earl is now retired, comfortable, appropriately medically managed, and living a much happier life. The greatest thing David ever did for Earl was give him to me, and I am thankful for that gift. At the same time, I remain concerned about the horses still in the establishment's care. I understand that the ranch may not wish to discuss individual situations publicly. However, that does not change my firsthand experience or my concerns about the way horses are managed and cared for. My review reflects my experience, and I stand by it. The positive reviews David references do not change that experience either.

Nice place with fun activities and a few quirks. My favorite was the Saturday cookout. It wasnt…read morebest steak ever but was good and really enjoyed the live music and outside venue. Went here for a family reunion and everyone had a blast. We had a big group with kids and teens up to grandparents. I loved the rooms and furnishing. Bed and chairs all super comfy and sturdy. The activities were all fun and the folks running the activities really seemed happy and helpful. One caveat is some guests seemed to have unrealistic expectations of the activities and their abilities. For instance a lot of people didn't qualify for the lope ride and probably shouldnt have qualified for safety reasons but still seemed upset about it. My kids were too old for the kids club but the kids who were in that program looked to be having an awesome time! It is great to have that option on a place like this. Couple things they could improve on: The online activity signup clunky to the point of barely functional. Everyone, even small kids had to create separate accounts -- i even called to confirm this and was told to reuse emails and phone numbers. A 9 year old doesn't need their own account. One member of our group just gave up on signup and showed up for events. Also you need to have everything signed up for by 8 pm the night before but there is no easy way to cancel and no penalty for not showing up -- so when activities start there is usually space but you have to wait until the no shows don't show. Bathrooms in some rooms were quite small. The toilet in my sisters room i think was built for a child. The food included with the rooms was good but not great. The al a carte menu was better but quite pricey. Also service in restaurant seemed good not great. We would have to flag down a waitress and several times they would say no problem and scurry off to fulfill our request, when others at the table also had requests. Also some of the staff could use some more training. They are clearly reaching for a luxury travel experience but check in, communication and questions seemed to lead to different answers from different people. For instance when the folks before us were checking in they were asked what time they wanted to come to breakfast, while we were told to call 1 hour before coming down -- frankly i dont really want to do either and would like to just show up for the breakfast thats included in price. The staff was all very nice but a bit more training and organization is needed. But none of the issues really affected our trip and as a whole great time and I would definitely return.

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!

Best place to learn how to ride! They teach English to western and can even do trail rides. I'm a…read morenervous rider but their horses, especially Polo, are perfect and have their own personalities, no more nose to tail trail rides with 50 people for me! Taking lessons here has helped me become a more relaxed and experienced rider.

From the owner: At Adamo Equestrian we specialize in teaching horsemanship from the ground up. Our students learn…read moreall aspects of being a great Equestrian and build a strong foundation they can use to take them in any direction from Western Pleasure to Dressage! We teach beginner through intermediate riding and love to see our clients fall in love with horses!

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!

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.

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!

My guy and I decided to try the drive in movie experience here…read more The location is nice however this place uses an inflatable screen. The bad part is that it doesn't sit high enough for you to enjoy the complete screen. My guy was not happy trying to watch the movie when the cars parked in front of us blocked 25% of the screen. The parking situation could be better if they staggered the cars a bit and didn't over crowd the area. Social distancing was not done here. I will say this, they have air conditioned restrooms which were a most welcome site! A nice surprise. Overall, it was ok. My guy says we will not be back. 2 stars for air conditioned bathrooms.

Grey Verlin is a joint owner of this stunning marvelously beautiful facility. The ranch is situated…read moreon a large horse property with multiple acres. But the best part is the internal gardens. This is the perfect venue for a wedding or a retreat such as the retreat that I attended. There are fountains, benches, green grass.... Yes you Native Tucsonian's you heard me right: GREEN GRASS! and the birds are constantly singing songs and prancing around through the numerous water fountain features. It is so peaceful and I felt as if I were in the mountains isolated away from the city. If I were planning a wedding, I would certainly come back to this place. The owners are gracious and very accommodating. They even have a special dressing room for the bride to be. Also, there are two kitchen areas, one for serving and the other for preparing any food items. When our retreat was over, several of us were actually invited to go back down a dirt road and look at the horse stables. One of the employees said they might be planning to provide some horseback riding adventures in the near future. You may want to call and check out all this lovely facility has to offer. I certainly will when I'm thinking of something special for my friends and family!

Moved my horse here over a year ago. It is 45 minutes from my house and is worth the drive. First…read morethe owners are very accommodating to fit their facility to my needs allowing me to build a trail course with challenges for all skill levels. The staff are very helpful with any needs I have for my horse. I like that you can bring in your own trainer from the outside at no extra charge. There are also trainers on site who teach and/or exercise your horse which helps if you need to be out of town or cannot give your horse the exercise he needs. Easy access on quiet streets to trails and the Pantano wash. Its park-like setting offers several places to read a book while your horse grazes on the grass. Stalls are cleaned twice a day and horses are fed three times a day. Though I don't have a trailer, I understand they don't charge for parking your trailer on the property. It's working out great for my horse and me.

I boarded my two horses at River Valley Ranch for several years and my experience there was…read moreexcellent. The ranch owners, Crystal and Taylor are kind and thoughtful people and really care for the horses in their care, as well as caring for their boarders (the people). They were very kind and supportive and helpful when it was time for my old guy to move on. He was my heart horse, 26 years old and it was his time. Crystal helped find someone to help with his body after he left it, and that was a huge help. They are kind people and the ranch has a family feel about it. The care the horses receive is top notch! They have grass turn-outs for the horses, as well as multiple arenas and round pens. River Valley Ranch is a great place to board your beloved horse (or horses).