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Making People Reach Their Fullest Potential in Life. 

Welcome To Riata Ranch International

Here at Riata Ranch, we believe today's youth are tomorrow's future.  We strive to see young people become confident leaders, develop strong work ethic, and realize their passions. 
Our programs develop and shape the unique characters of individuals:  encouraging their passions, creating better citizens, and producing people of great character. 

— COVID UPDATE --
“Great Opportunities Are Brilliantly Disguised as Impossible Situations.” - Chuck Swindoll
The mission of Riata Ranch is to positively change peoples' lives through horsemanship, leadership, mentorship, education, and community service.  While we’re aware of today’s current challenges, our intent is to stay on course.   Riata Ranch International and the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls plan to continue to moving forward through this difficult time!  With the focus on “essential businesses” remaining open, what could be more essential than continuing to offer programs that positively impact peoples’ live and attitudes?   We’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continuing support and encourage you to remain steady in your support during this time.   This will allow us to move forward into our 63rd year as we continue to educate the next generation in becoming the confident leaders of tomorrow.  Please visit our Donate page to help support our students and our ranch.
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Your Gift Empowers Action!!!
We hope you and your loved ones stay strong as we all navigate these challenging days together.  We would love to hear from you!  Please email info@riataranchinternational.org to say hello!
 
All the Best,
Jennifer Nicholson
Executive Director, Riata Ranch International

Our belief at Riata Ranch is that hard work and community service builds great leaders. To be driven and
successful in business, government, or any arena, skills need to be developed and passions nurtured.
Riata Ranch has a unique mentorship program with training that allows young women to thrive.

The 5 Tenets of Riata Ranch

Our programs strive to empower young women and girls through “life lessons learned on horseback” by incorporating the following 5 tenets:

1. Horsemanship

We teach so much more than riding lessons – horse care, riding, gaits, safety, performance, showmanship – to take you from a beginner to rodeo-ready!

2. Leadership

Our training is ultimately about being part of a team, contributing, and finding your own way to shine.  We groom girls to become strong, confident leaders in all areas of life.

3. Mentorship

Our veteran riders help the younger girls, assist with clinics, and share their knowledge and experience to foster trust and build lifelong friendships.

4. Education

Not only do we provide education about horses, rodeos, and our local environment, we also go out into schools to demonstrate our skills and tell our stories.  We welcome FFA and 4H members.

5. Community Service

We offer many volunteer opportunities as part of our “Ranch Life” program and our members contribute to community events and fundraisers.

Something for Everyone

Lessons

All skills levels are welcome to take riding and roping lessons, clinics, or camps.  We have the ability to work with students from the very beginning or prepare them for professional careers. Anything you dream, we can help you achieve.

Friendly Staff

Our professional staff all started at Riata Ranch International or are currently on our performance team.  Each trainer knows what it’s like to have a passion and work tirelessly to perfect their craft, and they are eager to help others on their journey.

Volunteer Opportunities

We offer a wide variety of ways for people to get involved and give back.  Whether you want to experience working on a ranch, learning to care for animals, or like to coordinate activities – we have a place for you!

Internships

High school and college students looking for work experience are welcome to apply for internships or submit project proposals.  Suggested majors include: agriculture, business admin, equestrian, nonprofit admin, sports team management, gardening, and more.

Mentoring

When girls see women living their dreams, they believe they can too.  Our alumni enjoy teaching new students, helping them overcome mental and physical blocks, and supporting them as they achieve their dreams.  We believe in you.

Awesome Horses

Our horses are some of the smartest, strongest, and most loved animals you will meet.  We train our horses to be responsive to the rider and give them jobs to do.  Nights around 5pm, we invite you to meet them and come help us feed them.

Support Riata

Donations support our mentorship program to help our
​amazing students become the best Western riders they can be!

Donate

Volunteer and Internship Opportunities

Riata Ranch has many exciting volunteer and internship opportunities:  learn about horses, agriculture, ranch life, and so much more!

Volunteer

Internship

Our Weekly Classes

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Life lessons learned on horseback.

I would like to welcome you and your family to come visit the ranch and join us at our events.  If you have a horse lover in your family, we are the best place to introduce them to what it means to live and work on a horse ranch.  You never know where the trail will take you…. DREAM BIG!

Jennifer Welch Nicholson
​Executive Director

What I love is that the message remains the same all these years later.  Hard work and dedication pay off.  My path to success was started at Riata Ranch.  The fundamentals I learned I carry with me still.

Jana Copley Bahney
Riata Ranch Alumnus

From the first time I visited the ranch, I could see that my young kids were in love.  We joined right away.  We are too young for lessons really, but we have fed horses and cows, poked around in the garden, and joined in group lessons and summer camps.  It so great to get the kids outside, learning to care for animals.

Andrea Holeman
Member

Ride with us.

Jennifer Welch Nicholson

Executive Director/Historian/ Guided Ranch Tours

Jennifer has been part of the ranch since the 1970’s and has performed with The Cowboy Girls around the world.   Today she leads Riata Ranch International as the Executive  Director, educating students in Western riding and performance as each student develops their personal strength, confidence, and pride.   She is a product of our programs and eagerly teaches students and trains horses to become world-class performers.  Her leadership skills have been the driving force of Riata Ranch's success for over 20 years, and now she is bringing her message to groups, classrooms, and youth all across the US.

Click the button below to learn more about Jennifer, her history with Riata Ranch International, and her achievements riding with the Cowboy Girls.

Jen's Biography

Riata Gear

Check out our highlighted Riata Ranch gear below, or check out our shop for all sorts of fun Western gear!

Riata Ranch Branded Ornament

$10.00

This beautiful ~3" wooden ornament makes a great decoration for around the home and ranch and each one is personally hand-cut from wood on our ranch then branded by one of our Riata gals. We then add a layer of Shellac for a lovely sheen finish and lace it with natural twine. A great gift for any Western culture lover!

Shop

Western Rope

$25.00

Want to spin a Flat Loop, Butterflies, Around The World, Wedding Rings, or other amazing roping tricks? Or maybe you'd like to learn to lasso and become a master roper? Either way, you're going to need yourself a sturdy Western Rope at your side and Riata Ranch has one ready justfor you to get off on your Western journey.

Shop

Riata Ranch Scarf

$10.00

This beautiful silk scarf decorated in a elegant roping pattern tied together with the Riata Ranch International brand is a versatile piece to add to your collection. This 21"x21" silk scarf can be worn as a traditional scarf, or be creative and enjoy it as a headband, ribbon, or to highlight your favorite piece around the house! the Riata Ranch Scarf beautifies and adds elegance to your collection.

Shop

Riata Ranch Legacy Wine Release 

Riata Ranch Legacy Wine Release — Vintage Press Restaurant. Monday November 15, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM. Wines by Torch Cellars, Vinter, Mark Welch —Riata Ranch International, Jennifer Nicholson
$25 per person includes appetizers by Chef, David Vartanian & complimentary wine by Toch Cellars and Riata Ranch International Cabernet Sauvignon
Hosted by Jennifer Nicholson & Mark Welch …a family tradition

Riata Ranch Legacy Wine Release

Riata Ranch International is a fully operational ranch open 24 hours year-round.  We're happy to have visitors at any time on our ranch; the hours listed below are specifically hours for classes.

Contact Info

42390 Kaweah River Rd
Three Rivers, CA
info@riata.org
(559) 303-0729

Class Hours

Monday-Friday:  8am-3pm
Saturday:  8am-6pm
Sunday 8am-3pm