Ep 7. The Starting Gate

Amy Fleming and Ty Borden are excited to bring their show jumping horse Lion's Den to a prestigious competition at the starting gate, but their excitement is quickly dampened when they discover that their fellow competitor is Ashley Stanton, an arrogant and wealthy rider who has a history of playing dirty.

Ashley's presence at the competition is not the only thing putting Amy and Ty on edge. They are both dealing with personal struggles that could affect their performance in the competition. Ty is still grappling with the aftermath of his father's death and his strained relationship with his mother, and Amy is struggling to balance her duties on the ranch with her relationship with Ty.

As the competition gets underway, tensions rise between Amy and Ashley, and it becomes clear that Ashley is not above using underhanded tactics to win. Ty also faces some unexpected challenges when he is forced to confront his past in order to move forward.

Meanwhile, Lou Fleming struggles to keep up with all the demands of her job as the manager of Heartland, as well as her responsibilities as a new mother. She is also dealing with unexpected tension in her marriage as her husband, Peter, starts to feel left out of her life.

Throughout the episode, the characters must navigate these personal struggles while also striving for success in the arena. Will they be able to come out on top, both in their personal lives and in the competition, or will their struggles prove too much to overcome?

The Starting Gate is a heartfelt and emotional episode that explores the challenges of balancing personal struggles with professional success. With engaging performances and high stakes competition scenes, it is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats until the very end.