Dakota finished a little less than an hour later and walked Secret to the trailer after dismounting. She loosened the mare's girth and swapped the bridle out for a halter before tying her to the trailer. Dakota grabbed Secret's haynet and hung it in front of her horse before sitting on one of the lawn chairs she had brought, hoping Nate would come talk to her

Dakota looked over at Nate. She smiled and got up, walking over to him. "Hey." She said. "What you competing in tonight?" She asked, leaning on the truck bed

"Just barrels and poles if I get lucky enough for Splash to have the energy." She said, smiling. "I'll watch you." She offered, stepping closer to him

"I should go grab Secret" She said, turning and walking over to her mare. She put the bridle back on the dancing mare. "You excited tonight, girl?" Dakota asked, patting Secret's neck and tightening the cinch. She mounted up and shot a smile at Nate while she jogged by on Secret. Splash hung her head low before tossing it up, nearly prancing in anticipation.

Dakota's event was next, so she loped Splash to the warm-up arena to get ready and wait with the other contestants. When her name was called, she pushed everything from her mind, even Nate. Emma held Splash back even though the mare was bouncing and half rearing as they neared the alley. She tugged her horse's head down, nearing the 10 meter mark from the timers. She let the paint mare go, blazing around the first barrel, nearly knocking over the second, and easily rounding the third. She shot through the timer with a final time of 15.03 seconds. A new arena record and personal record. "Holy shit." She muttered, patting the mare's neck and jogging back to the trailers. She beamed at Nate again, pleased with her run. She tied up Splash and walked over to Nate as soon as she knotted the leadrope. "Holy shit! An arena record!" She said up at him