Get a vision of a stereotypical teenage girl. What comes to mind? How about a world champion team roper?  

If that idea never occurred to you, there is a reason. Ashtyn Pratz is not your average 16-year-old. She’s a passionate team roper, equally handy on either end of a steer, who would rather go roping, or maybe hunting or fishing, than to the mall.

“I love to fish and hunt, but roping is mostly my life,” Pratz laughed. “All of my friends rope, and my whole world revolves around it.”

While still just 15, Pratz earned the world championship title in the Challenger Division of the Women’s Rodeo World Championship in 2024 roping behind Kelsey Pugmire. She’s determined to score the event win when the 2025 iteration of the $802,000 WRWC comes around May 12-14 and 17.

The first step is get qualified, and Pratz is currently second in the heading and third in the heeling leaderboards in the WRWC’s Challenger Division, well positioned to secure her spot at the famed Fort Worth Stockyards and Cowtown Coliseum. She’s already lining up her partners.

“I’m heeling for my friend Kelsey again,” Pratz said. “But I haven’t found my heeler yet.”

Late start? No problem

A native of La Mesa, New Mexico, Pratz started roping in middle school, a “late start” by her standards. She caught the bug from her team roping dad, Kyle. 

“I wasn’t really interested in it when I was in elementary school,” Pratz explained. “But I started in middle school with the speed events, and then I started roping a little about the third year. Then I really got the fire for it.”

In her first trip to the WRWC last year, she and Pugmire struck early, winning the first round with a run of 8.51 seconds.

“Honestly, we were sitting there watching the round,” Pratz said. “My header and I talk about our runs a lot, we’re a good team, and we thought an 8 or 9 would win the round.” 

Despite bad luck on the second steer, Pratz and Pugmire bounced back in the Semi-Finals.

“That was the funnest round,” Pratz said. “I’ve never thought so many thoughts in a short time in my life! I missed the first shot and kicked back up because we knew a catch would advance us on and give us a chance at the world championships.”

With a solid run under them, the team advanced to the Showdown Round where the Challenger and Pro teams are combined into one competition.

“I roped a leg in the Showdown Round, and we missed making it to AT&T (for the Championship Round) by one spot,” Pratz said. “But it was still fun, and we ended up winning over $10,000.”

The plan to get back to Fort Worth has been a successful venture with Pratz nominating ropings from Arizona to Texas and her native New Mexico through the Virtual Rodeo Qualifier to stay strong on the leaderboards.

“Instead of going to the high school rodeos, we mostly go to the [WRWC] Qualifiers and we practice for that,” Pratz said.

Her dad is a main partner for practice and competition while mom, Tracy, provides top-notch chute help, videoing, cheerleading and teaching as Ashtyn is homeschooled.

“They go with me everywhere and play a big role,” Pratz said. “I couldn’t do this without them, it would be really hard.”

“I have to just thank them…they’re the reason I’m going.”

Money horses

Pratz also relies on her horsepower in 12-year-old Cash App for the heading and 19-year-old Rico on the heel side. Cash App came from Bode Baize and went to the 2019 NFR as a back up for three-time World Champ Wesley Thorp. 

“He bounced around a little after that before we got ahold of him,” Pratz said.

Her good roan heel horse, registered Boons Little Ricochet, is an all-around star.

“I started riding him in junior rodeo–he was a head horse, then we roped calves on him,” Pratz said. “He is an awesome horse.”

Pratz also has Chex, an up-and-comer who is just 5 but has lots of potential.

Double trouble

As a very competent switch-ender, Pratz takes the question of which end she prefers seriously.

“That’s a hard question,” Pratz contemplated. “I think I have to go with the heeling. There’s not a lot of girls that heel at a high level, so there’s more opportunity there. It takes lots of work and perseverance to be at the top.”

Luckily, the determined teenager seems to have both in spades. And while she’s got her qualification for WRWC wrapped up—the cutoff for points is coming April 13—she’s eyeing another big goal before she heads to Texas.

“The biggest goal this month is the BFI,” Pratz said. The BFI’s Charlie 1 Horse All-Girl Team Roping is held March 26, in conjunction with the world’s most famous open team roping in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

“I’ve dreamed about winning it heeling,” Pratz admitted.

From there, she’s “taking a break,” to gear up for the WRWC. And while many teenagers dream of growing up and taking their lives in a different direction, Pratz has found her own utopia.

“I don’t want to change anything,” Pratz said. “This industry is awesome and I don’t see myself doing anything else.”