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 Unlike the one run for the roses for the derby. This team had to prove themselves with a three run average. Ashlee and Stash had their work cut out for them. The senior roster was one of the toughest imaginable. The cream of the crop shows up each and every year vying for the coveted title of Josey Junior World Champion and this year was no exception.

 Just how did this team come together? One simple phone call and my questions were soon answered. Nick Cunningham a silversmith and jewelry maker answered the phone and told me he would have his wife, Charlotte, return my phone call. He sounded rather calm until I told him what I wanted. His mild toned voice changed and he was eager to answer a few questions. I still don’t think the reality of this win has completely set in. He made one statement about Stash. He said, “Either he’s really smart or he just loves to run barrels!” I would say it’s the combination of the two!

 While having my conversation with Nick, he mentioned Charlotte’s maiden name, Overton. I quickly answered, “Okay, sure I know who she is!” Charlotte is no stranger to the winner’s circle herself. Her mother, Sue Barrington, is an accomplished barrel horse trainer and competitor and her talent was handed down to Charlotte.

 I can still remember the front cover picture of the winner of the Oklahoma City Futurity.  A young 19 year old cowgirl, sporting cow print pants, Charlotte and Orange Smash were the buzz in the barrel racing circles for quite a while and then once again renewed when Martha Josey ran him at the NFR in 1998! He wasn’t her only star but probably the most famous.

 Within a few minutes after hanging up with Nick, I received the return call from Charlotte. Elated would be putting it mildly! How I wish I had been there in person for this interview! Candid photos would have been priceless. It was within a few minutes that I felt her joy, excitement and her pride! It was very contagious!

 After we both calmed down, I asked her how this match up came about.

“My mom, Sue, and step-dad, Roy called and told me about Stash. They said I needed to buy him. He was going to be a good one. Stash was a complete joy to train. My husband Neil told me, “He’s going to be our shining star.” Then late last year I received a call from Florida. Ashlee Ziglar’s good horse got injured and the family was looking for a replacement. I had a 5-year-old, Zipspence, he wasn’t rodeo seasoned but was a very nice horse. Ashlee and her mom flew in to try him and it was a match. I told them all you can do is try it. She won some college rodeos on him but he then got injured during Christmas break. They called me again and I told them Stash wasn’t for sale but she could come and try him and if they fit she could borrow him,” she said with exuberance and pride.  The now 6-year-old has been running for about a year.

Ashlee teamed up with Stash in February. After riding him four times, she made her first competition run on him at the Buz Post in Stephenville, Texas. A match made in heaven was born. The duo placed 10^th in the 1-D!

Who is Ashlee Ziglar? She’s a 19-year-old from Okeechobee, Florida. She won the Florida High School Rodeo championship in 2001 and 2002. She was Reserve in 2003. She is now a freshman attending Vernon Junior college in Vernon, Texas on a rodeo Scholarship. Charlotte went on to say that Ashlee is one of the sweetest, kindest, hardest working and about 100 other adjectives to describe this talented teen. She went on to say she would love to have her as a daughter and she deserved to ride Stash.  Yes, she also said talented over and over and added that we would be hearing a lot about her in the future. I’m quite sure Ashlee uses the same adjectives to describe Charlotte!

Meanwhile the team continued on and was doing well at the college rodeos. Charlotte had memories of going to the Josey Junior World when she was just 11 years old. She remembered the heartbreak of not winning but also remembered the wonderful experience she had. She went on to tell me she could see the disappointment in the eyes of some of those youngsters just like the disappointment she felt so many years ago. She said, “Every kid goes thinking that they can win it! ”She continued on telling me that she thought every young barrel racer needs to compete there at last once in their lifetime. So without Ashlee knowing, she entered the dynamic duo. They met up, changed trailers and were on their way to Josey’s!

Ashlee’s mother at first wasn’t planning on coming but at the last minute called Charlotte and asked her if she could pick her up at the airport in Tyler, Texas. Charlotte of course said she would! It was then when Ashlee’s mom told her how she thought she needed to be there to watch since it was always a dream of Ashlee’s to compete at the Junior World. Charlotte wasn’t aware of this but it sure made the trip even more exciting!

The first round was a good one with a 16.284. This clinched a place in the semi-finals and a check. A tipped barrel in the second round made Charlotte a little nervous. She told Ashlee she needed to ride him harder to the first barrel. And harder she rode! Winning the Semi-Round with a 16.320 gave her a third place seat in the average! Then the rain and lightning came soaking the arena. Charlotte wasn’t quite sure how Stash was going to handle the ground but quickly reminded herself he was an ex-racehorse.

Once again this team showed how consistent and solid they could be!

Running a 16.366, Ashlee and Stash just moved to the leader board in the average! There were two more contestants to go and they were both well-known and very tough competitors. Charlotte was already celebrating a third place finish! A tipped barrel for Dana Haas and She’s a Power Train just moved Ashlee to a Reserve win!  Charlotte said she couldn’t believe it! She turned to Ahslee and told her she could do no worse then Reserve! They started to celebrate that win when Tanya Steinhoff went in with Dial a Red Rooster and didn’t make the run she needed. It was a third place win for Tanya and the new senior champion of the Josey's Junior World was Ashlee Ziglar riding a borrowed horse named Cash Stasher Two. The Reserve win went to Jessie Eagleberger and Gray from Oklahoma. An Oklahoma horse, a Florida resident attending a college in Texas and a generous lady that made two dreams come true! Ashlee rode the great young gelding for her crown and Charlotte came home owning the horse that took her there!

What was Charlotte’s reaction to all of this? She said she screamed and jumped up and down so much that someone remarked she looked like a lady that just won a car on the Price is Right! She went on to say this is the best win ever! She was so thrilled that the people surrounding her joined in and shared her joy! One of the first persons to congratulate her was Gary Steinhoff and his family! He remarked that he had seen her win many a barrel race but at first he was worried that they were going to have to carry her out! He then gave her a big hug! She said, “I knew he had to be disappointed but he was so complimentary and gracious. The whole family was so nice! They were truly happy for our win! It’s such a pleasure to surround yourself with people like them.”

I asked Charlotte how she felt. She replied, “I can’t describe the feeling. The Lord has truly blessed me. He gets all the credit. It was all part of the plan.”

What did the jockey, Ashlee, have to say? I caught up with her after she made a long two-day trip back home to Florida with her mom, Katrina. The first word out of her mouth was, “ overwhelmed!” She then said, “I still can’t believe it!” Sounded like the words Giacomo’s jockey spewed after his big win.

So went on to tell me, “My goal was to get back to the Finals in the top 20. I was pretty excited. When I made my last run I realized I had just won a saddle!” It hit her much later as to what had just happened. She won a lot more than a Saddle!

She added, “ Charlotte’s my angel. God sent her down to me. My mom and dad, Tommy and Katrina, have hauled me up and down the rode since I was 6 years old and have been so supportive of me through the years. Without my family, including my sister Jessica, I wouldn’t be where I am at now.”

A very proud Katrina told me, “It’s the best Mother’s Day present ever!”

Just like Giacomo, Ashlee and Stash are no longer long shots! But then again, I don’t think they ever were!

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