Dust flew as the Delaney children and their horses showed their competitive forms. It was a warm

Saturday in August, only a couple of days before school was to begin again for the brother and sister, 13 and 11.

With practiced movements and just the right postures, Nicole and Paul guided Choc and Cajun around the homemade arena &045; a work in progress, their parents say.

The gentle slope from the back of the comfortable ranch-style house north of Natchez ends with the flat stretch where the arena and a sturdy barn are evidence of the family’s love affair with horses. The affection is one both inborn and cultivated, mother Penny Delaney said.

&uot;I always wanted to have a horse, but my dad never would let me have one,&uot; Penny said. &uot;When we found this house, we fell in love with it. And I knew we could have horses.&uot;

She had begun early in her own children’s lives to expose them to the wonders of horses. &uot;I would take them to the barns at Liberty Park so they could see the horses,&uot; she said. &uot;We’d walk up and down those aisles and dream.&uot;

Two years ago, she and the children began to take horse-riding lessons. And they bought the first horse.

&uot;One horse was not enough,&uot; she said. &uot;The kids were fighting over who would ride.&uot;

One led to two. Two led, finally, to six, she said. The investment is a big one. And the responsibility is even bigger.

&uot;We ride 365 days of the year. The children learn to take care of the horses. They have to feed them, clean the stalls and be sure they have water,&uot; Penny said. &uot;Learning responsibility is a big part of it. Learning patience, too.&uot;

Husband and father Randy Delaney does not ride but is heavily involved in the family activity. &uot;Whatever it takes, I’ll try to do it,&uot; he said. &uot;They may ride and practice without me. But seldom do I miss a show.&uot;

In fact, he is their rock, Penny said. He drives them to and from competitive shows. And he takes part with other parents at 4-H equestrian meets to help set up the arena and perform other tasks.

&uot;Randy helps saddle, keeps us fed, drives us home &045; he’s the support system,&uot; Penny said. &uot;And he has given me the desire of my heart. Raising kids and having horses, what more could one want?&uot;

Only two years into the competitive horse riding, both Nicole and Paul have begun to shine. &uot;There’s no limit to what they can do,&uot; Penny said. Both enjoy pleasure walking and barrel races. Now they are becoming interested in roping.

Nicole, who is a sixth-grader at Adams County Christian School, said having horses is plenty of work but also good fun.

&uot;It’s fun and it’s a lot of responsibility,&uot; she said. &uot;You have to bathe them, clean their stalls, work them and make sure they have plenty of food and water. And you have to just spend time with them.&uot;

Nicole sat upon Choc as she talked, taking a break from practice. &uot;At the meets, Choc just goes in like she owns the place,&uot; she said. &uot;You could do a handstand on her back and she would stand still.&uot;

As members of the Dixie Riding Club, the family takes part in area competitions as well as state. The local competitions no longer are held in Natchez &045; primarily in Bude now &045; because the arena at Liberty Park was closed a couple of years ago.

Paul said he likes riding for practice but he really likes competitions. &uot;That tells me what I have to work on,&uot; he said.

Building a new arena in the Foster Mound area will be a boost for all who love horse competitions, Randy said. And he is doing his part, along with colleagues at R.W. Delaney Construction, where he is supervisor.

&uot;I moved the bleachers from the Liberty Park arena. We donated the time. The company will do as much as we can to help out,&uot; Randy said.

Meanwhile, he will continue to accompany his family and help as needed. &uot;I can’t ride as good as they can. I can’t do what they do,&uot; he said. &uot;But it makes your chest swell a little bit to see them do so good.&uot;