"Thank you for choosing Riata Ranch as your home away from home while in Three Rivers. In 2015 my husband, Chad, decided to open up our ranch and home to visitors from around the world. In May of 2019, my wonderful husband was killed in a freak auto accident. However, my self along with our staff is committed to providing the same kind of hospitality that Chad envisioned. I have left the profile just as Chad wrote so that you, our guests, have the opportunity to know who we are and our true passion.
We are truly blessed to have one of the most scenic properties in Three Rivers with endless nearby outdoor activities to enjoy. We offer vacation concierge services, nightly/weekly stays for individuals and groups, horseback riding tours and lessons, prepared meals, catered group events, customizable ranch vacation experiences, leadership training seminars, and more.
Our gorgeous 41 acre foothill ranch not only serves as your spectacular vacation home away from home, it's also one of the top western performance arts training academies in the world and home to the internationally known, Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls western performance team. More on our ranch in a second..." - Jennifer Welch Nicholson
Hi, I'm Chad, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and native Texan who has lived here next to Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks in beautiful Three Rivers, CA with my wife Jennifer for 6 years. Both of us are world travelers and have been in the entertainment industry all of our lives.
Professionally, I am a voice over artist for radio/TV/film, professional announcer specializing in pro rodeo and pro bull riding, event emcee, announcer school instructor, motivational speaker, and a Traeger BBQ grill master. Yes, I love to cook! I also serve here as CFO, marketing Director, and board of director for Riata Ranch International, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization for youth founded in 1957 in Exeter, CA.
My wife Jennifer (the real rockstar of the family), joined the Riata Ranch youth program as a child in 1974. With her love of horses, performance, and realizing the enormous value of mentorship that she received from the late founder of Riata Ranch, Tom Maier, she quickly rose through the ranks as a team leader and world class performer in choreographed trick riding, roman riding, and trick roping while inspiring others to be all they could be. It's a storybook tale of following your dreams with unwavering dedication and a strong work ethic, that has taken her and hundreds of other girls around the globe promoting the western way of life.
When Tom passed in 2002, Jennifer was faced with the difficult decision of moving on to a better paying career or staying with her dream by taking over a flailing, high overhead, low profit "kids and horses" business. Guided by faith, being a product of the brand herself, and a burning desire to leave the world a better place than she found it, she decided to continue her life's work. She turned the business into a 501(c)3 educational nonprofit organization for financial support, assembled a board of directors, and officers who charged ahead rebuilding the iconic Riata Ranch brand.
She has served as Executive Director for the past 18 years, a steady performer/team leader for 41 years, mentored thousands of young people, trained hundreds of horses, and is truly the heartbeat of the organization's success. In addition to training performers, she also teaches young people how to have higher purpose in their life through the proven leadership principals and daily life lessons here at the ranch. It's magical to watch these young people lose their insecurities and develop into confident leaders. Our youth training program is so unique that a book was published in 2002 called, "Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls, Life Lessons Learned on the back of a Horse" and can be purchased online.
It hasn't been an easy road, but certainly well worth it all. The organization now has a beautiful ranch that we get to share with the world thanks to Airbnb. Because of the extra income we earn from Airbnb and our generous donors, we can now afford scholarships to work with more low income kids on their life skills who otherwise wouldn't have a chance in life.
Our elite performance team made up of Australians and Americans is still performing at some of the largest western venues in the US like Cheyenne Frontier Days, Reno Rodeo, National Western in Denver, Salinas, CA, Pendleton, OR, Dodge City, KS, and more. Their resume reads like fascinating western history book. Since 1977, The Cowboy Girls have performed in 20 countries on 5 continents, including for Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 at Windsor Castle for Her Majesty's 60th Diamond Jubilee Celebration show called, "All the Queen's Horses". Jennifer was fortunate enough to join other performers at an afternoon tea in the castle and met and chatted personally with the Queen! That historic picture hangs in our dining room for all to see.
As Jennifer says, "You earn your reputation in the arena, but you earn your respect in the barn."
We look forward having you here and showing you our down home hospitality. - Chad Nicholson
We are truly blessed to have one of the most scenic properties in Three Rivers with endless nearby outdoor activities to enjoy. We offer vacation concierge services, nightly/weekly stays for individuals and groups, horseback riding tours and lessons, prepared meals, catered group events, customizable ranch vacation experiences, leadership training seminars, and more.
Our gorgeous 41 acre foothill ranch not only serves as your spectacular vacation home away from home, it's also one of the top western performance arts training academies in the world and home to the internationally known, Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls western performance team. More on our ranch in a second..." - Jennifer Welch Nicholson
Hi, I'm Chad, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and native Texan who has lived here next to Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks in beautiful Three Rivers, CA with my wife Jennifer for 6 years. Both of us are world travelers and have been in the entertainment industry all of our lives.
Professionally, I am a voice over artist for radio/TV/film, professional announcer specializing in pro rodeo and pro bull riding, event emcee, announcer school instructor, motivational speaker, and a Traeger BBQ grill master. Yes, I love to cook! I also serve here as CFO, marketing Director, and board of director for Riata Ranch International, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization for youth founded in 1957 in Exeter, CA.
My wife Jennifer (the real rockstar of the family), joined the Riata Ranch youth program as a child in 1974. With her love of horses, performance, and realizing the enormous value of mentorship that she received from the late founder of Riata Ranch, Tom Maier, she quickly rose through the ranks as a team leader and world class performer in choreographed trick riding, roman riding, and trick roping while inspiring others to be all they could be. It's a storybook tale of following your dreams with unwavering dedication and a strong work ethic, that has taken her and hundreds of other girls around the globe promoting the western way of life.
When Tom passed in 2002, Jennifer was faced with the difficult decision of moving on to a better paying career or staying with her dream by taking over a flailing, high overhead, low profit "kids and horses" business. Guided by faith, being a product of the brand herself, and a burning desire to leave the world a better place than she found it, she decided to continue her life's work. She turned the business into a 501(c)3 educational nonprofit organization for financial support, assembled a board of directors, and officers who charged ahead rebuilding the iconic Riata Ranch brand.
She has served as Executive Director for the past 18 years, a steady performer/team leader for 41 years, mentored thousands of young people, trained hundreds of horses, and is truly the heartbeat of the organization's success. In addition to training performers, she also teaches young people how to have higher purpose in their life through the proven leadership principals and daily life lessons here at the ranch. It's magical to watch these young people lose their insecurities and develop into confident leaders. Our youth training program is so unique that a book was published in 2002 called, "Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls, Life Lessons Learned on the back of a Horse" and can be purchased online.
It hasn't been an easy road, but certainly well worth it all. The organization now has a beautiful ranch that we get to share with the world thanks to Airbnb. Because of the extra income we earn from Airbnb and our generous donors, we can now afford scholarships to work with more low income kids on their life skills who otherwise wouldn't have a chance in life.
Our elite performance team made up of Australians and Americans is still performing at some of the largest western venues in the US like Cheyenne Frontier Days, Reno Rodeo, National Western in Denver, Salinas, CA, Pendleton, OR, Dodge City, KS, and more. Their resume reads like fascinating western history book. Since 1977, The Cowboy Girls have performed in 20 countries on 5 continents, including for Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 at Windsor Castle for Her Majesty's 60th Diamond Jubilee Celebration show called, "All the Queen's Horses". Jennifer was fortunate enough to join other performers at an afternoon tea in the castle and met and chatted personally with the Queen! That historic picture hangs in our dining room for all to see.
As Jennifer says, "You earn your reputation in the arena, but you earn your respect in the barn."
We look forward having you here and showing you our down home hospitality. - Chad Nicholson