They Prefer the "Other" Sport...

They look just like the American kid living on a farm-ranch operation. They know the ups and down of the adventures as well. These three are no strangers to physical work, chores, responsibility or late nights.

Meet the McEwen kids, Morgan, 17, Flint, 15 and Maddy,12. They are the bright and smiling faces that arrived via stork to Jerey and Christi McEwen.

While friends their age are waiting for the bell to ring and a chance to visit with their friends in the hallway between classes, the McEwen crew is home-schooled. When their friends are heading to the football field or volleyball courts, the McEwen's are heading to the corrals. The sport they love best and thrive, starts in the corrals, the barns and the worked arena...their sport of choice is with their horses...they love the rodeo world.

The daily routine at the McEwen's is one of both dedication and responsibility. They sit at the kitchen table and do their lessons, like their friends do, except on occasion they attend "class" in their pajamas...which isn't unusual considering how many people in the world shop, eat out and tend to daily business in their pajamas. It's just that these three have never been pictured on social media checking out at Walmart, pajamas crimpled and half-staff making a fashion statement.

When the algebra and literature are done, the work begins.

Time is spent in the barns and corrals grooming and caring for the animals. Chores and care are a daily routine. The animals come first.

Practice, practice, practice begins in the arena area. It is most intense from April to October when the competitions are on, but the animals are kept in top-quality condition year round. The objective of the rodeo season is to continually improve on the performance of the horse.

All three kids compete in events where speed and accuracy are the name of the game. You don't become a competitive threat to others if your animal isn't at their best. And that takes practice.

Strong friendships are built throughout the sports. The kids get to know their competitors and they become friends...and family.

All three McEwen's got their start in the world of rodeos when they entered the Boots and Saddles at Trafton Park. Long before they could reach the stirrups without help, at around the age of two, their love for rodeo started and has only grown since then. All three said they were too young to remember it, but it was their first and the beginning of what is more than likely what they will be enjoying for the rest of their lives.

Being around horses helped immensely in building strong skills and interests. They grew up with it like other kids grew up with a basketball, football or volleyball in their hands.

Morgan participates in barrels, poles, goat tying, breakaway and when roping when is the header. Brother Flint is the healer in roping, and he and Morgan team up.

Besides team roping, Flint does breakaway.

Maddy does barrels, poles, goat tying and breakaway.

The three are fortunate in that the injuries they sustained have been minor, compared to a torn ACL or fractured leg. Flint has been fortunate to have never been injured, and Maddy managed to limit incidents to having fallen off twice. Morgan said she has hit barrels that left scars on both knees. She stated that "...when I was younger..." she went off her sorrel horse and banged up her arm pretty bad.

The sport of rodeo also provides for memories. Flint said the best memories for him were "out at Lodgepole kids open rodeo this year." His most frustrating barrier is "...when I miss a heel shot!" As to how he balances home school and chores and rodeo? He replied, "...I don't...but I try hard."

Maddy said, as to what makes the most memories for her, "I have lots from the summer, but my top ones would be winning the Jr. Breakaway in Opheim and Chinook on Danny at the NRA rodeos and also winning a beautiful All Around Saddle and three buckles on Danny, and winning two buckles on Tex."

Morgan said, "I have been blessed with amazing horses throughout my life, and each of them made me the rider I am today. So, just my horses in general make the best memories for me."

She said, "When you have solid horses the frustrating parts are few and far between, as far as barriers. But some days rodeo will humble you quite quickly. Getting used to new horses takes time and can be frustrating, but eventually it all comes together."

All three agreed on one thing and that was the question posed as to where their interest in rodeo came from...and they answered "I grew up with it." Morgan summed it up, "My parents started it all when I was young, and I have been hooked on it since."

Come next spring when the season resumes, check with these three and see where they are headed, and if you are able, go support them, as they compete "in the other sport."