Rider Preparation & Safety Archives - KOLI Equestrian Center

When is the Best Time for Horseback Riding in Phoenix, AZ?

When is the best time to ride and why?

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions, Rider Preparation & Safety

When is the Best Time for Horseback Riding in Phoenix, AZ?

Tagged with best time to ride, family friendly, Guided Trail Rides, horseback riding safety tips TroyScott Aug 5, 2026

Horseback Riding in Phoenix Area Exploring the Sonoran Desert on horseback is one of the most memorable ways to experience the iconic landscapes of the American Southwest. From towering saguaro cacti to rugged mountain backdrops, Phoenix offers world-class equestrian trails. …

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Rating

4.9

Based on 821 Reviews

google

Great guides, very helpful, informative, and feels more like hanging out with people instead of feeling like "their just doing their job".

James 05/31/2026

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We did ride earlier morning. Horses are great to ride and the wranglers were great. We highly recommend you to go there if you are looking for a nice trail ride and enjoy.

GSD 05/30/2026

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Paul Musaelyan (Consulting services) 05/27/2026

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My wrangler was amazing- I loved hearing the Folklore of the area and he made the tour fun and relaxing for a first thing in am ride. Lots of laughter and beautiful scenery. Watch out for those rattlesnake eggs!

Desiree Morrell 05/22/2026

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The guides were friendly and attentive to each rider. The horses were all so well cared for and behaved. It was a beautiful ride and the sunset Margherita was heavenly!

Sheila Ervin 05/19/2026

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We did the Sunset Margarita Horseback Ride at KOLI Equestrian Center last Thursday and had an amazing time. Such a fun, relaxing, low-key date night! Our guide was super knowledgeable, friendly, patient, and made the entire ride feel very safe and comfortable. The horses were absolutely beautiful, calm, friendly, and easy to ride, and the sunset views were absolutely gorgeous. Ending the evening with margaritas, chips, and salsa was the perfect touch. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a fun and unique night out in the desert! 🐴🌅🍹

Denise Hamlett 05/17/2026

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Great experience riding horses. Really nice people. A little less scenic of a ride than some others that we've been on but still fun.

Andy Schmitt 05/10/2026

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Excellent

Dweldon Breland 05/10/2026

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Beautiful location and horses. Matthew was my guide and he was a delight. Highly recommend.

Sue Austin 05/09/2026

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I brought my teenagers to ride with Koli and this one was their favorite one, out of all the rides we’ve done in AZ. Seeing the newborn baby wild horse was so special, it was almost a sign to me. We loved it and we had the best time! The horses were so well trained for novice riders, I told my friend to bring her grandkids here to ride. Guide was Colten who was patient with my group and fun to chat with, 10/10. My mom waited for us at the main area where it was beautiful table with a shaded area and someone checked on her and offered her water, it was hot that morning. Hopefully we will be back when visiting the area.

JandH Hawley 05/08/2026

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We booked the sunset margarita ride and had an incredible experience. The horses were so sweet, well taken care of and all of the wranglers were fantastic. Especially our guide Mathew! Can’t recommend this place enough!

Zoe Taylor 05/07/2026

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Angel Fuentes 05/05/2026

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Great company, excellent wranglers, and such a fun ride. We will definitely be back! The horses are very well taken care of too.

Julie McCann 05/04/2026

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Great experience! Definitely recommend it to any tourist!

RJ314 05/03/2026

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I absolutely love coming here for rides. I have gone on a sunset margarita ride and a 90 group ride and had the best experiences. The wranglers are very educated and have no problem answering any questions you may have. They are kind people who care both about the animals and your experience. I (was) a first time rider and they made it very easy on me and guided me every step of the way. I learned a lot about KOLI, the animals, and the native land they sit on. I 100000% will be going back for rides and their horse 101 lessons so I can learn more about these beautiful horses!

