Tuscon Ranch, USA
Overview
Programmes
• Women of the West - Ladies only Programme
• Natural Horsemanship - Building Harmony with Horses
Horses
Type of horses:
Quarter horses and crossbreds
Nature of horses:
Well schooled, honest and responsive
Number of horses:
Over 160
Height of horses:
12hh - 16.2hh
Weight limit:
18st / 250lb / 114kg
Tack type:
Western
Pricing
Tailor Made Ranch Stay
1st May - 30th September 2008
Single occupancy £163 per night
Double occupancy £107 per night
Triple occupancy £94 per night
Quadruple occupancy £84 per night
1st October - 15th December 2008
Single occupancy £174 per night
Double occupancy £124 per night
Triple occupancy £104 per night
Quadruple occupancy £91 per night
16th December - 30th April 2008
Single occupancy £238 per night
Double occupancy £154 per night
Triple occupancy £132 per night
Quadruple occupancy £118 per night
Women of the West - Ladies only Programme
Please contact the office for details.
Natural Horsemanship - Building Harmony with Horses
Please contact the office for price details.
Availability/Booking Form
Ride Description
The ranch is located on 640 beautiful acres east of Tucson, and is adjacent to the Saguaro National Park and the Coronado National Forest. This ranch can provide the perfect holiday for singles travellers, groups and families; offering horseback riding, tennis, guided hiking, mountain biking, nature walks and much more, all included in your nightly rate. Founded in 1868, Tuscon offers the very best of a Southwestern resort along with an authentic Arizona dude ranch experience.
The flexible approach employed here means the ranch truly does have something to offer everyone. Experienced riders are offered exhilaration and challenging trails whilst the novice and beginner can learn the fundamentals and gain confidence at their own pace. Specialised horsemanship programmes are also offered to those with the desire to understand the horses mind and develop sympathetic and understanding techniques. With a number of other activities included in the price, non riders will have an equally fantastic holiday.
Perfect also for families, this ranch offers fully supervised children's programmes for guests ages four - eleven years. Famous for its fine dining and array of activities, this destination promises a truly authentic western feel combined with comfortable facilities.
See Programmes.
Food & Accommodation
The ranch boasts 74 authentically decorated rooms and suites, all of which are fully air conditioned and offer beautiful desert and mountain views.
Most have fireplaces and patios. There are several room types to choose from, with the rates varying accordingly. Smaller standard rooms with one queen or two twins are perfect for 2 people. Moderate rooms are larger, generally with two queen size beds and a shared courtyard, but no fireplace.
Most large deluxe rooms have two queen beds or a king, fireplaces and private patios, some of which have sitting areas with sofa sleepers. The de-luxe accommodation may cost extra.
There are a variety of one bedroom suites, all with fireplaces, and patios. All rooms have telephones, XM radios, coffee pots, hair dryers, A/C, heating, and full private bathrooms.
The price here includes three regularly scheduled ranch meals daily. With the exception of the cookouts and breakfast rides, all meals are served in the lovely main dining room, overlooking the outdoor pool and waterfall, with a majestic view of the Rincon Mountains.
Breakfast rides include an hour trail ride to the Old Homestead and a big breakfast outdoors. The winter schedule Breakfast Ride departs at 8:30 am and returns at 10:30 am. The summer schedule departs at 7:15 am and returns at 9:30 am.
For non-riders, the Old Homestead is a ten minute walk from the main office, or our ranch van is available to drop and pick up any guest who requests a ride.
If you miss the breakfast ride, breakfast is served between 7:30 and 9:00 am every day in the Main Dining Room. It is a combination of any standard breakfast item off the menu and a buffet of assorted chilled fruit juices, fresh fruit and seasonal berries, assorted yogurts, breakfast breads and hot and cold cereals.
Served between 12:00 and 1:30 pm, lunch is always a buffet in the Main Dining Room. The extensive choice offers one of the largest fresh salad displays you'll ever see, also a variety of hot choices, and the famous Sweet Talk pastry table.
There is always a choice of four entrees (beef, chicken, fish and vegetarian), fresh vegetables, homemade soup. Freshly baked bread or rolls, a huge salad bar featuring green salad items as well as a selection of seafood, pasta, fruit and vegetable salads, and a 30 foot dessert table! Wine, beer and canned sodas are available at an additional cost, and may be charged to individual rooms.
Picnic rides are offered on the winter schedule only, and feature a picnic lunch in the Cottonwood Grove following the second trail ride of the day. The picnic meal is buffet style and features BBQ chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs as well as a salad bar and gourmet cookies for dessert. The Sunday lunch buffet is a very special treat for ranch guests and visitors.
