Acacia Riding Adventures

Such a great experience! A quick 45 minute drive from Albuquerque which was very convenient. We were very beginner horse riders and we felt comfortable the whole time. Great hosts. Would recommend to others!

So I have ridden with Acacia Riding Adventures four times when I lived in New Mexico from 2007-2013. As a "bigger person" its hard to find a riding company that doesn't have a higher weight requirement but this company has different size horses, even draft horse mixes for larger folks! Having horses and someone experienced I felt very comfortable on our rides and Dacodah and his staff took care of my and my friends. I brought friends who had only been on a horse a few times and they had no problems as the riding company has horses of all disciplines and sizes!!! This company also takes children of all ages on rides so children, no problem! The prices are extremely affordable and its only a hour ride from Albuquerque. I can't wait to go back to New Mexico and ride again in the beautiful canyons or along the breathtaking rivers in New Mexico is on my list for the next couple years!

Just had the most amazing ride with ARA. I've gone on four different trail rides with them and they have all been great!!Thanks guys!! Adam

ARA is the best horseback riding in the West. We have had the opportunity to ride in New Mexico and also at their facility in Cave Creek, AZ. ABSOLUTELY the best riding establishment - friendly, considerate, accommodating and extremely knowledgeable about their horses and the areas we rode. They are very in tune with your comfort level but also provide great advice for being stronger and comfortable. And the horses.....very well trained. They are in tune with the rider and are not afraid of cars - which is extremely helpful as we rode in Cave Creek on trails to lunch and dinner in town. The owners are cheerful, smart and wonderful to be with.

Wow! I don't even know where to start. This was amazing. Making reservations was incredibly easy everybody was very helpful. When we arrived we were able to help brush the horses in preparation for our trail ride. Our guide, Shane, didn't excellent job of explaining everything and helping us get ready for the ride. Everyone was loaded up into the truck and trailer for a short drive to the Canyon. We were given an excellent instructions on how to control the horses extra care was given to make sure that our children ages 12 and 14, understood how to control the horse. We rode for a solid two hours in and out of canyons. We chose to do a sunset ride, which I highly recommend. Overall, next time we are anywhere close to Acacia writing adventures, we will be back!

Rookie riders, my fiancée and I were simply blown away with the level of care and attention to detail. The course they take is like no other... Everything that should be horse back riding, these guys got right!

Every time I travel anywhere I try to ride horses. I ride at home so am always looking for my next equine adventure. I've galloped on a Caribbean beach and swam horses in the surf. I've driven cattle in Hawaii, rode through snowcapped Canadian mountains and splashed through Florida rivers. All of those horseback adventures and this, hands down, was the best of the bunch. I saw plenty of reviews for ARA saying how amazing it was but was skeptical. How could the riding be THAT good? Well, I'll tell you. (So much fun that in the one week I was in town I went back to ride THREE times!)Dacodah heads up the operation and is a jack of all trades type. He schedules the trips, drives (and repairs) the truck, leads the tour, shoots HD video while taking pictures, shoes and trains the horses, wrangles the dogs and is an all-around great guy. He was superbly patient in the times I rode with him. He patiently helped tourists get unstuck from the dessert road they had no business even being on. He calmly guides novice riders on the how to (and how not) to ride as well as calmly guiding them through potentially hairy situations. He lavishes love on the horses and the dogs. You start out in a tiny town named San Acacia about an hour south of ABQ. The drive is picturesque so don't let it deter you. You arrive at the old schoolhouse where you meet your mount. Dacodah will ask your riding experience, height and weight to pair you appropriately. Then you head out to your destination. All three times I rode we jumped in the truck for a quick ride into the canyon nearby. We mounted up there and rode for about 3 hours. Ok, so I'm from Florida where the biggest "mountain" we have is the hill leading up from a sinkhole. The terrain at first intimidated me. We took off cantering up (and I mean up!) and down (really, really DOWN!) mountain ridges and canyon ledges. The horses were at times coming down slowly on their haunches, rocks sliding out from under them! We were flying over rocks the size of my head even on the flat areas. It took me about 20 minutes before I started to relax and let go of the back of my saddle. By the end of my first ride I was trusting that my mount (an awesome mare named Stormie, who I rode each time) was sure footed and agile enough to handle the terrain. The views and vistas are absolutely breathtaking! I'll never forget cantering up a mountainside to the top ridge and seeing the sun set over the New Mexico dessert in a rainbow of colors. It is absolutely quiet and peaceful out there with stars like I've never seen. And yes, we started our rides at sunset and finished in the dark. ARA provides water and horse treats on saddle bags as well as there being some drinks and light snacks available at the school house. However, I would recommend bringing a small cooler to keep in your car- you'll get done late and there is NOTHING in San Acacia. By the time we got to ABQ one night everything was closed and we were starving. ARA's horses are fantastic. They will take care of you so trust them. The horses really seem to enjoy themselves, as do the staff (everyone was so nice!) and dogs that always accompanied us. Even my non-riding hubby (who I had to convince to come) enjoyed himself so much when we got back he immediately started planning our next trip to New Mexico so we could ride White Sands. The trip you take is seasonal- we enjoyed the mountain sunset ride but in the summer the river ride is an option and in the cooler months advanced riders can do the White Sands trip. If you want to know more check ARA's website/Facebook page for some awesome HD videos. (ARA GoPro's your entire ride as well as takes pictures which Dacodah puts on a CD for you to keep) But the videos in no way do justice to the sights you'll see and the feelings you'll experience. I wholeheartedly recommend this to any rider of any experience level. There is no better way to see New Mexico, and really, no way to get in the places we did unless you're on horseback.

My husband and I had the best ride of our lives here! I cannot say enough good things about this ranch. The owners are awesome and are able to accommodate any riding experience--an experienced rider like my husband, a newbie like me, and even children with special needs. The picturesque scenery along the ride is breathtaking. Riding through the Rio Grande on a hot day was nice and refreshing. The horses were very well trained. If you're new to the area, ask the owner for recommendations- he has great taste in restaurants & hot springs!! Overall, this was a wonderful experience that we will never forget.

Who doesn't want to ride off into the sunset? I went riding there recently and had an absolutely wonderful time. Staff was very kind and knowledgeable. I felt very welcomed there. The property we rode on was beautiful! Exactly what you would expect when riding in New Mexico. All types of terrain, so being a beginner or expert rider, this place has exactly what you are looking for. From now on, I comparing all other horseback riding places to this one. Acacia riding adventures is the model all other places should try to emulate. I would like to personally thank Jill. Not only did I enjoy riding, but the history and stories you told along the way made just added to the experience. Thank you again. You delivered to me memories that will last forever.

Jill and Dacodah were hospitable, informative, kind, and fun! They were very LGBTQ+ friendly and made my boyfriend and I feel comfortable and welcome. We learned a lot about the indigenous tribes of the land, local history, saw amazing landscapes, and had photos taken of us the entire way. I would recommend this trip to anyone as it was so immersive and truly a local experience. We had an incredible time! Thank you both!