Jackie Gust 05/02/2026

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Jesús aka Chuy was an amazing and hilarious guide! He was super helpful and patient with a beginner rider. Highly recommend the sunset ride if you are in the area! The ride was perfect for a beginner and the horses were very gentle. I would absolutely come back and recommend the ride to others as well!

Talia Housman 04/30/2026

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Had a relaxing easy ride with our guide Danielle. She was easy to talk to and get to know. Informative about living on the reservation and the history and culture in the Arizona area.

Debbie Belza 04/29/2026

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BRIAN was a great tour guide. We had a great experience for our first time horseback riding. The owner is a little on the feisty side, he seemed a little irritated but it was fine! Brian our guide was so sweet and gentle and patient with us! Recommend him 10/10 I think he definitely helped our experience be that much more enjoyable.

Riah Mer 04/29/2026

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Had the best time here with my girlfriend. It was my first time ever horseback riding and the experience exceeded every expectation. Our wrangler Bryan made it so easy and fun. He was friendly, easy to talk to, and clearly has a ton of knowledge about the horses. The horses are beautiful and you can tell they are well cared for. We will definitely be back. Thank you Bryan!

Anthony C 04/27/2026

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What an experience! Our guide Matt was super nice and made us feel comfortable on our horses. Would definitely recommend. And if you are staying at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, KOLI Equestrian comes over with a horse so if you are lucky enough to meet one of them you may be able to get a discount!

Monique Sordiff 04/25/2026

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Always a great place to do events

Ron Le Blanc 04/24/2026

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My sister and I took a 90 minute morning tour last Friday and it was an amazing experience. Our guide Cameron was super friendly and had great stories :) we learned a lot about the ranch, horses, and history of the beautiful land. Definitely a must do when visiting the area! Thank you again for the memorable experience!

JOY CM 04/23/2026

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Chuy and the whole crew were incredible. We saw much of the beauty the Sanoran Desert has to offer, and saw a stunning sunset with some great drinks. Cannot recommend this enough, for locals and tourists alike.

Michael 04/21/2026

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Always the best experience riding at Koli! The horses are beautiful and friendly and the staff are all wonderful; so kind and welcoming, and fun to ride with! This is one of the best places to ride in Arizona without a doubt.

Tori W 04/20/2026

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Did the 1 hour evening margarita ride and it was a blast! We had a group of five plus two guides. So much fun. Had not been on a horse in 30+ years. No problem. They explained everything and the horses were all well mannered. Guides were very easy going and friendly, constantly joking around. Would highly recommend.

Richard Lawler 04/20/2026

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Absolut top, super tolle Erfahrung, die Guides ( Cowboy) waren sehr kompetent und freundlich, der Ausritt war toll und informativ. Tacos, Salsa und Margherita zum Abschluss, waren sicher nicht zum letzten Mal da.

Jürgen Kammerer 04/17/2026

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We had a great experience for our hour long ride. Our guide Colton was wonderful! We got to see wild horses, a coyote and a jack rabbit. The horses that we rode were very well behaved and beautiful as well! Highly recommend for a memorable experience!

Kari Colombo 04/16/2026

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Can't recommend Koli Equestrian Center enough. I went with a group of girlfriends for a sunset horseride for about an hour. The staff took great care of us. Their horses were all lovely and well cared for. The staff were humorous and made sure that we were all comfortable. The margaritas afterwards were delicious and their grounds were serene. Would highly recommend!

Kavita Bernstein 04/14/2026

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So much fun! Our guide was friendly and we got to see a whole heard of wild horses! I definitely recommend this!

Lyndsey Kleinhaus 04/11/2026

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An absolute wonderful experience!! Loved every second of it. Bucky was the sweetest horse. Thank you to Cowboy Nate, very patient & a great teacher.

Fatuma Isaak 04/06/2026

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AMAZING experience! Our guide Cameron was an excellent guide! The trail ride had great views. The staff were very friendly. They were very patient and kind to first time riders / children. We would definitely come back for more riding and highly recommend visiting!

