In a bizarre accident, a Texas teenager who was tending a sick calf was seriously injured and died later after being drug by a horse.
The Lott Volunteer Fire Department said to KWTX-TV that the man’s legs got tangled and the horse dragged him quite a long distance across an open field.
The Falls County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Ace Patton Ashford’s 18-year-old death on Facebook. “We are deeply moved by the loss Ace Ashford.” We send our condolences to his family.”
Sydney Boatright wrote, “I love you forever, ace Patton,” on Facebook, along with a picture of the two. Ashford’s mom, Jamie Ashford wrote on Facebook: “I miss Ace so much!” “I love you even more!”
Ashford, who had graduated in the spring from Rosebud-Lott High School, was now preparing to attend Hill College with a rodeo-related scholarship.
His obituary stated that Ace loved the cowboy lifestyle and was the definition of an honest country boy. “Ace loved rodeo and was known as ‘Header” in Team Roping. Ace spent countless hours roping to achieve his full potential.
According to KWTX, Ashford was airlifted from the scene to a hospital where he later died.
Ace was adored by all who knew him. Ace was a kind man who never met a stranger. He also had a very old soul, according to the obituary. “He would do anything to lend a hand to anyone who was in need.”
According to Team Roping Journal, Cody Snow, a fellow rodeo head Cody Snow described Ashford as “about as pure and as you can get.”
The father of the high school partner said to the Journal: “I spent time with him and I can tell you that he was not a talker. He didn’t bother anyone.” He would have preferred to be out there treating yearlings rather than attending a roping. He was a nice kid. It’s hard to describe how good he was. He was the one who would push everyone’s steers at the high school rodeos.
Marcus Becerra is a rodeo banner. He told the Journal that Ashford was what you would want your son to become. It hurt a lot because of that. Everyone knows what a good kid he is, how polite he is, and how respectful he is. He was good at riding horses, had great manners, and was an excellent kid.
You get to know these kids from the time they are young. You get to see them from when they are little and you can cheer them on.
