Ashley Castleberry has a story that proves triumph can still come after tragedy. When an accident in 2022 set her back, Castleberry found Skyy Blue and the two have been their own version of a redemption story ever since.
With that success has come $170,235 in 2024 regular season earnings and Castleberry is the No. 3 ranked cowgirl in the WPRA World Standings, the highest of any first-time NFR qualifier in any event in 2024.
Texas Circuit Finals, $10,231
A standout performance at the Texas Circuit Finals for the home state gal set her on the path of success for 2024 all the way back in October of 2023. After placing in the Top 4 in the first two Go-Rounds, Castleberry won Rounds 3 and 4, her Round 4 time being the fastest of the Circuit Finals at 15.66 seconds.
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, $12,500
Castleberry’s best performance of the Texas Swing came in San Antone, where she made the Finals and ultimatley finished third. Castleberry placed in the Top 3 in the Go-Round on all four of her runs and all of them paid at least $1,500.
Oakley City Independence Day Rodeo, $6,166
For Cowboy Christmas, Castleberry cashed in at one of the seven PRCA Playoff Series Rodeos over the Fourth. In Oakley City, Utah, she finished second to another first-time NFR qualifier, Halyn Lide, by just four hundredths of a second.
Mountain Valley Stampede, $6,198
In August, Castleberry once again started the month with a check of more than $6,000 in the first week. At another Utah arena, Castleberry clocked a 16.67 to finish just behind four-time World Champion Hailey Kinsel.
Kitsap Stampede, $4,831
A few weeks before Castleberry biggest win of the season in Puyallup, she finished second in the same state with a 17 flat. Kassie Mowry was the cowgirl who won the rodeo.
Puyallup Rodeo, $13,000
Against some of the best competition in the World, Castleberry would get her biggest win of the regular season at the Washington State Fairgrounds. Her time on two runs in Playoff 1 sent her to the Semifinals where she finished fourth with a 14.52-second run. In the Finals, Skyy Blue found another gear and clocked a 14.21 to cinch the win.
Governor’s Cup, $30,750
Castleberry finished the rodeo with three times of 13.9 or faster, including a 13.70 for second in Round 2 and 13.78 for second in the Finals.
With those two paydays in addition to Puyallup, Castleberry moved up two spots in September.
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