“My husband’s family has done this more than 25 years,” she said. “When we married, it’s a tradition we wanted to involve our children in. We’ve done it 15 years.”
Her daughter, Brooke, 7, is quite an equestrian, she said.
“She runs barrels and everything.”
Logan, 3½, will ride for the second time this year. He rode in the saddle with his dad last year. But he has his own pony for this year’s parade.
“He really handles his horse very well,” Mrs. Dunlap said.
She said her husband rodeos with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
“He’s usually signed up for the Belton rodeo but didn’t sign up this year,” she said. “We’ll be going to some rodeos, though, in Belton, Wimberley and Lake Inn.”
Mrs. Dunlap said her sisters-in-law decorated their horses for the Belton parade when they were children. One year they were all pink.
“Brooke decorates her horse every year and then it’s ready when she rides in the grand entry in the Belton rodeo,” Mrs. Dunlap said.
Brooke paints and cuts out giant red, white and blue stars to go on her horse’s hindquarters. Ribbons for the mane and hood are also red, white and blue.
She said Brooke would ride Hobo, a bay gelding; Logan will ride Dunny - a dun horse.
“Ryon will ride Lyle - as in Lyle Lovett,” she said laughing. “I’ll stay on the sidelines this year and take photos.”
After the parade, the Dunlap clan will gather for a family barbecue with watermelon and games for the kids. Then it’s off to the rodeo in Belton.
“That’s what I think of when it comes to the Fourth of July,” she said. “It’s parades and barbecues and rodeos.”
