After signing with NBC in 1965 Diane Roter refused to have a double do her horseback riding scenes. She took horseback riding lessons at the age of seventeen. She did her own riding on the series. Despite her lessons her first day on the set in 110 degree weather was not a good day. She got blisters from her new boots, and to make matters worse, was thrown from her horse. She continued taking riding lessons throughout her work on The Virginian.