Ponderosa Stables has now made it on the "things to do with visitors" list. I took my first ride back in January with my husband and 70 year old father in law who was visiting from Connecticut. And, no, I didn't do it to torture the old guy. He's a spry 70 year old who runs every day - I took him because I knew he could handle it :)
Ponderosa Stables is at South Mountain Park, the largest city municipal park in the country (by the way). I live close to the base of South Mountain and have hiked almost all the trails. Let me tell you - it's a different perspective to be on these trails on a horse. Wow!
The price seemed reasonable at $30 an hour. Each time I've gone - it's just been the guide and my small party of 2-3 people. The horses are capable and calm and you don't get beyond a walking pace. You get a nice mix of terrain for the 1 hour ride with some downhills and uphills. But now that I've been a few times - I long for a small trot.
Ponderosa Stables does offer longer rides that can etiher take you out to T-bones for dinner, all the way to the top of South Mountain, and cookouts (which you need a minimum party of 8 people).
The guides are very personable. Although, I thought it was funny the last time I went thet were short-handed because a guide had failed the random drug test. It's nice to know that the outfit that runs the place screens for that sort of stuff.
Bottom Line: Even if you are a native of Phoenix, and have never been on a horse, I recommend this experience. It really is a different perspective riding the desert on a horse with no name. (Do you feel a song coming on?)