foothills ranch

We looked hard to find a ranch with trails that would give us a chance to see lots of different terrain. (AL ) the owner was great. He took us up the grapevine trail into the hills above the little town of Mayer AZ and his ranch. 4 1/2 hour ride with a quiet lunch in tall pines. We would recommend this for people of all abilities. Horses we nice. Just needed a little attention in the beginning and the rest of the ride was super. If you are looking for a good ride with a good trail with lots of variety this is it. Just what we were looking for. Thanks AL.

A great riding experience! We met Al and Ward who really took care to supply us with horses that met our riding level. Ward was our guide for our back country trip and was a knowledgeable trail boss who knew the horses and trails. He also supplied us with entertaining narration and answered our questions along the way. I was pleasantly surprised to see that our trip was more than flat sand trails. We actually traveled through ravines, river beds, hills, rocks, and heavy brush. This is the real deal. I recommend this for any skill level. A great adventure for the family or couples for that matter. We experienced personal service at a reasonable price.

Aloha!I bet you thought those people from Hawaii would never write a review... We're on Hawaii time :)WE LOVED Sam, we loved the trail ride, we loved the cowboy poetry, my husband loved Larry the horse, we loved the authenticity, the location, the owl nest- everything. Thank you for making it a memorable and wonderful experience. Please come see us on Kauai!Aloha

A quick trip from Sedona got us to Foothills Ranch where we had our first family horseride while on summer vacation. Al suited everyone to a horse that was a great match and our 1.5 hour ride couldn't have been better. Our 8 year old was a little scared at first, but soon became a pro. With just our family and Al riding through the valley, this was a great memory for our trip and one we would love to repeat.

Had family in from NYC for a visit & decided to take the kids horseback riding. Al was wonderful! He took the time to pair up the appropriate horse with each rider (none of whom ever rode horses before). He lined us up, putting the youngest rider closest to him & off we went on a beautiful 1 hr tour! Will definitely come back with more visitors!

These guys are genuine cowboys. We are from Texas and we loved this experience. Humble and homey is the way I describe it. Nothing over the top, but lots of fun with experienced folks. My wife and daughter rode while my youngest daughter and I waited back at the ranch. We all had a great time and would recommend this outfit highly.

My fiance and I recently rode with Don (aka Sam) and we had a fantastic experience. It was just the three of us and I couldn't have imagined a more fun or intimate experience. He was a very personable and enjoyable guide and he led us on a wonderful and scenic ride. He pointed out a Great Horned Owl and some other wildlife and was knowledgeable about the area and plant and wildlife. He had decades of experience as a guide and it showed. My fiance and I have some riding experience and he tailored the ride to our comfort with some excitement for our level. I rode Pepper and she rode Maude without issue. I felt they were both well trained and taken care of horses. I would recommend a 1.5-2 hour ride.To the people complaining about "riding in a line", herd animals follow a leader and trail horses are trained to ride single file to keep from jockeying for the lead to keep them, the guides, and the riders safe. You will never find a stable that does not do rides in this fashion. But the small, personal rides provided through this ranch are the best I have experienced.

We had a group of 6 of us and did the 2 hour ride. One of the nicest horseback rides I have ever done. The Trail Boss was very informative. This was a relaxing ride and very enjoyable. We plan on doing the 4 hour next time back.

I enjoyed an hour trail ride with my daughter, niece and nephew. The guides were fun and informative and mades us all feel very comfortable. I would definitely go again for a little longer!

Went on the 2.5 hour brunch ride with Al and a couple from NY. The weather was gorgeous (4/24/13), and the horses were great. I have very little riding experience. I've done trail rides and that's about it. This is the only time I did **not** feel like I was doing an elaborate form of riding the pony in circles like little kids do at fairs. I really felt like I was riding. My horse, Cash, was a complete sweetheart - gentle and very responsive to my commands. It seemed to me he'd even respond to my verbal commands, but maybe that's just my imagination. :) Al was a fantastic guide, told us a lot about the area, pointed out wildlife, shared some history from gold rush times, and was generally good company. He appears to take very good care of the horses and clearly values the quality of the experience for both himself and his customers. Will definitely go back - planning to take my teenager with me next time for a longer ride.

When planning our escape from the cold of Canada, I knew I wanted to do some riding while I was in Arizona. I have been riding all my life, but my partner had little or no riding experience. I called Foothills Ranch in advance and Al assured me he could tailor a full day ride that would be fun for both of us, but most importantly safe for an inexperienced rider.The ranch is easy to find - just 30 minutes from Prescott town center and well marked right off the highway. Our horses were tacked up and waiting for us when we arrived and we were greeted by Al and some very friendly dogs. As promised, we were matched with perfect horses and when we met our wrangler Ward, I knew we were in expert hands. He is a very experienced and accomplished horseman and quite possibly one of the most interesting and fun people I have ever met! His knowledge of the area and the horses was second to none. If we had more time, I would have definitely planned to ride with him again. (next time!)The horses were safe, responsive and obviously well looked after. They knew their jobs and did them very well. At no time did my riding partner feel unsafe or worried about what his horse may do or was doing. Cash was a perfect gentleman (in fuzzy, wooly mammoth clothes!) and left him wanting to ride more.We rode for 6 hours and had lunch in the shade of the ponderosa pines sharing stories and laughs. It couldn't have been a more perfect day!

We are sorry you didnt like the ride.People have to realize the ride has to be geared to the least experienced riderThe horse named maude that you could not control has been on the dude string for the last 14 years,she is as broke as they come.We have put 7 year olds on her,and they do just fine.You might want to consider some lessons,and quit blaming the stables,they are just trying to keep you,and your family safe.

What a fun ride into the foothills and out again, with a yummy lunch besides. Al and Sandy took my husband and I on a lovely Valentine's Day four-hour trail ride. It felt more like going for a trail ride with friends than the sometimes-uncomfortable feeling of just being a means to an end for the stable's bottom line. The horses were healthy and well trained. They actually listened when you asked for something, then (gasp!) really tried to do it for you! Not the usual dead-sided, mentally checked-out horses you get at riding stables. My horse, Cash, had the fuzziest ears (well, it was February!) and I just wanted to hug him, he was so sweet... The scenery was beautiful, and our guide (also the owner) was very knowledgeable about the local area and its prospecting history. We also learned plenty about the local flora and fauna, and got to see things that you normally wouldn't have access to with a larger, more profit-oriented riding stable. This was not a ride where you felt like you were stuck on a boring track...it was engaging both in the breathtaking views, as well as the obvious feelings of stewardship and appreciation for the land surrounding the ranch. We've ridden in lots of different places over the years, and besides home, this was the best trail ride so far for us :)

Al was great, friendly and knowledgable about the area, mining history, and wildlife. An enjoyable 3 hour ride through the foothills and up into the mountains. The horses are well trained and fun to ride. Small family group ride was amazing. Looking forward to another trip the next time we are in the area.

My husband and I had a half day ride ( which included lunch). We really enjoyed the ride. It was very scenic and relaxing. Luke, our wrangler, was very nice and very knowledgable on the area we were riding. I've ridden for many years, but my husband hasn't and the ranch provided him with a very quiet horse so he could relax and enjoy the scenery. We will definitely go back to Foothills Ranch when we come back to Arizona. Thanks Al and Luke (and Buddy& Cash)!