TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Ten-year-old Cherokee citizen Trinity Hobbs has been barrel racing since she was four years old and will make her first appearance at the Indian National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. This is only the second year for the INFR to have juniors barrels represented in the finals rodeo.

"We're happy to represent the Cherokee Nation at the Indian National Finals Rodeo.

Trinity will compete on Nov. 7. She'll have two runs that day and then if she makes it to the short go she'll run again Saturday," said Neely Hobbs, Trinity's mother.

To get to nationals Trinity had to stay in first place in the junior barrels, 15 and under division for the entire year.

"We had six rodeos this year. She's stayed in the top of every one of them, she's been really consistent and we've really been proud of her new horse," Neely said.

Trinity said up to this point it been a lot of hard work.

"I stayed in first place for a whole year in barrel racing and been working really hard," she said. "Very excited because I want to see what it's (rodeo finals) like.

Trinity's horse is named Lakota. She is a ten-year-old registered paint mare, Neely said.

"I've had her for a year. She's really good, and I really like her," Trinity said.

Neely said as a mother, she is very proud that Trinity has done as well as she has because they have put in a lot of hard work to get to nationals.

If Trinity places first at INFR she will win several prizes and receive a national title.

"She'll win a saddle, she'll get a national title and she'll be ranked first in the world in junior barrels in the INFR," she added. "If she places she will receive money on top of a saddle, a buckle and various other prizes that they have for them."

Neely said as a child she also ran barrels and she was happy to be able to share this with her daughter.

"I ran barrels whenever I was younger. It's just something I've been able to pass down to her and she enjoys it," she said. "I'm really proud of her, she's done really good."

The family has raised money to help with expenses for nationals and will have their last two fundraisers this week before leaving for nationals on Nov. 4.