Hunkapi Programs
“It is excellent, a beautiful outdoor place with many domestic animals, beautiful horses and its very friendly, cheerful, gentle and helpful staff.”
Best Horseback Riding Lessons in Scottsdale, AZ
24 schools listed · 14 in Scottsdale · 3 open 24/7 · 20 open weekends · 19 rated 4.5+
Data verified October 18, 2026
Rio Rancho Verde
“Five stars isn't enough for Rio Rancho Verde and hosts Carmela and Joe.”
M & M Ranch LLC
“She has an outstanding arena and a great staff working with her.”
Twisted Tree Farm
“Larry and Janet make a great team always looking after the well being of horses and riders, they also make sure everyone is involved feeling welcome and happy”
Kroff Stables
“Been with the barn for 7-8 years and couldn't imagine training anywhere else.”
Flying Fox Farm
“Place has such a great vibe too it and it is run by two ladies who love horses.”
The 24 schools listed for Scottsdale, AZ teach riding. Which disciplines a barn runs, whether it has an indoor arena and which ages it accepts come from what the barn publishes itself; star ratings and rider quotes are taken from public listings.
Area overview: Scottsdale, AZ
14 of the 24 schools we list are based in Scottsdale; the other 10 serve Scottsdale from Cave Creek (10 mi), Phoenix (15 mi) and Mesa (21 mi). 23 of the schools on this page have a rating, from 3.9 to 5.0 across 1,295 reviews; 4 have 50 or more reviews and 19 are rated 4.5 or higher. The topics that come up most in reviews of the schools on this page are "patient", "confidence" and "skills". 3 are open around the clock; 20 are open on Saturdays and 15 on Sundays. 1 has a BBB rating of A or A+. Domain records put 15 websites of the schools on this page at ten or more years old; the oldest dates from 1999. We have a website on file for 23 of the schools on this page; 20 publish a contact page; 19 list a public email and 2 take bookings online. We count these figures across the schools on this page; distances are straight-line, and hours and prices change, so confirm the details with the school before you enroll.
Can I book a riding lesson online?
2 of the 24 schools take bookings through their own site. For a first lesson most barns still want a phone call, because they need your height and weight before they can put a horse's name against your slot.
Camelot Therapeutic
“If there ever was a thing as "joyful physical therapy" Camelot is it!”
Guzzo World Wide
Winter Rose Equestrian
“Winter rose is an excellent place to board your horse and have great camaraderie with the other boarders.”
Bein Performance Horses
“Jessica got my daughter in for a lesson at the last minute and had a great trainer for her to work with.”
Stonewall Ranch
“I love the folks down at Stonewall ranch.”
Abcentre
“Ali and Jess are great, highly recommend this program and barn”
Ladybrook Equestrian (Lbe) Show Stables
Arizona Equine Experience
“We first started with taking a pony out for a walk in the shaded arena which was so calming just being able to see how the pony interacted with me and followed my every move.”
Trailhead Ranch
“Me and my friend came to Trailhead Ranch to ride horses for the first time and Russ was very reassuring and made sure we were well prepared for the ride.”
Cave Creek Trail Rides
“Awesome all the way around ,took kiddo for birthday and have been on many rides around the area and this was one of the best .”
MTM Ranch Horseback Adventures
“Squirt was the perfect horse for an inexperienced (nervous) rider like me.”
Firm Foundation Equine Services
“He's has done a great job for both me and my horse.”
AZ Rodeo Ready
“She has taught me all the basics as beginner rider from horse care to riding.”
Joni Fitts School of Horsemanship
“Joni is professional, knows everything there is about horses, as well as a being a very down to earth person.”
Apex Riding Academy LLC
“This is the place to go if you are new to riding or want to brush up on your skills!”
J D Ranch
Equistar School of Riding
“Very good facilities and great trainers!”
Sonoran Performance Horses
“Hailey and Myka are amazing teachers and they taught me so much about riding horses .”
Why these companies made our list
What students and parents say about schools in Scottsdale
- “M&M Ranch is an incredible facility that gives you and your horse personalized training to help you reach your goals.” — from a review of M & M Ranch LLC
- “Allison always goes above and beyond and always puts the horses and riders well being above anything else.” — from a review of Kroff Stables
- “I greatly enjoy my time spent riding there and would recommend it to anyone.” — from a review of Winter Rose Equestrian
- “Monica is professional, direct, practices excellence, and has a big heart for the horses.” — from a review of M & M Ranch LLC
Excerpts from public reviews of the schools listed on this page.
Is this page useful? Yes
No
Is there anything wrong with this page?
