As we pulled up to the
Kay El Bar Ranch, I wasn't quite sure we were in the right place -- it was a little before 9:00 pm and everything was pitch-black dark. But once I opened the front door, I knew we had arrived and were in for a real treat.
Alyson, Kay El's wonderful Assistant Manager, was waiting up for us with a warm welcome, although our fellow guests had already turned in for the night. At first I was surprised to hear this, but the next day I learned why an early night was a must!
In contrast to the abundance of activities
Rancho de los Caballeros, a stay at Kay El Bar revolves entirely around horses. You're up at 7:30am for grooming and bonding with your horse and out at 9:00am and again at 2:00pm for two-hour-long rides through the Arizona desert. In between you're treated to bountiful meals feature hearty -- and tasty -- ranch favorites.
A great feature of Kay El Bar is that, if you want, you're able to ride with the same horse for the duration of your stay. Also, its one of the few ranches where kids aren't separated from their parents for horseback riding. This was a huge plus to our fellow pre-teen guest and her mom who were enjoying their sixth visit together, all the way from Norway.
For newbies like me, there's an orientation before your first ride and lots of quality time to bond with your horse. Puddin' and I got to know each other so well that I picked up on her quirks (which included deliberately hanging back from the others so she could periodically speed up to fall back in line) and was able to quiet her when the terrain on our first ride became a little rocky and she slipped.
After cocktails and dinner, we retired along with the other guests to the ranch's grand living room to relax with books, games, puzzles and music. We even took out the telescope to get a good look at the clean desert sky. But before long we all turned in to get a good night's sleep for the next day's equine adventure.
Our time Kay El Bar was incredibly special. We felt just like part of the ranch family and regretted that our stay was so short. But, I know when we return, we'll be welcomed back as old friends.
Joanne was a specialty traveler before she even knew such a thing existed! Exploring everything from the wines of South Africa to the cuisine of Belize and the folklore of Iceland, Joanne’s always on the lookout for unique travel experiences.
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