By Pete Tucker

 

She was only age six,
Mom, Dad and brother in tow.
Rachel tip-toed into town.
How would anybody know?

A barrel racing future
Soon became clear.
On the back of a horse,
She rode with no fear, ride on.

RIDE ON TO YOUR RODEO, RACHEL, RIDE ON

She soon begged Mom
At the 4H fair.
Mom, show me those horses,
I just wanna stare, ride on.

The family came to know
That Rachel wasn’t just messin’.
Ma, she pleaded once more,
I gotta have a lesson, ride on.

Aunt Julie gave Rachel
For her eighth birthday
Eight riding lessons
And the family would say,

This horse is just a fad.
It certainly won’t last.
She’ll get her butt thrown.
It’ll soon be past, ride on.

She was riding all English,
But that was much too formal.
It just wasn’t Rachel.
It just wasn’t normal.

So, the English gave way
To ridin’ rough and tumble.
Now you were talkin’,
A style more humble. Ride on.

RIDE ON TO YOUR RODEO RACHEL, RIDE ON.

A phenom began to happen
Every now and then.
Rachel riding up our lane,
Then again and again.

No ordinary cowgirl,
Truth be told.
She sat tall behind the withers.
She was pretty. She was bold. Ride on.

RIDE ON TO YOUR RODEO RACHEL, RIDE ON.

Ya might never see her riding
With the usual tack,
Piece of rope for a bridle,
No saddle on the back.

Carefree on her mount,
Rides with nothing to lose.
She rode through the briars,
She wore no shoes. Ride on.

The time has come!
Rachel, tighten your spur.
You’re off to the rodeo!
Forget times that were!

The future is now what matters
For the girl down the road.
There’s other horses to ride,
Paths that ain’t been strode.

Since she rode into to town
We’ve all come to know,
When it comes to riding horses,
Rachel’s not the status quo, ride on.

She’s off to do what she wants to,
Something most of us only hope.
Mom and Pop were wise
To give her all that rope.

So, Rachel, round every barrel,
Then just ride like the wind!
May many a Blue
On the bridle be pinned!

Until you come back to see us,
And we’re hoping that won’t be long,
We leave you with but one notion.
Ride on Rachel, ride on!