Riata Ranch was created in 1957 and became a unique riding school for young people combining horsemanship and character development, a concept that was well ahead of its time. The program provides an opportunity to learn about western heritage while gaining valuable life lessons. An interesting and fun atmosphere is created while maintaining discipline and direction for an effective learning environment. The quality of instruction is designed so that each student gains a positive set of values of which to guide them through the rest of their lives.

The idea is to prepare young people for the world's challenges in a manner that ensures their success and contributes to the happiness of everyone who are fortunate enough to meet them. The training benefits the whole person, body and soul, through a balance of intellectual, physical, artistic & moral lessons. The ranch's enduring principles become so internalized that each rider will forever measure his or her choices against the Riata Ranch philosophy.

Riata was created by late founder, Tommy Maier. Today Riata Ranch International is under the direction of Jennifer Welch, who has been associated with Riata Ranch for 30 years starting as a young student and then becoming one of the four original trick riding performers in the late 1970s, an international team leader in the 1980s through the 1990s and administrative staff for the last 10 years.