Morgan Stone 04/05/2026

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Our family had the greatest time on the 90 minute tour! The tour guides are fantastic. They pick out the perfect horse for each person and make sure everyone is safe and feels comfortable, even a complete novice to horseback riding like me. Our kids, 11 and 8, said this was the highlight of our spring break trip. 100% recommend booking a tour at Koli if you are in the Phoenix area.

Michelle Stasny 04/04/2026

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What a wonderful experience! Smooth registration and friendly environment. We'll come back every year! Thank you for a wonderful morning.

Julie Sorensen 04/03/2026

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Colton was great! I rode Autumn and husband rode Bubba and it was an amazing night for a ride. The guide was clear and patient with us. Love it and if we come back to the area we will definitely be back for a ride and margaritas!!

Erin Hayden 04/03/2026

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Cowboy Chuy and the other cowboys were absolutely amazing and made us feel calm and allowed us to enjoy the ride and have an fantastic memorable time! Great family experience

L K 04/02/2026

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This was an amazing experience!

Nancy Hamilton 04/02/2026

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Very enjoyable experience!

Ambar Solis 04/01/2026

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I gifted the 60 Minute Margarita Sunset ride for my parents for Christmas and we all truly enjoyed it. The guides were super helpful with information and taking pictures at the end. Definitely recommend!

Jennifer Trainor 03/30/2026

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Paul Cameron 03/30/2026

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This is my second time here and I through enjoyed my ride. All the staff were friendly and welcoming. I would highly recommend the Margarita Sunset ride.

Jamiel Foster 03/30/2026

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Chewy and Cam were awesome. We had a great time on a 90min group ride; horses were extremely relaxed, good-natured, and Cam and Chewy did a great job with the group. I rode a lot as a kid so this was not a new to me, but I was extremely impressed at how they handled a large group that had probably never ridden once in their lives. Everyone had a great time. Will be back for a sunset ride very soon.

Will Douglas 03/23/2026

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Colton was an excellent guide for our 60 minute private trail ride. He gave us excellent directions and tips for being on the horses, especially since I was nervous. I would highly recommend this experience, great for families. We'll be back for the sunset margarita ride!

Lana LaFave 03/22/2026

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We had a fantastic ride! Our wrangler was so friendly and made my younger kids feel at ease and confident! The horses are so gentle and so very well taken care of. Thank you!

Rachel Duchac 03/21/2026

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Fantastic ride in the desert. Staff were great with our first-time rider. I love how they let the horses move naturally as a herd!

Heather L. Montgomery 03/19/2026

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Dale Thoms 03/14/2026

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Great time! What an adventure! Loved our fun margarita horseback ride!

Terry Niebeling 03/14/2026

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Shout out Colton for the fun tour yesterday - thanks!

Matthew Dreiling 03/09/2026

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Our early morning ride was everything I’d hoped for. The wranglers were kind and helpful getting us geared up and properly seated. No worries about my level of experience, they made everything easy. The horses were gentle & well cared for. Our trail wrangler, Buffalo, was charming and knowledgeable. Our group was small and we were able to take time to appreciate the beautiful desert landscape. It was a wonderful experience for a novice like myself & an experienced rider like my husband.

Kris Draney 03/04/2026

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Very unique fun and exciting adventure for me and my children. (Blue Angel)

David Ontiveros 03/02/2026

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This was such a great experience! Our guide was amazing. We were able to see the Gila wild horses. Love love loved this experience!

Nadine Piazza Baldwin 03/01/2026

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Stacey Snodgrass 03/01/2026

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Beautiful ranch, great staff, nice sunset ride, finished w margaritas and chips/salsa while watching the sun set behind the mountains. Enjoyed the peace and quiet.

Jesse Holt 02/28/2026

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Just wanted to say thank you to Danielle, Rocky and Pony Boy for a great afternoon trail ride today. Danielle was so friendly and a great guide. Our horses Rocky and Pony Boy were really relaxed trail horses, super agreeable and easy to ride. Was very enjoyable out in the desert area, lots of little yellow, orange, and purple flowers in bloom right now. Really nice facilities as well. Highly recommend Danielle as a guide and we are already planning on going back next week! Thank you again! Update - Took my son in for the kids extended session this week. Colton was fantastic! Very patient and attentive. Great instruction, explained everything clearly, and checked in with me to make sure he covered what we were looking for. Everyone we have encountered on our two visits has been so welcoming and professional. Highly recommend this place.

