Jordan Lesh, Reece Stanfill and Aston Rainey dominated the team penning.

Ashton Rainey, Jordan Lesh and Reece Stanfill were veteran competitors at the 2007 AQHYA World Championship Show, but accepted their first gold trophy this year.

The team won the first go-round with a time of 61.220 seconds on three head and penned their cattle in the final round with a remarkable time of 45.603 seconds on three head. The team lead the class by 16.514 seconds to claim the world title with a combined time of 106.823 seconds on six head.

The three competitors hail from different states, but said they keep their skills sharp by traveling to team pennings year-round.

“We have been a lot of miles down the road together,” Jordan said.

Ashton said the format change, from two separate times to an aggregate, was what they were accustomed to using in other team penning competitions..

Their experience was evident as the horses’ ability to cow and the horsemanship of the riders gave the team a definite edge. Ashton, of Lady Lake, Florida, competes on Ginnys Pistol, an 8-year-old gray mare out of Gin N Hickory by Playgun. Jordan, of Morrison, Oklahoma, helped the team on his 16-year-old sorrel gelding, Double Dox Colonel out of Dox Lady Luv. Reece, of Lexington, Tennessee, rode a 12-year-old sorrel mare, Lil Jessie Jump Up out of Jezebelle James by Eatin Out. 

All three team members agreed that their success was a direct result of having family support. Ashton said all of their parents have spent many late nights on the arena fence watching them practice without complaint.  

Although, they have put in the time and effort, they said they were still surprised to win at the Ford Youth World.

“(Winning) had crossed our minds, but it was just something we had hoped for,” Reece said.