FORT WORTH, Texas — Five days into the Extreme Mustang Makeover, Natchez horse trainer David Carter didn’t know what kind of horse he had been given in the national competition to tame wild horses in 100 days.

After eight minutes of performing Saturday, it became official. Carter and his horse were legends. The two took the fourth place trophy.

Carter competed against 168 trainers from 38 states across the country.

Before Saturday night’s Freestyle Finals, Carter sat solidly in third place after an impressive third round.

Competing with some of the superstars of the horse training industry, Carter wowed a crowded Will Rogers Arena with both his horsemanship and showmanship skills.

Carter brought out all of his extreme moves. Popping balloons with a pistol, cracking a whip while standing atop Silverado, who was also standing on a small wooden platform, Carter did it all to the sounds of “Eye of the Tiger” and “We are the Champions”.

To thunderous applause, Carter and Silverado received 9 and 9.5 scores in both the technical and artistic categories.

With his son Coleman in the saddle, Carter took a victory lap, giving high fives to children reaching their hands out to congratulate the Natchez stars.

Earlier in the day, Carter was named to the list of the top 10 horses after an almost flawless third-round routine. There was little doubt in the minds of the Natchez contingent that Carter would make it to the finals.

Four hours later, those predictions came true as Carter was officially named to the competition’s elite.

Sporting T-shirts emblazoned with a picture of Carter riding Silverado, almost 50 people traveled from Natchez to root for Carter and Silverado. As Silverado made it through the third round, the group of fans rose to its feet to show its loud approval.

“Isn’t it great?” Paige Carter asked after Saturday’s announcement.

One of the missions of the Extreme Mustang Makeover is to highlight the trainability of wild mustangs. The culmination of the weekend competition is Sunday’s adoption of all of the horse competitors — including Silverado.

Carter hopes that his horse will follow him home to Natchez.

“All along we have had the intention of adopting him,” Carter said. “Because of the blood, sweat and tears that I have put into him over the last 100 days, we want to bring him home.”

Saturday’s accomplishments may have complicated his goal. With the success and the exposure, many other people have expressed interest in the horse.

“The good thing is that he is as good as we thought. The bad thing is that I am sure a lot more people want him, too,” Carter said.