H H 02/28/2026

google

We went on the sunset horseback ride and margaritas outing. The wranglers made sure that everyone in the group felt comfortable and was having a good time! What a great time!

nancy shields 02/28/2026

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Koli Equestrian Center is a beautiful, welcoming place, and every staff member we met was friendly and helpful. Our sunset ride with Colton was a highlight—he made each rider feel comfortable, included, and confident throughout the experience. The horses were gentle and easy to ride, which made the whole outing even more enjoyable. After the ride, we loved relaxing with Monika’s margaritas and chatting with the other guests. Koli is a wonderful choice for families and riders of all experience levels, from first‑timers to those with more time in the saddle. Thank you for a peaceful, memorable ride!

Dave Schultz 02/26/2026

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My ten year old son and I went on a hour and a half horseback ride on 2-22-26 for a morning ride. Our three guides were super friendly, knowledgeable about the wildlife, local area and historical significance of surrounding communities. The guides were engaging towards each of the guests in the group. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Koli Equestrian Center if you are in the Chandler area! It was such an amazing experience that if I had one more day to stay I would have booked another ride. My son loved riding his own horse. If we are ever in the area again we are definitely going back for another ride. Thank you to all the professional guides at Koli for an amazing day. You made a ten year old boy feel like a real cowboy for a day.

Stormin AK 02/26/2026

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All the way from HTX, this was a highlight of my trip! Both Nate & Mathew were phenomenal! Very knowledgeable and patient as we tried our best to ride along the trail! (No I was not scared…kinda) My family and I will be returning hopefully sooner than later. Beyond blessed to have had my birthday in Arizona this year with amazing people:) I would recommend to book your next trail ride with KOLI!

Nafi 02/24/2026

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We had a private ride today with our grandkids. Colton our ride leader was great. Saw wild horses. My grandsons age 7 and 9 had a great time. Highly recommend!!!

Brent 02/22/2026

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The tour guides were very entertaining and took great care of us. It was a smooth ride through the desert.

Robi Walker 02/22/2026

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We gave our granddaughter the Horses 101 ride for her 8th birthday and rode with her. Wrangler Robert was great with her, teaching her how to groom and saddle her horse before a short session on riding and steering in the corral. The highlight was the one-hour ride in the desert. She loved it and wants to go again. So do we!

Kevin Kraft 02/18/2026

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Pleasant ride with Colton as guide in wide open space so you ride abreast of each other rather than nose-to-tail. Beautiful sunset with tasty Margarita afterwards. Would do it again!

C Bach 02/18/2026

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Guys, this is a must! Not only was it an amazing experience on the horses but the friendly staff was the cherry on top. My wife and I were first time riders and the leaders helped teach us how to control the horse and offered tips along the ride. We went on Valentine’s Day evening and it was a special night that left us extremely satisfied with our visit. Thank you guys, keep up the excellent work! We’ll be back.

Mario Coronado 02/16/2026

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Buffalo did a phenomenal job! We truly appreciate his expertise, kindness and professionalism! We truly appreciated it!

Joe Mejia 02/15/2026

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We had an absolutely amazing experience at the Kohli Exposition Center. The horse riding tour was unforgettable the guides were knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They made everyone feel comfortable, whether it was your first time on a horse or you’d ridden before. The group we rode with was full of wonderful people, and the whole experience felt fun, relaxed, and really well organized. The horses were well cared for and easy to ride, and the scenery made the entire tour feel special. If you’re looking for a memorable outing with great energy, great guides, and a great group atmosphere, I highly recommend the Kohli Exposition Center. We’ll definitely be back.

