The death of an 18-year-old junior rodeo champion who perished in a bizarre horse-related accident has left a Texas community in mourning.

A representative for the Lott Volunteer Fire Department told CBS affiliate KWTX-TV that at approximately 8 a.m. local time on Monday, August 12, near Chilton, Ace Patton Ashford of Lott, Texas, was tending to a sick calf when a nearby horse became agitated.

The Lott VFD official told KWTX, “The horse [dragged] the man a good distance in an open field after his leg became tangled.”

Ashford had sustained severe head injuries, but he was still breathing and had a pulse when emergency personnel arrived.

According to his obituary, the recent high school graduate passed away after being airlifted to Baylor Scott & White Hospital.

The “amazing and humble young man” who spent his entire life in the small town of Lott (population 650) but had lofty aspirations to become a rodeo cowboy is now being remembered by friends and family.

After graduating from Rosebud-Lott High School, Ashford was awarded a scholarship to attend Hillsboro’s Hill College, where he was scheduled to join the rodeo team this autumn.

According to his obituary, Ace was the epitome of a hard-working country boy who loved the cowboy way of life. “To realize his full potential, Ace would spend countless hours roping.”

According to The Team Roping Journal, the teen was a skilled roper who started competing on the rodeo circuit at the age of four.

Ashford has had a lot of success in the arena over the past year. According to the Roping Journal, he placed “all over” Arizona during Vegas Week in December and won the warm-up at the World Youth Team Roping Championship as well as at The Patriot and Philipp Ranch this summer.

The publication was told by roping flagger Marcus Becerra, “That’s who you want your son to grow up to be.” It hurt a lot because of this. Everyone is aware of his good character, his friendliness, and his respect for others. He had manners, was a wonderful child, and was skilled with horses.

According to his obituary, Ace, the younger brother of National Finals Rodeo heeler Ross Ashford, also loved hanging out with Sydney Boatright, his three-year girlfriend.

Boatright changed her Facebook profile picture to a picture of the two cuddling in a field a few hours after Ace passed away.

With a heart emoji, she wrote, “I love you forever, Ace Patton.”