White Stallion Ranch, a luxury dude ranch and working cattle ranch in Arizona, USA, is the latest ranch to gain the Top50 accolade. One thing that really stood out for us was not just the ranch's convenient location just 35 minutes from Tuscon International Airport, but the fact that as soon as you step cowboy boot-clad foot inside the Arizona ranch, you could be a hundred miles from the 'outside world'. One reason is that White Stallion Ranch sits right alongside Saguaro National Park, with access to mile upon mile of cactus-adorned desert plains and mountain wilderness. What's more, the luxury dude ranch is nestled into the west side of the Saguaro studded mountains, where only on reaching the very top is the nearest town in sight.

Don't be fooled by the ranch's high guest capacity of 70 and luxury, resort-style facilities and amenities. This family-owned and operated 3,000-acre ranch is steeped in history, and is still a working cattle ranch alongside providing luxury and family dude ranch vacations. Brothers Russell and Michael True took over the guest ranch from their parents, who bought White Stallion in 1965, and go out of their way to get to know each and every guest taking dude ranch vacations at the ranch. This is the kind of place where people treat you like one of the family - so no wonder the Trues are renowned for their high-quality service and first-rate hospitality.

At White Stallion Ranch, it's all about the horse riding. This is the perfect family ranch vacation for parents with children able to ride, as kids aged 5 and above are, if able, welcome to join in the beautiful, scenic trail rides on the diverse riding program. Children aged 8 and above can - again, if able - even join the faster, more adventurous rides, complete with loping and trickier terrain. And if you want to ride without the kids, you must go on the adults-only "Cheese and Wine Ride" - a slower, relaxing ride to one of the ranch's most beautiful areas where you'll enjoy wine, cheese and other treats. With 140 horses, the Arizona dude ranch runs one of the largest horse herds in the state and so can match each guest with more than one perfect horse. Whether you're a complete beginner or an advanced rider looking to tackle some 'real' riding, there is a horse and a trail ride for you.

Running 100 head of cattle across the ranch, White Stallion runs a hugely popular team penning program - an arena based riding activity where guests can learn the art of this tricky rodeo sport. And because you'll no doubt be hooked on rodeo by the end of the week, you'll love the weekly ranch rodeo featuring local cowboys and ranch wranglers demonstrating how the pros do it.

Not interested in riding? The guest ranch's wonderful location offers wonderful guided and unguided hiking opportunities, both through White Stallion Ranch and in the adjacent Saguaro National Park. There are also plenty of off-ranch activities to enjoy should you wish to head further afield - all made easy with the option of hiring a car direct from the ranch.

Aside from comfortable lodging and tasty meals, the luxury dude ranch boasts a heated pool with a large redwood hot tub; a fitness room with an exercise room, sauna and massage therapy; a lighted tennis court and sports court; a recreation room with a 27-seater movie theater, lots of fun games; a children’s playground and a petting zoo. Come evening, retire to the beautiful bar and hop up on one of the western-saddle bar stools for a drink with other guests - you don't have to be a rider to get in these saddles! And forget having to trek to town for souvenirs, as the ranch has its own gift shop where you can buy riding gear, gifts, travel items and lots more.

Whether you're travelling alone, with family and friends, with your partner or as part of a corporate retreat, White Stallion Ranch will give you a dude ranch vacation experience you will never forget - and want to return to year after year.

For more information on dude ranch vacations at White Stallion Ranch, visit their ranch profile at Top50Ranches.com

Tracey O’Connell, owner of Tod Mountain Ranch in BC, Canada, explains the challenges faced with running a guest ranch located in prime forest fire territory...

“Every year since opening we have experienced fires within 50km of the ranch,” explains Tracey. “The most noteworthy – and scary – came in 2009, when lightening started a fire on the mountain just opposite the ranch.”

Terrifyingly, the fire raged for several weeks and travelled down the mountain to within 1km of Tod Mountain ranch. Staff and guests were ready to evacuate the Canada guest ranch at a moment’s notice, and evacuation plans were even put in place for the horses. “With the assistance of the RCMP, we planned to run our herd of horses 5km down a gravel road to a neighbour’s property,” Tracey explains. “Our neighbour had kindly offered to allow us to put our horses in a section of his hayfield – which had yet to be harvested!"

For Tracey and her family, the experience was more than just a threat to their lives – it was a threat to their whole livelihood and everything they had worked on since taking on the guest ranch operation in 2008, just one year earlier. For the guests staying at Tod Mountain at the time, however, the fire provided an element of drama and excitement to their dude ranch vacations. “We had several guests here during the period the fire burned,” recalls Tracey. “They particularly appreciated the sound and light show provided by the planes and helicopters flying overhead all day – and were very excited when one of the helicopters landed in our pasture, right in front of the lodge, to try to take water from the creek. But perhaps the best part for our female guests was the constant parade of firecrew that visited us during that period to check on us and keep us updated…!”

Raging from 19 August to 9 September, the fire spread to more than 250 hectares. Tod Mountain ranch was used as a staging area for the ground crews and medical crews, until the fire was finally stamped out by a fire crew comprising more than 170 fire fighters.