Michelle Prather 02/12/2026

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Amazing experience. All of the employees were super friendly. Chuey and Robert, our guides, were very knowledgeable, friendly, professional and funny. The horses were well cared for and easy on us as it was the first time we rode. The sunset was breath taking. Highly recommend Koli for your riding experience!

Carrie Hunter 02/10/2026

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Everyone needs to come here I went this morning with my family and cousin it was the best place. we went for the morning sunrise. We love the horses it was so much fun I would go every weekend if I could and our tour guide was very funny and nice would recommend to everyone

Gabriela Lopez 02/08/2026

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llllloooovvveee this PLACE I wish I could rate it a 100/100 went for the morning sunrise best experience. I did wish they had more merch i will recommend everyone to come here.🐎🐎

Mike Johnson 02/08/2026

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We did February’s Full Moon Wagon Ride and it was an absolutely unforgettable experience. The guides were so knowledgeable and welcoming, sharing stories and insights about the plants and wildlife around us as the moon rose. The margaritas, chips, and salsa were the perfect ending to a magical evening — I highly recommend it and can’t wait to go back!

Jennifer Duron Mendoza 02/04/2026

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Chuy was organized, friendly, funny, and informative. The facility was great. The check-in was easy. The ride itself was beautiful and fun.

Chris Frey 01/20/2026

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Matt and chewy were absolutely amazing! We had a great ride and they kept everyone entertained the whole time! Will definitely do it again if we’re ever back in the area! Chips and salsa and margs were just an added bonus! All the horses (Heather and Aspen) were great as well, definitely can tell they are well cared for!

Angela Ledford 01/17/2026

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This was our 2nd time to Koli Equestrian. The first time we did a group ride which included about 8 people. The 2nd ride was a private ride of 4 people. The guides were knowable, professional and really explained the native people, the horses, and the land. Very enjoyable and memorable. Hope to return next year. They have a variety of rides offered online. Great people and horses.

Amber Bullis 01/04/2026

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This exceeded my expectations. We went horseback riding on gentle and sweet horses through the beautiful Gila River reservation. Our guide was excellent and we had a great 90 min ride.

Amy 01/04/2026

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Un maravilloso lugar, lindas vistas, lindos animales y el personal muy amable y servicial. Es el lugar favorito de mi hija.

Paulina Juárez 12/27/2025

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What an amazing experience! My husband booked a horseback riding experience coupled with margaritas, and it superseded my expectations. Our guide Chuey was fabulous. We had fun, felt safe (well behaved horses) and enjoyed the sunset. We will definitely be back.

Amie Rish 12/23/2025

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Amazing time 😍 Our guide Chewy was great! He was knowledgeable, funny, and helpful! Their horses are very well mannered and beautiful. The whole staff was great! There was a little girl there for her birthday and they all made her feel so special ❤️ I will definitely be returning.

Ashley Mader 12/22/2025

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Colten and Nate are amazing rangers. They’re fun and kind and very aware of safety. We had the best experience we’ve ever had riding horses in the valley. We will be back!!!!

Susan Walker 12/21/2025

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Lindsay LeBlanc 12/21/2025

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Excellent excellent experience. Highly recommend. I will also say Koli accommodated me for a very special request and came through for me which meant the world to me. I had hoped to do a second private ride but I couldn't get it done so am looking forward to next time. Beautiful riding and Cisco was a fun guy to ride.

Lisa N'Lua 12/19/2025

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Amazing operators... real fun and safe experience

Tommy Dee 12/19/2025

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We did the sunrise trail ride for our daughter's birthday today. We had the best time ever. Everyone was so nice. We truly enjoyed our Wrangler Colton. He was so friendly and knowledgeable. We will book another trail ride with him. Thank you colton!!!

