Jun 15 - Jun 20, 2025
1,599
999
Arizona
Rope & Ride at the White Stallion Ranch With Your Grandchild
Program No. 20350RJ
Get ready to rope and ride with your grandchild on a working dude ranch in Arizona! Learn to ride and groom horses, stargaze, sing cowboy songs and more on this Wild West adventure.
Enroll with Confidence
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
800-454-5768
Age 10 - 14
ROOMING OPTION PRICING
The figures below indicate the rooming options available.
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Jun 15 - Jun 20, 2025
| 1,599 / Adult
999 / Child
| 1,599 / Adult
999 / Child
| 1,999 / Adult
999 / Child
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Jul 13 - Jul 18, 2025
1,599 999 | ||||
Jul 13 - Jul 18, 2025
| 1,599 / Adult
999 / Child
| 1,599 / Adult
999 / Child
| 1,999 / Adult
999 / Child
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Aug 3 - Aug 8, 2025
1,599 999 | ||||
Aug 3 - Aug 8, 2025
| 1,599 / Adult
999 / Child
| 1,599 / Adult
999 / Child
| 1,999 / Adult
999 / Child
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This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!
6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5B 4L 5D
1
Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Tucson, AZ
5
Art Class, Trail Rides, Cowboy Show
Tucson, AZ
6
Program Concludes
Tucson, AZ
At a Glance
Saddle up and soak up the Arizona sun on White Stallion Ranch as you learn to ride on horseback with your grandchild. At this true Wild West getaway not far from Tucson, make new friends both human and horse! Lend a hand with caring for the horses, pick from daily ranch activities like cattle sorting or target shooting, and add learn about the amazing animals and plants in the Arizona-Sonoran Desert. Get in touch with your inner cowboy or cowgirl as you learn to throw a lasso, move your feet at a country-Western dance and more.
Activity Level
Outdoor: No Sweat
Walking up to two miles over varied terrain. Slow and easy horseback rides or fast trail rides, depending on rider experience and comfort. Dance lessons, roping lessons, and other ranch activities available.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Take the reins as you set out on low-key horseback trail rides to practice your horsemanship skills.
- Enjoy an Exhibition Ranch Rodeo, and learn about plants and animals at the nearby Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
- Far from the light pollution of any city, see millions of stars at an evening “Star Party,” and sing cowboy songs around the bonfire.
General Notes
For grandchildren ages 10-14.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Ute Vaughn
Ute Vaughan, originally hailing from Germany, is an artist and teacher who has studied art in Europe and the U.S. She is now based in Tucson, Arizona. Working primarily in watercolors and wall murals, her work is most often inspired by the colors, animals, and mysticism of the Southwest.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Ute Vaughn
View biography
Ute Vaughan, originally hailing from Germany, is an artist and teacher who has studied art in Europe and the U.S. She is now based in Tucson, Arizona. Working primarily in watercolors and wall murals, her work is most often inspired by the colors, animals, and mysticism of the Southwest.
Carol Moore
View biography
Carol Moore has lived in Arizona since 1969. She discovered her true calling when she began working with Lazy K Bar Ranch as General Manager in 1975, in charge of operations. In 2000, she began working at White Stallion Ranch where she is group sales coordinator and reservations manager. Carol oversees front desk operations, books groups, acts as logistics coordinator, does marketing, creates special programs, leads hikes, and also does horse penning and roping activities. In addition to her other interests, she writes book reviews.
Loop Rawlins
View biography
Loop Rawlins has been fascinated by cowboys since he was a boy, and began learning trick roping at the age of eight. At 14, he started performing at a theme park, and at 16 shocked his competitors by winning five International Wild West Arts Awards in Las Vegas. He soon found himself working at rodeos, resorts, festivals, and special events. He has also appeared on ABC, AMC Television, History Channel, the BBC and ITV (UK). Loop was the first cowboy performer in Cirque Du Soleil.
Doris Evans
View biography
Doris Evans taught elementary grades in Tucson Unified School District and in a small school for park employees in Big Bend National Park, Texas. She also held environmental education positions at TUSD and as Curator of Education at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. She has published several natural history books and her photographs have appeared in numerous publications including Arizona Highways. Doris is now retired and volunteers with the Tucson Audubon Society and Pima County Parks Natural Resources, Parks, and Recreation.
Suggested Reading List
(9 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Rope & Ride at the White Stallion Ranch With Your Grandchild
Program Number: 20350
The Stars: A New Way To See Them
naked-eye astronomy primer
Line in the Sand: A History of the Western U.S.-Mexico Border
Children in Prehistoric Puebloan Southwest
Children's book - suitable for 9-12 age group.