“During the period of the fire and for several weeks after, we lost the use of a number of our trails to the west of our property,” Tracey adds. “However, once the fire was out and the ground crews finished the clean-up, not only were we able to get back on our existing trails, but the construction of a new fireguard opened up a whole new trail for us.”

Fire is just one of the many environmental threats faced by guest ranches throughout the world, but in true ranching style they work through it together - and always find a positive in the situation!

For more information on Tod Mountain Ranch, view their ranch profile at Top50Ranches.com

Dude ranch vacations are the ultimate way to enjoy a whole host of recreational activities. And it's not just about the horseback riding! In fact, many of our Top50 dude ranches, guest ranches and working ranches are great places to relax and unwind without even going near a horse.

Of course, if horseback riding is your go-to stress reliever then you'll find trail rides, pack trips, horsemanship clinics, horse treks and cattle drives aplenty...

Best ranches for...

 Action-packed cattle drives - Zapata Ranch, Beaumont High Country Experience, Burnt Well Guest Ranch, Lazy E-L Ranch, The Hideout Guest Ranch, Chico Basin Ranch

Pack trips - Estancia Ranquilco, Snowy River Horseback Adventure, Estancia Huechahue, Latigo Ranch

Wilderness horse treks - Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, Brush Creek Ranch, Siwash Lake Ranch, Estancia Ranquilco

Horsemanship clinics - The Hideout Guest Ranch, Three Bars Ranch, Zapata Ranch, Chico Basin Ranch, McGinnis Meadows

Rodeos - Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge, Brush Creek Ranch, Lone Mountain Ranch

Cattle work in the arena - Bar W Guest Ranch, Bonanza Creek Ranch, McGinnis Meadows, Rowse's 1+1 Ranch, Sweet Grass Ranch

Appealing to non-riders, these ranches offer some equally enjoyable ways to spend your time on dude ranch vacation...

Best ranches for...

 Water sports - Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge, Siwash Lake Ranch, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, Majestic Dude Ranch, The Resort at Paws Up

Fly fishing and angling - North Fork Ranch, Triple Creek Ranch, The Ranch at Rock Creek, C Lazy U Ranch, Siwash Lake Ranch, Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge

Golf - C Lazy U Ranch, Rancho de los Caballeros, Echo Valley Ranch & Spa, Lone Mountain Ranch, Ranch at Rock Creek, Three Bars Ranch

Spas - Echo Valley Ranch & Spa, The Resort at Paws Up, The Ranch at Rock Creek, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, Rancho de los Caballeros

Children's activities and supervized children's programs - Red Horse Mountain Ranch, The Resort at Paws Up, Alisal Ranch, Lone Mountain Ranch, Elk Mountain Ranch, Sugar and Spice Ranch, Majestic Dude Ranch, C Lazy U Ranch, The Ranch at Rock Creek, Siwash Lake Ranch, Three Bars Ranch, Vista Verde Ranch

Wine tasting vacations - Estancia Los Potreros, Vista Verde Ranch

Cooking classes - Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, Echo Valley Ranch & Spa, Lazy E-L Ranch, Triple Creek Ranch

Local/historical attractions - Lone Mountain Ranch, Tod Mountain Ranch, Bonanza Creek Ranch, Latigo Ranch, Rancho Las Cascadas

Yoga - Brush Creek Ranch, Echo Valley Ranch & Spa, Lone Mountain Ranch, The Resort at Paws Up, Vista Verde Ranch

Adventure sports - Rancho Los Banos, Majestic Dude Ranch, Beaumont High Country Experience, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort

Mountain biking - Majestic Dude Ranch, Tod Mountain Ranch, Lone Mountain Ranch

Wildlife/Safari tours - Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, Siwash Lake Ranch, Zapata Ranch, The Hideout Guest Ranch, Badger Creek Ranch, Brush Creek Ranch, Triple Creek Ranch, Snowy River Horseback Adventure

For more information on all activities at dude ranches, visit Top50Ranches.com

Planning a dude ranch vacation isn't something to leave until the last minute! There’s a lot to consider, so follow Top50's top 10 tips to make sure you get the most out of your western riding holiday…

1. Best place for a ranch vacation?
Which country? Which state? Mountains or desert? The options are endless. Here at Top50 Ranches we showcase Canada guest ranches, USA ranch vacations, Argentina horse riding holidays, riding holidays in Mexico, Australia horse treks and New Zealand cattle stations – but your choice will depend on how hot you like it and the kind of riding country you’re after. For mountain riding, Colorado, Montana, Canada and Argentina are good choices. If you like hot weather, choose a ranch in the southern States and south America, which boast great weather all year round. Best place for winter sun? Australia, which of course has its summer during the USA/European winter. Taking the kids? Find a child-friendly ranch with a supervised children’s program.

2. Budget early on
The cost of a dude ranch vacation varies greatly, so it’s worth setting a budget early on – taking into account getting there (flights, care hire if applicable), spending money and tipping. If you know your limits, you won’t even be tempted to consider ranches you can’t afford and save yourself disappointment. And it might be that you realise an extra year of saving might be worth it if you do want to opt for some luxury dude ranches.

