Published: August 27, 2007 12:34 pm      

A family affair

Bailey will go on to compete in the MRCA finals in Ardmore

DUNCAN — Riding may be a passion to some, but for the Lehew family of Bray, riding is a family affair.

On Saturday, the youngest of the Lehews, Bailey, 6, competed in the Stephens County Free Fair Horse Show at the Stephens County fairgrounds. Her parents, Chad and Tammi, were there to root for her.

Bailey, who likes competing in the barrel races, won first place in pole bending, barrel racing, horsemanship and western pleasure. She also will compete in the MRCA finals in Ardmore. It will be her first finals at which she gets to compete.

She is following in the tradition of her parents, who have participated in rodeos and competitions.

In keeping with this heritage, her mom barrel races and her dad team ropes. Chad said he was carrying on the legacy set by his grandfather.

“My grandfather was a cowboy forever,” he said. “I’m still carrying on the tradition at a ranch in Bray.”

While the Lehews might ride horses and compete as a family, Chad said the rodeo circuit also acted as a family.

“It has a family atmosphere,” he said.

“Where else can you take your wife and children, and still have fun?

“We watch out for one another. Everyone knows everyone else’s kids. That’s the great part of it.”

Tammi said she enjoyed the rodeo and competitions because of this family atmosphere.

“Rodeo is high in its own class,” she said. “I like the closeness.

“You have a true family life that a lot of people don’t have, anymore.”

She said she is happy Bailey had friends in riding contests, although they compete against each other.

“They get to be really close and root for one another,” Tammi said.

“That’s what we try to teach her, not to be selfish.”

Bailey has been riding horses since she was 2 or 3, Chad said. Since then, she has become competitive, much like her parents.

During Saturday’s show, Bailey rode her horse, Grandpa, around obstacles, including poles and barrels.

She said she likes to compete because she likes meeting up with her friends and spending time with her parents.

She said she also likes the competition.

“I like to run barrels,” Bailey said.

Tammi said by having the family doing such an activity together, they would be able to avoid problems that might rise later for their first-grade daughter.

“We want to keep her involved and keep us together,” Tammi said. “I think it will keep her away from drugs.”

Chad said they did everything as a family, which included competing.

“I guess we don’t get far from our roots,” he said.