The rodeo world is reeling this week after the tragic death of 18-year-old Ace Patton Ashford, a young roper whose skill, determination, and infectious enthusiasm had earned him admiration far beyond his hometown. Just weeks away from reaching a lifelong dream—competing in his first professional rodeo circuit as an adult—Ace’s life was cut painfully short in a freak accident involving the very animal he had spent years training with: his beloved horse. According to witnesses, the incident occurred on a wide-open practice field where Ace had spent countless hours honing his skills. What began as a routine practice quickly turned...
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