Arizona offers a year round climate for horse equestrian enthusiasts and owners of farms, ranches and land. There are four deserts in the Grand Canyon State leading many people to believe there is no available water in the state. However, the water situation was decades ago and planned for growth and protected its water resources. The state is blessed with a network of rivers and streams among them are the Colorado, Verde, Salt, Gila, San Pedro, Santa Cruz and Little Colorado Rivers. When explorers traveled through the state in the early19th century, they found people growing corn, wheat, barley and raising cattle. Arizona’s climate provides year-round growing for hundreds of types of crops. Besides crops such as cotton, alfalfa and wheat, Arizona farmers raise numerous specialty crops. The animal industry, led by cattle ranching, dairy and dairy production, is the largest agricultural sector. Besides caring for livestock, a top priority for beef farmers and ranchers is conservation and stewarding the land, water and wildlife. Horse owners help preserve the land, ranches, larger properties, arenas and places to ride. In 2011 the Arizona legislature expanded the list of conditions for land to be classified as agricultural for property tax purposes to include land and improvements devoted to raising, boarding, training, or the commercial breeding of equine or an equine rescue facility registered with the Department of Agriculture. Arizona is a robust farm, ranch and land agricultural state with a variety of recreational opportunities for equestrian and horse enthusiasts.
