In barrel racing, the fastest time wins.

“It's boots and chaps
It's cowboy hats
It's spurs and latigo
It's the ropes and the reins
And the joy and the pain
And they call the thing rodeo.”

– Garth Brooks, Rodeo

And we mean fast as in full tilt, on fire out of the chute, adrenaline pumping, giddy-up-go. There are times a rider is out of sync with the horse; other times, the horse isn't up to par. But when it all comes together, watch out.

Running barrels can be a family affair – riding and competing builds trust, confidence, persistence. Fun and enjoyment are part of the overall event. This builds a set of skills for life as well – the teamwork between horse and human, setting goals, staying in condition, practice, practice, practice – preparation for travel, then getting into the arena.

At the recent Goshen Stampede, so much was seen, heard, observed. There's more about results of competition when the dust settles.

“Rodeo-type events also became popular for a time in the big cities of the Eastern United States, with large venues such as Madison Square Garden playing a part in popularizing them for new crowds. There was no standardization of events for a rodeo competition until 1929, when associations began forming.

“In the 1970s, rodeo saw unprecedented growth. Contestants referred to as “the new breed” brought rodeo increasing media attention. These contestants were young, often from an urban background, and chose rodeo for its athletic rewards. By 1985, one third of PRCA members had a college education and one half of the competitors had never worked on a cattle ranch. … Many other professional rodeos are held outside, under the same conditions of heat, cold, dust or mud as were the original events.

“…Today, women's barrel racing is included as a competitive event in professional rodeo, with breakaway roping and goat tying added at collegiate and lower levels. They compete equally with men in team roping, sometimes in mixed teams.” – Wikipedia

“When I step on a horse, it feels like me… like everything I need.” – Chayni Chamberlain, who rides a 14-year-old quarter horse gelding named Flo Joe.

And not only is being part of a rodeo rewarding, but serious prizes can be involved. Take a look at (then-) 9-year-old barrel racer Chayni Chamberlain who competed for a $1.1 million prize at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

There are now more daylight hours to ride and savor the journey – it's summer. The summer solstice June 20, 6:34 p.m., is the longest day of the year.

The best thing to spend with people you care about is time – especially the young ones. Make memories by doing things together and listening. Dig a garden. Go fishing. Take a walk around a park, pick one. Go feed the ducks. Watch airplanes take off and land. Go to the beach and bring a hand trowel, a plastic shovel, an old cup. Chase the waves as they roll in and back out again. Find a great song (Broadway, oldies, Disney) and let it rip on the way there and back again. Make some deviled eggs together. Hook up the sprinkler and run through it. Take a big blanket and make a pretend tent – do it outside and later roast some marshmallows. Introduce your offspring to the real things in life – should they love equines, find a way to get them on horseback, around horses, volunteer, take lessons, reach out.