Dinners in the main dining room are specially prepared by the ranch's very own award winning chef and featur gourmet cuisine! Dinner in the Main Dining Room is served between 6:00 and 8:00 pm on the winter schedule and between 6:30 and 8:00 pm on the summer schedule. The chef prepares four gourmet entrees, your order is taken and the meal is served just as in a restaurant. The entrees are generally a choice of beef, poultry, fish and vegetarian, and include a relish tray, soup or salad and dessert. Wine, beer and canned sodas are available at an additional cost, and may be charged to individual rooms or to the group Master Account.
The ranch is famous for its fine restaurant dining, delicious food and varied settings. To add that authentic old west feel, weekly evening outdoor barbecues are held with live Western entertainment. Ranch BBQ’s include live entertainment by the ranch's very own singing cowboy who will weave a night to remember with cowboy ballads from some of the old classics to recent melodies, including a rendition of Rawhide.
The classic outdoor barbeque feature grilled steaks and chicken, vegetables, a large country style salad bar, fresh rolls and two desserts. On the summer schedule, the bar opens at 6:30pm and dinner is available from 7-8pm. On the winter schedule, the bar opens at 6pm, with dinner available from 6:30-8pm. A full bar with a bartender is available, and drinks may be charged to individual rooms.
Mexican Fiesta
The Mexican Fiesta is held in the main dining room, which is decorated with colourful serapes and piñatas. We feature a three piece strolling Mariachi Band for entertainment at all Ranch Mexican Fiestas. Groups may upgrade the band to five pieces with brass at an additional fee. Dinner is a huge buffet of assorted Southwestern delights, featuring beef, chicken or pork, fish and vegetarian dishes and assorted side dishes and desserts. Margaritas, wine and beer may be charged to individual rooms. We also feature a display of hand-crafted Native American jewellery for sale.
Activities
The facilities include both indoor and outdoor heated pools and whirlpools, a separate children's wading pool, an exercise room, and men's and ladies' saunas. Any of these provide the perfect way to relax after a long day in the saddle!
The guided hiking programme offers miles of breathtakingly beautiful trails. Hikes range in level of difficulty to allow everyone to participate! Hiking options include level desert hikes as well as excursions into the Coronado Mountains with elevation gains of up to several thousand feet. Pack your hiking boots to experience the beauty of the lush Sonoran desert on foot! See the unique cacti such as the giant saguaro (suh-WARE-oh), the rugged canyons and mountains of the Rincon and Catalina ranges, the desert wildlife and hidden waterfalls up close. This ranch offers world class guided hiking right from our doorstep into the adjacent Saguaro National Park and the Coronado National Forest. Let the experienced, knowledgeable naturalist guides show you the secrets of the Sonoran Desert. The ranch offers half day hikes, sunset and sunrise hikes. Longer, more advanced hiking for a minimum of three hikers is possible upon advance request.
Why not explore the Southwest's ambiance on a full suspension mountain bike? The ranch offers over 600 acres of Sonoran desert riddled with single-track. Rides vary from beginning trail riding to advanced technical riding. Weekly off-site rides offer unique experiences with a variety of elevation and landscapes. You will be accompanied by an experienced guide who will fit you to a finely tuned bicycle. Helmets and gloves are also provided.
The ranch has five tennis courts, including three artificial turf courts, one of which is lighted for night play. A staff tennis pro (October - April) is there to help you with your game! Group lessons in the morning provide a foundation for the afternoon mixers.
The nature centre, open most days, allows you the close up view of some of the less approachable desert fauna such as spiders, snakes, and a rather large, ghoulish looking beetle. The Sonoran desert is one of the world's most vibrant deserts. Because of the severity of climate, hot in the summer/cold in the winter, drought ridden much of the year, both plant and animal life have evolved unique survival adaptations that are fascinating to study and appreciate.
The ranch also has its very own spa, perfect for pampering yourself and easy sore muscles. Gather your inner spirits with an exhilarating body treatment which includes a body scrub, body wrap, hydrating massage and a scalp massage. These treatments hydrate and replenish the skin. Add a full body massage to any treatment for an additional fee.
Rejuvenate yourself from a day in the saddle with one of our soothing massages. Relax and soothe tired muscles, relieve tension, and increase blood circulation allowing you to experience the deepest state of relaxation.
Further Details
Languages: English
Health requirements: None specific
Age limit: Children must be 4 years old and over to ride
Tuition: Yes
Included: Accommodation, three meals daily, all regularly scheduled ranch activities and use of ranch faciliites. Evening entertainment, breakfast rides. BBQ'S and cookouts are also included. Complimentary airport transfers are included for guests staying a minimum of four nights.
Not included: Flights, travel and medical insurance, alcohol, canned drinks, golf fees, spa treatments and transfer fees other than those described.
