From the Clovis Rodeo to the Queen of England

FRESNO, Calif.

They gave Action News a sneak peek of what she will see and the logistics it will take to pull it off.

The Riata Ranch in Exeter is where young girls come to learn about horses, the ranching life and leadership. They are The Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls.

Some will rise to the traveling team performing their riding and roping in arenas in the US and around the world. But on Tuesday morning another focus as members of a new team of grown-up cowgirls and cowboys practice what will be seen in England at the queen's Jubilee Pageant.

Jennifer Nicholson said, "I've done a lot of things in my life but this is the top of the list. This is absolutely the top of the list."

The queen wanted authentic 19-hundred Americana, she'll see the fast riding cowboy of the pony express. Robert Borba is a working cowboy in this century.

"It's not easy," said Borba. "It's not something you'll get rich at but it's rich in other ways. As for the country you get to see, the places you get to go."

Clay Maier is a horseman raised in the Valley who lives in Kentucky. It was there an Englishman approached him looking for an act for the queen's equestrian theme. The connection led to being the only Americans to be invited.

"I really look forward to spending 10 days with people like this but from there," said Maier. "They gotta heard three head of cattle, two cowboys. We got real good cowboys, so I'm not too worried about it."

The presentation will include cattle driving, Native Americans, a stage coach run and roping by the seasoned cowboy-girls of Exeter.

Nicholson said, "We get to go over and represent the United States with people we've grown up with right here in the Central Valley."

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