Time for Children
Native Americans of the Southwest: A Journey of Discovery
Early Tucson (Images of America)
Medicine in the Old West: A History, 1850-1900
True Tales and Amazing Legends of the Old West: From True West Magazine
Indian Arts of the Southwest
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
14 meals (
5B, 4L, 5D
)
5 expert-led lectures
5 expert-led field trips
11 hands-on experiences
3 performances
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Tucson, AZ
Meals:
D
Stay:
White Stallion Ranch
Activity Note
Ranch check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously). If you arrive earlier in the day, you are welcome to participate in one of the 3:00 p.m. ranch activities. Walking up to 2 miles; mostly even, packed dirt terrain. Line dancing activity.
Afternoon:
Ranch check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously). If you arrive earlier in the day, you are welcome to participate in one of the 3:00 p.m. ranch activities. Walking up to 2 miles; mostly even, packed dirt terrain. Line dancing activity.
Dinner:
At the Ranch.
Evening:
Next, we’ll enjoy country-and-western line dance lessons taught by ranch staff. It is not known exactly where line dancing originated, but many believe it developed from English country dances brought over to America by settlers. Since then, line dancing has been mixed with various styles of music. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Trail Rides, Natural Horsemanship Class, Critter Show
Location:
Tucson, AZ
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
White Stallion Ranch
Activity Note
Mounting, dismounting, and riding horses (mounting block available); riding about 5 miles; van transportation available for those who don’t wish to ride to breakfast. Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; packed dirt, mostly even terrain. Elective: morning rock climbing class.
Breakfast:
At the ranch.
Morning:
First thing in the morning each full day, we will have the opportunity to join a rock climbing class (limited to six people, open to both grandparents and grandchildren). Since there is limited space available for each activity, we’ll sign up with our Group Leader beforehand. After breakfast, we’ll meet the horses that we will be riding through the week. We will then set out on our first scenic trail ride. Next, we’ll watch a demonstration on “natural” horsemanship and learn about this effective technique for working with horses.
Lunch:
At the ranch, we’ll dine inside or on the patio (depending on weather).
Afternoon:
We’ll gather in our meeting room for a hands-on session learning to paint followed by a class on making windchimes. Next, we’ll choose between a scenic slow ride or cattle sorting. We’ll then have a target shooting class with instruction from ranch staff.
Dinner:
At the Ranch.
Evening:
We’ll be joined by a local expert who will give us a presentation about the “critters” that live in this desert environment. We’ll also have an opportunity to hold some.
Day
3
Ranch Activities, Leather Tooling, Animals, Wild West Show
Location:
Tucson, AZ
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
White Stallion Ranch
Activity Note
Mounting, dismounting, and riding horses (mounting block available); riding several miles. Walking up to 1 mile; mostly even, packed dirt terrain. Elective: morning rock climbing class.
Breakfast:
At the Ranch. Depending on conditions, we may substitute a trailside cookout.
Morning:
Elective rock climbing class. Early before breakfast, we’ll walk to the stables to meet our horses. The Ranch horses are friendly and usually gather round the corral fence for attention. We’ll have the same horses all week and get to know them. We’ll then mount our horses and set out on a trail ride to a beautiful location where we’ll have riding instruction, learn about the area, and have breakfast. We’ll then ride back to the ranch. We’ll choose from several hands-on activities. Since there is limited space available for each activity, we’ll sign up with our Group Leader beforehand. We will gather in the Longhorn Room to do some hands-on leather tooling.
Lunch:
At the Ranch.
Afternoon:
We’ll meet in the Longhorn Room where a local expert will teach us about desert animal behavior. We’ll then choose another of the Ranch’s hands-on activities.
Dinner:
At the ranch.
Evening:
We’ll enjoy a “Wild West Show” on the ranch patio.
Day
4
AZ Sonora Desert Museum, Ranch Rodeo, Star Party
Location:
Tucson, AZ
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
White Stallion Ranch
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a van; driving about 60 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours total riding time. Walking and standing during field trips; paved and unpaved terrain. Mounting, dismounting, and riding horses (mounting block available). Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; packed dirt, mostly even terrain. Elective: morning rock climbing class.
Breakfast:
At the Ranch.
