Beloved Texas cowboy, 18, killed by horse that was spooked while watching him tend to sick calf

A beloved Texas cowboy was killed by a horse while tending to a sick calf in a freak accident. 

Ace Patton Ashford, 18, of Lott, died on August 12 after he got his leg entangled with a spooked horse which then dragged him 'quite a distance in an open field', Lott Volunteer Fire Department told KWTX. Ashford had been attending to a sick calf.

The recent graduate from Rosebud-Lott High School was found by paramedics in 'bad shape' around 8am. He was airlifted with head injuries to the hospital, where he later died. 

Ashford was set to attend Hills College in Hillsboro on a rodeo scholarship, according to KWTX. 

He competed in rodeo since he was four years old and had made a name for himself as a roper over the years, according to Team Roping Journal. 

Ace Patton Ashford, 18, of Lott, died on August 12 after he got his leg entangled with a spooked horse, which then dragged him 'quite a distance in an open field'

The recent Rosebud-Lott High School graduate was found by paramedics in 'bad shape' around 8am and he was airlifted with head injuries to the hospital, where he later died

Ashford placed during Vegas Week in December 2023, as well as winning a warm-up at the World Youth Team Roping Championships in March, and at The Patriot and Phillip Ranch in July, according to The Journal. 

'Ace would dedicate innumerable hours to roping in order to reach his full potential,' his obituary said. 

He was a member of his high school rodeo association, as well as, was a head for Team Roping.  

He comes from a rodeo family and his big brother, Ross Ashford, recently won in Dodge City, Kansas, and is ranked within the top 15 in the world. 

Ashford was set to attend Hills College in Hillsboro on a rodeo scholarship

He competed in rodeo since he was four years old and had made a name for himself as a roper

Ashford (pictured far left) placed during Vegas Week in December 2023 and won a warm-up at the World Youth Team Roping Championships in March

Tributes poured in to honor the young roper, who is remembered as being an 'old soul' who would 'stop at nothing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.' 

'Ace had a heart of gold and was loved by everyone he knew. Ace never met a stranger,' his obituary read.  

His father's insurance business wrote: 'Our hearts are extremely saddened for the Ashford family as they lost their youngest son in a tragic horse accident on Monday. We pray for peace and comfort for all the family and friends.

'We will always love you.' 

'He was about as pure as they get. He was gold,' Cody Snow, a National Finals Rodeo roper, told The Journal. 

Tributes poured in to honor the young roper (pictured with family), who is remembered as being an 'old soul' who would 'stop at nothing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need' 

Ashford (right) was a member of his high school rodeo association

Snow had roped with Ashford the night before his death and ate dinner with him. 

'We got to spend one last night with him,' he said. 'I’m glad he got to see him before we left.' 

'That’s who you want your son to grow up to be. That’s why it hurt quite a bit,' Marcus Becera told The Journal. 'Everybody knows how good a kid he was, how cordial he was, how respectful he was.'