3. Getting cheap flights
To avoid a shock when it comes to booking flights, check when it’s cheapest to fly before you book your ranch. Book as far in advance as you can, as prices tend to rocket closer to the flight date. Don’t be tempted to go for the very cheapest flight if it means several tight connections – give yourself plenty of time in case of delays, so you don’t run the risk of missing your connections.

4. Pack sensibly
Pack lots of layers if the weather is variable, and remember your swimsuit! Pack plenty of comfy jeans for riding, low-heeled shoes/boots for riding, smarter clothes suitable for dinners in the evening, and a pair of sneakers will also come in handy for exploring the ranch on foot. Check to see if you need to pack your hard hat or boots, as some ranches provide these for guests. Padded underwear and a good sports bra will also come in useful for long days in the saddle!

5. Leave room in your suitcase
…for souvenirs, gifts for friends back home, and the western riding gear you’re sure to be tempted by at local western outfitters.

6. Money matters
Some ranches charge extra for certain activities and remember that tipping is pretty commonplace – especially in America – so take enough currency that you won’t need to rely on your credit card (complete with hefty fees for use abroad). And yes, you will want to buy that shiny new pair of cowboy boots!

7. Do your western riding research
You will of course get ‘Western Riding 101’ from the wranglers before they set you loose on the open range, but it’s worth getting familiar with the western riding aids – many of them verbal – and techniques such as neck-reining. We can’t promise your dressage schoolmaster will know what on earth you’re asking him to do, however! Really keen? Book a couple of lessons at your nearest western riding centre.

8. Car hire
Even if you’re not planning a road trip and your chosen ranch provides airport transfers, you might want to head off ranch a couple of times to see the local area – especially if you’re near Yellowstone or Glacier National Parks, The Grand Canyon and other famous landmarks. From the UK or Europe? Booking car hire from the UK/Europe is vastly cheaper than getting it while in the USA and Canada, so save yourself some money and sort it before you go.

9. Make sure you’re legal!
Immigration officers abroad are notoriously strict, so avoid a lengthy delay at airport customs by making sure you have the right documentation before you travel. For travel to the US, that now means applying for a visa waiver online and paying a small fee, which you can do online here.

10. Get fit for riding
You might already pack in several hours’ riding a week, but hard riding all day for up to two weeks on long cattle drives or pack trips can take its toll on your muscles. Avoid burning out after the first day by getting fit before you go – swimming is a great way to up your fitness levels and muscle endurance, and practise sitting trot as often as you can to prepare that bottom!

To find your ultimate dude ranch vacation, visit Top50Ranches.com

Dude ranch vacations don't get more unique than Rancho de los Caballeros, which is why the Arizona dude ranch has been chosen as Top50's April 2012 Ranch of the Month.

Each month we scour our selection of dude ranches and picks out one that we feel surpasses our standards of excellence - and, most importantly, offers something unique. That could be anything from ultra-luxurious facilities, to those personal touches that really make a ranch vacation, to fast-and-furious cattle drives that'll be etched in your memory forever.

Top50 has chosen Arizona dude ranch Rancho de los Caballeros as April 2012 Ranch of the Month 

On paper, Rancho de los Caballeros might look like your typical large-scale dude ranch resort, with its high guest capacity, full-service spa and stunning golf club. But although the ranch offers full resort amenities and privacy, it all comes with the charm and intimacy of a much smaller family ranch operation - this is the kind of place where everyone knows your name and remembers your favorite horse, and where the staff start to feel like family! The 20,000-acre luxury dude ranch is also steeped in history: opened to the public by the Gant family in 1948, the ranch strives to honor the grand tradition of the Spanish caballeros who explored and settled the Southwest. This rich history has made Rancho de los Caballeros what it is today, and the charm and service remain the same as it was back in the '40s.

Rancho de los Caballeros became involved in cattle ranching in 1953 as a steer operation, later developing into a cow-calf operation with the purchase of 100 cattle from the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation. Although the ranch is no longer a working operation, cows still offer guests the chance to work on their cowboy skills with team penning activities in the arena.

A fine example of true luxury, the dude ranch's location in the vast a beautiful Sonora desert seal it as one of the best dude ranch vacations in the USA, and its warm, personal service makes dude ranch vacations at this Arizona guest ranch that extra bit special. Close your eyes and you might believe you're in a small, cozy B&B! Because this dude ranch has soul - this is what makes it unique and this is what makes it Top50's dude ranch of the month.

If you're after great weather then this is the ranch for you - open between October and May, the Arizona guest ranch makes the most of its warm climate for out-of-season dude ranch vacations. For incredible horseback riding country, a great place for kids and non-riders to enjoy a ranch vacation and all the luxury offered by a spa, then Rancho de los Caballeros is ready to give you a dude ranch vacation you'll never forget.

For more information and to book a western ranch vacation at Rancho de los Caballeros, visit Top50Ranches.com

Is there a ranch that stands out for you? Tell us why and we'll consider for upcoming Ranches of the Month!