story by Lily Weinacht
Ashtyn Carlson from Loma, Colo., competed in one of her best rodeos yet in her four years of competing. She jumped from ninth to fifth place in the barrel racing at the CSHSRA rodeo in Montrose, Colo., and won both the barrel racing and pole bending the second day, despite running her pole horse in a bit he’s never used after his regular one was left at home. “It was one of my best rodeos yet, and also a moment of awareness for me,” says 16-year-old Ashtyn. “I feel that I learned a bit more about my horses and riding – getting my shots down for breakaway and where to get off for goats. It was a successful learning experience!”
She started learning her rodeo events in seventh grade after her parents divorced and her mom remarried steer wrestler Jimmy Allen. “He taught me how to rodeo, and then I started competing in eighth grade,” Ashtyn recalls. “My role models are my family. My mom, Lori, and step-dad for teaching me to ride, and my brothers, Taylor and Bear. They have a lot of determination, and they are always out practicing for their sports. My dad, Cory, is a big supporter. He helps me find sponsors and go to rodeos, and I really appreciate it.”
Ashtyn competes in barrel racing, breakaway roping, goat tying, and pole bending, but breakaway is by far her favorite. “It’s an event I can connect with my step-dad on – he coaches the rodeo team for Colorado Mesa University (CMU), and I practice with them twice a week,” she explains. “Hailie Taylor has helped me tremendously with my roping. She’s a CMU rodeo contestant and she’s made it to the CNFR in breakaway the last two years. With her and my step-dad’s help, I’ve gone from roping four or five calves last year to only missing four or five this year. I love the people in rodeo – they’re all very humble and kind, and open to talk to anyone, plus I love working with horses. They’re my best friends.”
All of the horses Ashtyn rides were either trained by her or her family. She breakaway ropes off of a black mare, Nalaki, while she runs poles and ties goats off Jacs, and barrel races on Stick. Ashtyn also trains horses on the side, but works primarily for her vet just down the road from her house, helping prepare ultrasound equipment, assisting in surgeries, and cleaning after exams. “I started in February, and I’m not interested in being a vet myself, but it’s good knowledge to have for my own horses,” she says. Ashtyn’s family also has three dogs, Shadow, Duke, and Grizz, two milk goats, Doby and Mama Goat, and a colt she and her mom are training for her step-brother, Brannan Allen (12). He competes in the CJHSRA in breakaway roping, chute dogging, and goat tying. Her oldest brother, Taylor (20), played football in high school, while Bear (18), is playing basketball for Illinois Institute of Technology.
Since finishing her junior year at Fruita Monument High School – where she enjoys science classes like zoology, biology, and physics – Ashtyn is using her summer break to go boating with her family, or take the occasional business trip with her dad. “In the future, I want to make the CNFR in goats, breakaway, and barrels during the four years of my college career. I’m thinking of going to college in Idaho for two years before coming back to rodeo for my step-dad at CMU. And this year, I want to make it to the NHSFR in breakaway and barrels.”
