| We wanted to take a family holiday where we could | | | | matched to our abilities and were all well schooled and |
| all enjoy ourselves. We all ride horses to varying | | | | well mannered. I was quite happy doing the slower trail |
| degrees of ability and decided that this year, we would | | | | rides, but my husband and daughter wanted to go on |
| take a holiday based around horse riding but with lots | | | | some faster rides and the staff were very happy to |
| of other activities that we could do as a family or with | | | | accommodate our wishes. We were told all about the |
| others. We didn't want to be riding all day every day, | | | | day to day running of a ranch and how the guest |
| so I did some searches on the internet and discovered | | | | ranch differs from a working ranch - we were very |
| that there were some fantastic guest ranches where | | | | glad we had chosen a guest ranch as it gave us a |
| as well as riding, there were plenty of other activities | | | | nice relaxing family holiday! |
| on offer. We eventually chose a ranch in Arizona | | | | Our holiday was all we could have wished for and we |
| which had a kids club, tennis courts, swimming pools | | | | all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. We spent plenty of |
| and a spa, plus a plethora of other activities. | | | | time as a family and whilst the children enjoyed the |
| The ranch was all we could have hoped for and the | | | | kids club, my husband and I were able to have time for |
| accommodation was superb. All the rooms were air | | | | ourselves. There were many different activities |
| conditioned and were tastefully decorated with very | | | | organised by the staff at the ranch and you chose |
| comfortable beds. The food was delicious and menus | | | | what you wanted to do the evening before. We rode |
| varied to suit all tastes. I was particularly impressed | | | | most days and even did a day ride, for which I was |
| that the menu was the same for children and not a | | | | very grateful there was a spa on site! The scenery |
| substandard menu of junk food, which I have found to | | | | was spectacular and we saw some incredible wildlife. |
| be the case in many resorts. Much of the food was | | | | Our guides were very knowledgeable about local |
| locally sourced with beef coming from the ranch itself. | | | | history and all the flora and fauna in the region. The |
| Our children, aged 8 and 10 thoroughly enjoyed the kids | | | | organisation and attention to detail was second to |
| club. It gave them the opportunity to make new friends | | | | none and we had plenty of opportunity to go outside |
| and have time taking part in various activities without | | | | of the ranch to go shopping and exploring by |
| us. We also spent time as a family playing tennis, | | | | ourselves. All in all, it was the best family holiday we |
| swimming and enjoyed the organised nature walks. | | | | have ever been on and we are already planning our |
| The riding was fabulous and the horses were | | | | next one. |