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. Read more below