Sweethearts of the Rodeo by Kevin C. Downs

2015 Miss Rodeo America LAUREN...1, 2015/Kevin C. Downs/Cosmos)

2015 Miss Rodeo America LAUREN HEATON, in the arena at Cowtown Rodeo, in Woodstown, NJ. (July 11, 2015/Kevin C. Downs/Cosmos)

Taylor Young, (R) a young 22-y... eventually lost that evening.

Taylor Young, (R) a young 22-year old Professional Rodeo Athlete, with friends at Cowtown Rodeo, before she rides in the event that she eventually lost that evening.

Â Petite and small 8-year old ...he 3rd generation of horsemen.

Â Petite and small 8-year old Cheyenne Gugliotti has won the 2014 Barrel Racing Championship for her age group. She attended Cowtown Rodeo last Saturday, not to compete, but to make sure her father is OK. Every Saturday when he competes in bull riding, she is there by his side while Cheyenne's mom is recovering from injuries to her face after a horse riding accident; some of the bones on her face were broken. They both attend cowboy church to pray for his safety. Last Saturday, her father shirt was torn but otherwise, he was okay. They live in Connecticut on a ranch; her father is the 3rd generation of horsemen.

Rodeo Queens waiting to enter ...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Rodeo Queens waiting to enter into the Cowtown Arena on July 11, 2015. New Jersey. (Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Kelsey Wallace, Miss Teen Rode...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Kelsey Wallace, Miss Teen Rodeo New Jersey, before the start of the rodeo at Cowtown Rodeo in Woodstown, NJ.Â (Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young checking Tsunami&...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young checking Tsunami's braids at the Malibu Rodeo in Milford, Pennsylvania.(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young feeding Tsunami b...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young feeding Tsunami before the Malibu Rodeo in Milford, Pennsylvania.Â (Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young with her mother A...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young with her mother Anna Shields-Young and Jayme Myers, her sister, and trainer, inside of their caravan, discussing her ride tonight at the Malibu Rodeo in Milford, Pennsylvania. This is the first time her mother will be seeing Taylor compete in a rodeo.Â (Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young's cowboy boo...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young's cowboy boots in the doorway of her caravan at the Malibu Rodeo in Milford, Pennsylvania.Â (Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young kisses Tsunami af...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young kisses Tsunami after giving him peppermint candies as a snack before the Malibu Rodeo in Milford, Pennsylvania.Â (Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young carrying her cham...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young carrying her championship saddle to place on Tsunami before the Malibu Rodeo in Milford, Pennsylvania.Â (Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young talking to Jayme ...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young talking to Jayme Myers, her sister, and trainer, about barrel-racing techniques at Malibu Rodeo in Milford, Pennsylvania.Â Â (Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Tsunami nudges Taylor Young wh...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Tsunami nudges Taylor Young while she is listening to the announcer about a young male bull rider who was severely injured at Malibu Rodeo in Milford, Pennsylvania.Â (Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Â Taylor Young listening to th...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Â Taylor Young listening to the announcer about a young male bull rider who was severely injured at Malibu Rodeo in Milford, Pennsylvania.Â Â (Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young looking at decora...nia. Kevin C. Downs for Cosmos

Taylor Young looking at decorated leather harnesses for horses, with friends from Cowtown Rodeo, at Malibu Rodeo in Milford, Pennsylvania. Kevin C. Downs for Cosmos

Taylor Young looking at decora...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young looking at decorated leather harnesses for horses, with friends from Cowtown Rodeo, at Malibu Rodeo in Milford, Pennsylvania.Â (Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young and her mother An...nia. Kevin C. Downs for Cosmos

Taylor Young and her mother Ann Shields-Young, pose for a photo taken by an iPhone by Jayme Myers, her sister, and trainer, at Malibu Rodeo in Milford, Pennsylvania. Kevin C. Downs for Cosmos

Taylor Young and Tsunami compe...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young and Tsunami competing in barrel racing at the Cowtown, New Jersey.Â Â (Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young, (R) a young 22-y...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Taylor Young, (R) a young 22-year old Professional Rodeo Athlete, with friends at Cowtown Rodeo, before she rides in the event that she eventually lost that evening.(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

DEVIN REDDING in her US Army u...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

DEVIN REDDING in her US Army uniform at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. She is the 2015 Miss Rodeo North Carolina and First Lieutenant/ Finance Officer at Fort Bragg Special Forces Airborne. She spent three tours serving as a Finance Officer in both Fort Bragg and Kabul, Afghanistan. (August 22, 2015)Â (Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Devin Redding, with Victoria J...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Devin Redding, with Victoria Jeddrie, at the stables where her horses are kept in North Carolina. August 21, 2015Â (Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Devin Redding, with Chelsea Bo...(Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Devin Redding, with Chelsea Bowman, racing their horses before Devin leaves for South Carolina. August 22, 2015Â (Kevin C. Downs/Agence Cosmos)

Devin Redding, with Victoria J..., 2015 (Kevin C. Downs/Cosmos)

Devin Redding, with Victoria Jeddrie, giving her horse a big kiss in the stables where her horses are kept in North Carolina. August 21, 2015 (Kevin C. Downs/Cosmos)

DEVIN REDDING in her Miss Rode...2, 2015/Kevin C. Downs/Cosmos)

DEVIN REDDING in her Miss Rodeo uniform, with young fans at the 10th Annual Sandy Oaks Pro Rodeo in South Carolina. She is the 2015 Miss Rodeo North Carolina and First Lieutenant/ Finance Officer at Fort Bragg Special Forces Airborne. She spent three tours serving as a Finance Officer in both Fort Bragg and Kabul, Afghanistan. (August 22, 2015/Kevin C. Downs/Cosmos)