Texas Rodeo Roper Ace Patton Ashford Dead at 18 After Getting Dragged by Horse

The rodeo world is mourning one of their own.

Roper Ace Patton Ashford of Lott, Texas, died on Aug. 12 from injuries sustained after getting dragged by a horse, according to local firefighters. He was 18.

First responders were called to the scene around 8 a.m., where Ashford had been attending to a sick calf, according to local outlet KWTX. He had been working with the animal when the horse got spooked.

"Somehow, the man's leg got tangled," the Lott Volunteer Fire Department told KWTX, "and the horse [dragged] him quite a distance in an open field."

The recent high school graduate was then airlifted to a nearby hospital and while he was breathing at the time, the fire department said he was in "bad shape."

Ashford's death was also confirmed by his family, who shared in their obituary that he "went to be with his Lord and savior during the morning hours of Monday, August 12, 2024."

According to his family—including parents Troy Wayne and Jamie Dawn Ashford—"Ace loved to rodeo and was known as the 'Header' in Team Roping."

The teen dedicated hours to practicing his roping skills and was a member of the Texas High School Rodeo Association. Ashford had also received a scholarship and was preparing to be part of the Hill College Rodeo Team in the fall.

"The times spent with him will forever be cherished in the hearts of those whose lives he touched," his family wrote, "by his kindness and love."

The Team Roping Journal also paid tribute to rodeo star, writing in an Aug. 13 Facebook post that Ashford "was an 'old soul' who left far too soon when he died yesterday."

They added, "Our hearts ache for our team roping family and everyone who love this young cowboy."

Fellow roper and NFR Header Cody Snow told the magazine, "He was about as pure as they get. He was gold."

Per his obituary, he is survived by his parents, sister Macy and her fiancé Ryan Rule, brother Ross and his wife Taylor and girlfriend Sydney Boatright.