Morning:
Elective rock climbing class. After breakfast we’ll hop into a van and ride to Tucson for a field trip to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. A docent will lead our exploration of the exhibits, followed by independent time to see what interests each of us most. The museum exhibits include more than 300 live animal species such as mountain lions, prairie dogs, Gila monsters, hawks, bighorn sheep, and hummingbirds in their natural habitats. We’ll walk on paths through landscapes more more than 1,300 species of plants indigenous to the Sonoran Desert region including desert grasslands, cactus, and desert gardens. Returning to the Ranch, we’ll have some time for swimming or relaxing before lunch.
Lunch:
At the Ranch.
Afternoon:
We’ll choose from a couple ranch activities this afternoon. We’ll then walk to the arena for the Exhibition Ranch Rodeo performed by the White Stallion Ranch staff. The weekly exhibition rodeo has been a Ranch tradition for almost 50 years.
Dinner:
At the Ranch.
Evening:
We’ll walk out to a nearby area where we’ll be able to view the heavens just as the early Native American residents of this area did. Far away from city lights, the stars, moon, and planets are visible with amazing clarity.
Day
5
Art Class, Trail Rides, Cowboy Show
Location:
Tucson, AZ
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
White Stallion Ranch
Activity Note
Mounting, dismounting, and riding horses (mounting block available). Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; packed dirt, mostly even terrain. Materials provided for art class. Elective: morning rock climbing class.
Breakfast:
At the Ranch.
Morning:
Elective rock climbing class. After breakfast, we’ll learn some desert survival techniques to see if we have what it takes to live in this unique landscape.
Lunch:
At the Ranch.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll have a hands-on art class (materials provided) led by an expert instructor. Using watercolors and ink, we’ll create a little memento to take home with us. We’ll then have some more time to spend with our horses, choosing between a slow or fast trail ride and team penning.
Dinner:
At the ranch. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
We’ll gather around a bonfire for a performance by a talented cowboy singer. Afterwards, prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
Tucson, AZ
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Ranch check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the Ranch. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
14 Meals
5 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
5 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Aug 03, 2025 - Aug 08, 2025
- Jun 15, 2025 - Jun 20, 2025
- Jul 13, 2025 - Jul 18, 2025
- Aug 03, 2025 - Aug 08, 2025
Participant Reviews
Based on 7 Reviews
Sort By:
I loved it and would go again.
— Review left August 12, 2023
This was a great experience for my grandson and myself. White Stallion Ranch was a wonderful, comfortable facility and the staff was very helpful any time they were needed. Horse rides were fun and the desert was spectacular. My grandson experienced adventures he never would have at home.He learned to ride horses, shoot arrows and guns, rock climb and line dance. We especially enjoyed the desert survival class and the roping cowboy. The food was very good and the road scholar leader was very helpful. Overall a great adventure for both of us. I do wish there had been a little more horse riding instruction before we took a ride. My grandson had never been on a horse before. We did get help from the staff but could have used a little more. Over all wonderful time. The pool was good too.
— Review left August 5, 2022
The accommodations were spacious and comfortable. The variety of activities was great! We were busy every day, but you could opt to be less busy. It is a bit different than most programs in that you are not in a cohesive group for all activities. They had many Road Scholar only activities, but you also could sign up for activities based on your level of skill , interest, and physical ability.
The heat could be a problem for some people…we did fine and quickly adapted.Pool time was great.
— Review left July 24, 2022
Rope and Ride at the White Stallion Ranch is an amazing and fantastic experience. My granddaughter and I loved everything about the ranch--the horses, the activities, the educational experiences we had, and the friends we made. We couldn't recommend it more highly!!
— Review left July 14, 2019
If you love horses or even if you just like them and If you like learning new things and if you want an experience with your grandchild that will build memories to last a lifetime thenRoping and Riding with your Grandchild on The White Stallion Ranch is the trip for you. You will have the opportunity to do things on this trip that you never dreamed you would. It was one of the very best trips we have ever made!
— Review left July 12, 2019
The Roads Scholar trip with our horse loving granddaughter to the White Stallion Ranch was a fabulous experience in every way! There were a wide range of activities that we all enjoyed. My husband said, "It was the best trip we've ever had!" We wish we could go right back and do the whole trip over again. Wonderful memories were made!
— Review left July 8, 2019
GIDDY UP! This is a rootin' tootin' adventure at a very posh Arizona desert ranch. If you want to experience horse riding in a calm and supportive environment, this is it. Novice or experienced equestrians will be accommodated! The food is top notch, and the activities are great, too!
— Review left July 2, 2019
