story by Lindsay Humphrey
Even though Ashlyn McCleve’s 10-year-old mare, Jewels, is a talented barrel racer, it’s clear that she had the most luck in the pole bending in 2022. The pair left Vegas in December as the Junior World Finals Pole Bending Champions. “I knew that if I could make three clean runs that my mare was fast enough to win it all,” said the 17-year-old from Gilbert, Arizona. “We got a little bit faster with each run. I was second going into the short go and I laid down a pretty good run early on. There’s only one person I had to worry about beating me by that point.” Perhaps it was the win it all mindset going into the junior world that carried Ashlyn to the title. But more than likely it had everything to do with the horsepower and the easy-going nature of the jockey.
“We raised and trained Jewels so I’ve had her for all 10 years of her life. We didn’t know what she was going to do until we started training her and she picked it up pretty easily. She became my main horse when I was a freshman.” Prior to that year, Ashlyn hadn’t competed in the junior high association. A few friends were planning to high school rodeo and Ashlyn decided to join them. “I found out that Jewels was pretty good and could compete against the other high schoolers, so we’ve just kept going from there.” Most of Ashlyn’s bigger runs have been aboard Jewels. The duo appears to be just about unstoppable in their favorite event.
“One of my favorite rodeo memories was the win at junior world, but second to that was high school nationals last summer. I ran my fastest time ever up there in the poles and ended up fifth in the world.” Competing under pressure is nothing new for Ashlyn and that’s probably why she was able to keep her cool when things got tight in Vegas. “Jewels can be kind of ornery sometimes, but I can tell that she loves to win and we’re a good team. She has a lot of heart and try and she really loves her job.” In between a push style and a free runner, Ashlyn appreciates both how Jewels performs in the arena and her personality outside of it. This is the second time Ashlyn and Jewels weaved through the poles at the junior world finals, the first being in 2020 down in Texas.
As one season ends, another begins and so does the goal setting. “I plan to try and qualify for Vegas again and I want to do that in both barrels and poles. This year I’m trying to be successful at the bigger events I enter and get some of my young horses brought up and running well.” Now a senior in high school, Ashlyn runs barrels, poles and ropes calves in the AHSRA. She’s optimistic that she can make another appearance at nationals but this time in all three of her events. “Jewels is probably the most influential horse I’ve ever had. She’s the one who’s given me all kinds of opportunities since my freshman year. She’s taken me to a lot of really cool places and it’s been amazing to ride her.”
Horses are just part of the family dynamic. Both of Ashlyn’s parents – Mike and Anissa – grew up with horses. All of Ashlyn’s siblings – Tyler, 23, McKenna, 20, and 12-year-old Jaylyn – all rodeo to some extent but riding came first and foremost. “My family is really great. They all support me and play a big role in all this. Most of the rodeos we go to everyone is getting to compete. My sister and mom are especially helpful in training me and my horses.”