Tammy Latimer 12/18/2025

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I always have a good time here at Koli!! Book your next ride with KOLI 🐎🐴

Amanda acosta-osife 12/16/2025

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Tamara Isaacs 12/15/2025

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The ppl was really friendly and the horses was very tamed and takin care of the vibe was very chill and it felt more like a family vibe I had a great time would go back for sure

NATE POWERS 12/12/2025

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It was my friends and I first time visiting koli equestrian center and they went above and beyond giving us a great first experience. The check-in process was super smooth. We were helped guided on our ride by Colton and he made the experience easy to check , gave good instruction, very kind and had good conversation with our group and even took pictures for us! Ending the ride we got margaritas after and met Matt and Ray . Who were also very welcoming, gave fun facts and history of koli equestrian center. Over all we had an amazing time and will be going back !

lexus roman 12/08/2025

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The staff was professional and funny. The horses are gentle and so easy to ride. It was my first time on a horse. It won't be my last. Thanks Chuck, Robert, Ray, Wyatt, Colin and one other guy. I rode Rocky (Balboa) the Italian stallion. Thank you so much ❤️

Christine Anderson 12/06/2025

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What a great time. We did the sunset Margarita ride. The horses were great, well mannered, and clean. The Ray and the other wranglers were awesome, full of personality and really loved their jobs. We are staying at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass. Koli provided a free shuttle from the resort. And of course the margaritas topped off a good time.

Derek Salka 11/14/2025

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nice relaxing ride on the desert watching the sunset. enjoy the ride. enjoy the chat after with new people and great hosts. even a murciélago (bat) made an appearance. i'm glad we chose to ride with you.

Rad Dad 11/06/2025

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Chuy and Buffalo were kind, helpful and generous with sharing of the history of the area. Billy(my horse) was very forgiving of my lack of finesse. I wouldn’t recommend you go anywhere else. Hubby’s horse was a beautiful Amish Draft.

Carrie Sergeon 11/04/2025

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We had a wonderful day horseback riding then going to the beautiful spa 💕

Kristie Khogyani 11/04/2025

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My husband and I came for the sunrise trail walk today (11/1/25 to start our anniversary weekend off) and had a wonderful time. The horses, Charm and Aspin were beautiful and so calm, our wrangler (cannot remember his name for the life of me, but we want him to know he was amazing!) was so chill and a great guide. He gave us the back story of Koli, talked about the wildlife and horses in the equestrian center and made sure we had a great time! We'll be back again! Its a great trail for all levels, same with the horses!

Brittany Apodaca 11/01/2025

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Excellent tour guide. Picked us up from our hotel and transported us to the equestrian centre. Really knowledgeable about the area.

Nicola Lakeman 11/01/2025

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Beautiful setting - attended for a work party - excellent facility with great food, music and games

Pete 10/31/2025

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Great family owned equestrian center. Very wonderful, hospitable staff who love their jobs (and it shows!). We chose to do the sunset tour, & the views were amazing. Glad we chose KOL!!

Lexi Martin 10/28/2025

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Always a great time at KOLI I've been back several times because of the great care they give to each person every time. It doesn't matter if it's your 1st time riding or 200th time they remain patient and caring. This visit was the margaritas sunset ride, epic evening. Wish you could hang with the horses after the ride but hanging with Chewy, Mat and Ray was real cool and full of laughter. Great place 👌 ❤️

Brittany Scott 10/27/2025

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My partner & I had the Horsemanship session where we learned the basics of getting the horses prepared to ride the trail. We learned a lot and had a great time! The staff were good spirited and kind. They were also patient with all our questions. Can't wait to go back soon!

A A 10/26/2025

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We had a great experience and the staff was so nice and informative and made us feel so comfortable. Our wrangler was so knowledgeable and passionate about the horses and the area that we will definitely be back and reccomend others to check it out.

John Pence 10/22/2025

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Chuy was an awesome wrangler! We had a very nice, best day weather wise, ride! Chuy told us about the area, had some good "dad" jokes and made the morning enjoyable. The horses are so sweet and gentle. I rode Sisco! He's a lover. Definitely will make plans to come back!

wendy kempke 10/22/2025

Category: Rider Preparation & Safety

When is the Best Time for Horseback Riding in Phoenix, AZ?