Horseback Riding
Adjacent to the Saguaro National Park and the Coronado National Forest miles of scenic horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking trails offer ranch guests the opportunity to explore the rugged and unique Sonoran desert of the Old West. Tanque Verde Ranch has Arizona's largest stable, with over 150 well trained horses. Riding is offered every day of the week, both walking rides for beginners and loping rides for more experienced riders. Our specialty rides offer variety and adventure to the regular riding schedule. Breakfast rides up to the Old Homestead for a cowboy breakfast are scheduled at least twice a week, and should not be missed. All day rides are offered weekly and feature a 6 hour ride with a lunch out on the trail in the mountains behind the ranch. This is a great way to experience the true desert of the Old West! Picnic rides feature a stop in the Cottonwood Grove for a picnic lunch. Beginning and advanced riding lessons and horsemanship classes are offered daily as well and, as with all riding, are included in the rate!
All Tanque Verde Ranch guests must sign a release agreement before riding at the ranch. No one can get on a horse without signing this release, regardless of one's riding experience. Please take your time in reading the "Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement". If a guest is a minor, the parent or legal guardian of the minor must complete the "Parent or Legal Guardian Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement" on behalf of the child.
The Corral
WELCOME TO THE FINEST IN WESTERN RIDING!
Perhaps the best way to explore and enjoy our Southwestern scenery is by horseback. Let your mount do all the legwork. Our large remuda (a herd of horses from which those to be used the next day are selected) boasts horses from all the famous Western Breeds - including Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, Arabians, Appaloosas, Paints, and Mustangs. We've got exactly the right horse for you! Nevertheless, for your safety and the horse's health, we do recommend a 250 lb. maximum weight limit.
We offer three scheduled rides every day, as well as informal instruction periods. The rides are divided into groups for a slow scenic ride or for more advanced loping riders. The scenic ride is a Walking Ride for those who just want to enjoy the peaceful desert scenery. The Lope Ride is a combination of walking, trotting and cantering. All riders who want to join the loping ride, regardless of previous riding experience, need to be tested by our wranglers prior to being allowed to join the Lope Ride. Wrangler review of an individual's horsemanship skill level cannot be interpreted as an endorsement of one's ability to ride safely.
The Program Office is open each evening from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. so that guests may sign up for riding the next day. Or, during dinner, the Activities Director will come around to your table to sign you up. The purpose for signing up the night before is so that guests know what rides are available and to let the wranglers know how many horses to saddle up in the morning. While we have the largest riding stable in Arizona, at peak vacation times we cannot always guarantee a mount for every rider on every ride.
The horse is an animal weighing over half a ton, with a mind of its own. Its reactions are quick and unpredictable. Even a small piece of paper or a sudden movement of your arms, hat, etc. may cause a horse to shy spontaneously and unpredictably. Therefore, it is important to control your mount at all times. Nevertheless, when need be, don't be afraid to kick your horse when it needs to be urged on.
The reins are the most important control point in horseback riding. They should be gripped far enough in front of your body so that when pulling back to stop your horse, you do not need to shift the position of your upper torso. The knot in the reins is there more specifically to prevent the reins from falling loosely to the ground, not to indicate where to hold them. In Western Riding, the reins should be somewhat slack; a tight rein signals the horse to stop and back up. Jerking on the reins only confuses the horse and causes it to become nervous.
Our horses respond to neck-reining in combination with foot pressure. To turn to the left, move your hand forward and to the left, laying the reins firmly across the top of the horse's neck. Apply pressure with the right heel while slightly moving your left foot away from the horse. The horse moves away from the direction of pressure. To turn to the right, move your hand forward and to the right, laying the reins firmly across the top of the horse's neck. Gently apply continuous heel pressure to the left side of the horse. To stop your horse, pull back firmly (don’t yank!) on the reins and then release when the horse stops. Repeat if necessary.
Always walk your horse downhill. The added weight of a rider may cause a horse to stumble if the horse is allowed to trot downhill, but if your horse does stumble, pull its head up quickly by jerking upward with the reins. Remember, your horse does not want to fall any more than you want it to fall!
We do hope this information will help you understand our Corral operation, and will enable you to enjoy the excellent riding we have to offer over the Arizona Sonoran Desert. As you ride along, please feel free to ask the Wranglers any questions about horsemanship, the desert, or the flora and fauna.
Breakfast Ride
An early morning departure is a stimulating experience as you follow the trails up into the desert hills overlooking the ranch itself at the Old Homestead. Trailside pancakes, blueberry pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and fresh biscuits heaped on your plate provide a nourishing start to an activity filled day. After eating more than you should, you can return to the ranch and then head out on the lope ride or take an intermediate horseback skills lesson
Walk Rides
The walk ride is an enjoyable desert experience for all ages and skill levels. Experience nature close up on a comfortable walking ride as you wind through the mountain trails, up to cowboy lookout, around ghost and live giant saguaro cactus, prickly pear cactus, and an occasional road runner or deer, too.
Loping
Prior to a Loping ride, all Tanque Verde Guests take a brief Lope Lesson/Check. Participation in a Lope Ride depends on the successful completion of this test.
Should you pass the lope check and find yourself on the lope ride, you’ll gallop through the Tanque Verde Wash, lope the loop and skirt the Tanque Verde Ranch itself. From blue herons perched high on dead trees to Bobcats peeking out from shady branches and hawks swooping down on prey, you see a whole new horseback view of desert landscape unfold. No wrangler-styled desert vacation feels right without loping along the wash and cantering through the mesquite groves. Returning to the ranch takes you across the spillway and up through the cottonwoods to a return through the Corral South Gate. This will be a desert experience and a vacation to remember for a lifetime.
We are very proud of the success of our Lesson Program of Riding Instruction. Each instruction ride is divided into 2 separate groups, the "beginner" and the "loper." These instruction periods are positive tools for both the beginner and for the experienced rider. For the beginner these periods stress the fundamentals of riding and teach the rider how to control his horse. For the intermediate rider, they illustrate the principles for riding a horse at a more paced gait and can instill confidence in developing one's riding skills. For the advanced rider, the loping instruction is a refresher course, enabling the rider to enjoy his/her rides at the Ranch quicker and more safely. We strongly recommend these opportunities for everyone!
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