Celeste Mendoza started competing in barrel racing when she was just 12-years-old.

“She learned to ride, and then she got better and better,” Celeste’s mom — Eliza — said. “By the time you know it, she wanted to go compete in San Antonio, so she needed a trailer."

Eliza said that instead of getting her daughter a quinceañera, her family surprised Celeste with a horse trailer.

Now as a 16-year-old in high school student, Celeste is setting her sights on getting college scholarships through competitions.

Eliza said on Feb. 14, she and Celeste came to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Posse Arena in Edinburg where they store the trailer. 

They went there to feed the horses and noticed something was off.

“My husband always has the habit of looking over and checking on the trailer, and he's like, ‘wait a minute — the trailer is not there,’” Eliza said.

The family called police and filed a report. 

Investigators told Channel 5 News they’re searching the area for evidence.

The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Posse Arena is not affiliated with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.

While other trailers sit locked, Eliza said she wonders how her daughter's trailer was stolen if it was also locked.

“We're really hoping to get our trailer back because we need a way to take our horses to the vet and to continue to compete,” Eliza said.

Those with any information on the theft are urged to contact the Edinburg Police Department at 956-289-7700.

Watch the video above for the full story.