Home / North America / USA / Arizona
Last Update: 06 Aug 2010

Riding Holidays | Arizona

Throughout recent history horses have played an important role in Arizona. They were essential to the early settlers venturing into these western states to cover the vast distances between towns. Later cattle ranches bred horses and more recently racing has become a popular pastime with a number of racing stables springing up throughout the state. Horses do well in Arizona’s warm climate and acclimatise to the heat remarkably well. Western style riding is the norm and there are a number of guest ranches in the south east of the state, particularly around Tucson.

Tanque Verde Resort Ranch on the outskirts of Tucson has Arizona’s largest stable, with around 200 horses. This is a 4* guest ranch with many activities on offer. There are several horseback rides each day split into groups for beginner and experienced riders, plus tennis, mountain biking, swimming and numerous hiking trails in the Rincon Mountains. If you prefer a smaller more intimate ranch stay then the very south east corner of Arizona is the place to visit. This is a higher altitude mountainous area full of open grassy meadows and cool breezes away from the heat of the lower plains. Here you will find traditional working cattle ranches offering guests the opportunity to join cattle drives, learn to rope and have outrides into the mountains.

A State famous for sunshine and warm weather, Arizona actually has many interesting facts. It is home to the Grand Canyon National Park and has the most Native Indian reservations of all US States. Phoenix in central Arizona is the third biggest city in the USA and far in the south is the old city of Tombstone, made famous by Wyatt Earp and the OK corral. There is even a ski resort near Flagstaff and the tallest mountain in this range is Humphrey’s Peak, standing at 12,633 feet. The official state flower is the Saguaro cactus blossom. The Saguaro is the largest American cactus.