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.

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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.

What You'll Learn

  • Take the reins as you set out 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
Profile Image
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.

Profile Image of Ute Vaughn
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.
Profile Image of Carol Moore
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.
Profile Image of Loop Rawlins
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.
Profile Image of Doris Evans
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.
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.
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.
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6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5 B 4 L 5 D
DAY
1
Check-In, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Tucson, AZ
D
White Stallion Ranch

Activity note: Ranch check-in from 3:00 p.m. 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: Program Registration: 5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:30 p.m. Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will then view an introductory riding video in the theater. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren at all times. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. We will learn from our knowledgeable Group Leader and a series of local experts who will give presentations and lead supervised activities. We will spend most of our time on-site at White Stallion Ranch; transportation for any off site field trips will be via passenger vans. We will have meals in the ranch dining room or on the patio (weather permitting). Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

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
Tucson, AZ
B,L,D
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.

Breakfast: At the Ranch.

Morning: First thing in the morning, join for a rocking climbing class. (Limited to 6 people, available each morning.) Since there is limited space available for each activity, we’ll sign up with our Group Leader beforehand. Meet the horses that we will be riding through the week. We will 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, 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
Tucson, AZ
B,L,D
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.

Breakfast: At the Ranch. or Trailside cookout.

Morning: First thing in the morning, join for a rocking climbing class. (Limited to 6 people, available each morning.) Since there is limited space available for each activity, we’ll sign up with our Group Leader beforehand. 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. Activities include archery and cattle sorting. 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 such as horse grooming, team penning, or a fast trail ride.

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
Tucson, AZ
B,L,D
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.

Breakfast: At the Ranch.

Morning: First thing in the morning, join for a rocking climbing class. (Limited to 6 people, available each morning.) Since there is limited space available for each activity, we’ll sign up with our Group Leader beforehand. 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. A fenceless enclosure lets javelinas — a pig-like animal with hooves — wander over hillsides and take mud baths. 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. There is also a pollination garden complex that shows interactions between insects, birds, bats, and plants. A simulated limestone cave features a collection of regional gems and minerals. There is also a display about how our planet has evolved with explanations of erosion, volcanic and seismic activity, and plate tectonics. 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, such as a scenic slow trail ride or archery. 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
Tucson, AZ
B,L,D
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.

Breakfast: At the Ranch.

Morning: First thing in the morning, join for a rocking climbing class. (Limited to 6 people, available each morning.) Since there is limited space available for each activity, we’ll sign up with our Group Leader beforehand. Next, we’ll choose between several ranch activities such as a scenic ride or a beginners e-bike ride. We’ll then have a lasso throwing class with instruction from ranch staff.

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, fast trail ride or team penning.

Dinner: At the Ranch. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: We’ll gather around a bonfire for a performance by a talented cowboy singer. Then prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
6
Program Concludes
Tucson, AZ
B

Activity note: Ranch check-out 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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