Officials from the Lott Volunteer Fire Department reported that Ace’s leg became entangled in a rope or tack, causing him to be dragged a considerable distance across an open field by the panicked horse. When emergency responders arrived, they found him with significant head injuries, but he was still breathing and had a heartbeat.
He was quickly airlifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Despite efforts to save him, Ace tragically succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival. His death is being felt deeply across the rodeo community, where he was seen as a rising star and a kind-hearted competitor.
Ace Patton Ashford’s legacy will live on through the lives he touched and the dreams he chased with courage, humility, and heart.