Travel Information
Those travelling from the UK can book flights from London to Tuscon with any of the following airlines:
London Heathrow - Tuscon (1 or 2 stops)
United Airlines
Virgin
British Airways
American Airlines
Frontier Airlines
US Airways
London Gatwick - Tuscon
American Airlines
British Airways
Airport transfers are included on Tailor made ranch stays of four nights or longer. All other transfers are charged at £25 return per room.
Airport: Tucson
Programmes
Tailor Made Ranch Stay
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This ranch offers a flexible programme to all guests, allowing them to choose between lessons, rides or combination of the two regardless of their ability. Rides are tailored in a way which provides exhilaration and excitement for the experienced rider, whilst offering instructional and confidence building rides to novices. Breakfast rides are perfect to an old west day for Intermediate riders. 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. Trail side 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. The ranch is very proud of the success of its riding lesson programmes. Each lesson is divided into two separate groups, the "beginner" and the "loper." These instructionional 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 instil 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. 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. Prior to a Loping ride, all guests will be asked take a brief Lope Lesson/Check. Participation in a Lope Ride depends on the successful completion of this ride. Should you pass the lope check and find yourself on the lope ride, you’ll gallop through the wash, lope the loop and skirt the 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 holiday 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 holiday to remember for a lifetime. This programme can also be tallored perfectly to suit the needs of family holidays. Daily programmes especially designed for children aged four - six, (buckaroos), and seven - eleven (wranglers), allow for their very own old west experience. Activities include riding lessons, trail rides, swimming, western crafts, games and desert discoveries. |
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| Minimum group size: | 1 |
| Maximum group size: | 15 |
| Ability description: | Beginner - Advanced |
| Type of ride: | Tuition and trails |
| Total riding time: | Flexible |
| Departure dates: | To suit |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Women of the West - Ladies only Programme
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This unique programme has been specifically designed for ladies only; combining learning to communicate with your horse successfully, with fantastic trail rides and the comfort of the wonderful facilities this ranch has to offer. Whether you are an experienced equestrian, a complete beginner or a nervous rider wishing to overcome your fears, this programme has something to offer you. It will include a range of activities inlcuding horse riding, team penning, roping classes, a nature programme and horse whispering. Throughout your time at the ranch you will be shown how to establish a partnership with the horses and create a learning environment where both can be successful. Skills which you can take away with for the future. The day begins with breakfast at 7:00, then a horse training class is held until noon. After lunch guests are invited to ride or relax, and dinner is served at 6:00. In the evenings, guests visit around a campfire and are entertained by Tom, who in addition to his horse training talents is also a professional singer and writer of cowboy and western music. He tells some pretty good jokes too! As well as being a unique opportunity for learning and fun, this programme also leaves time for some well deserved pampering and relaxation. One day the entire group is treated to a professional massage, Dom Perignon and chocolate-covered strawberries so everyone goes home feeling very spoilt. This is truly a holiday for those who want to "get away from it all," enjoy nature and see the real Wild West! |
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| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: | Beginner - Experienced |
| Type of ride: | Trails and horsemanship instruction |
| Total riding time: | Flexible |
| Departure dates: | 26th January - 1st February 2008. 26th April - 2nd May 2008. 13th - 19th December 2008 |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Natural Horsemanship - Building Harmony with Horses
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This six night programme is designed for riders of all levels who have the desire to to become true horsemen and gain an insight into the horses mind. The knowledge and understanding gained during this programme will benefit guests of all abilities; providing the necessary tools to develop and enhance their skills and connection with the horses they handle. Groups are kept small to ensure individual attention is readily provided. The programme is run by a professional natural horsemanship clinician who has over four decades of experience in working with horses of all nature and breeding. Very early on in his career Tom realized that harsh and imhumane methods only resulted in conflict between horse and rider. This led to his belief that clear and sensitive communication through us and signals allows you to speak the horse in his own language; developing a relationship based upon trust and confidence. Throughout the programme you will cover a range of topics including: Horse whispering made simple - the art of commuincation between horse and human Evaluating the horse - simple tests to judge the horses mood and ability Pro-active riding - the proper use of rein, leg and seat aids Trail tips - how to handle emergencies and avoid problems on a trail Tools of the trade - complete explanation of western tack Team penning - working with your horse as a partner in the western tradition of cattle cutting Learning sessions will take place for three hours each morning, allowing you to spend the afternoons as you wish. This may include trail riding, swimming, hiking, nature walks or simply relaxing in the desert sun. |
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| Minimum group size: | 1 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: | Novice - Advanced |
| Type of ride: | Trails and horsemanship instruction |
| Total riding time: | Flexible |
| Departure dates: | 2008 - 12th - 18th January, 8th - 14th March. 19th - 25th April, 27th September - 3rd October, 6th December - 12th December |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |