Photo of the Week: Horses Galloping at Dawn at White Stallion Ranch, Tucson, Arizona
I've explored the Southwest five times over the past few years, but it wasn't until my sixth visit this year that I finally experienced a genuine working dude ranch—complete with cowboys, horses, cattle, and breathtaking Sonoran Desert scenery: towering saguaro cacti, dusty trails, and rugged mountains.
It took six years, but my introduction to Southwest ranch life was unforgettable at the renowned White Stallion Ranch just outside Tucson. My friend Lynn invited me one morning to photograph the horses being herded from one enclosure to another by skilled wranglers.
The 5 a.m. wake-up was tough, but the spectacle was magical: the rising sun crested the mountain peaks, casting a warm golden glow over the ranch. The horses began trotting, then accelerated into a full gallop, thundering past the gate where we had our cameras ready.
Afterward, I toured the 3,000-acre cattle ranch, operated by the True family for generations. It felt like stepping onto an Old West movie set, though the cowboys passing by were real working wranglers, not actors.
With 41 guest rooms, White Stallion Ranch draws visitors worldwide for authentic Old West experiences—watching daily ranch operations and enjoying horseback rides. Hearing about their wine-and-cheese desert ride, where guests savor cheese and wine amid the wilderness, made me regret not staying longer on my final Arizona weekend.
Though I didn't overnight this time, I'll return to Tucson to stay on-site, ride through the desert, and embrace my inner cowgirl.
