Meet Cindy Busby, CBC Heartland's Ashley Stanton

Remember Ashley Stanton? That sassy blonde who could make you laugh and roll your eyes in the same scene? Well, let's saddle up and take a ride down memory lane with the actress who brought her to life - the one and only Cindy Busby!

From City Slicker to Cowgirl

Now, you might think Cindy was born in the saddle, but hold your horses! This city girl had to learn the ropes (literally) when she landed the role of Ashley. "I didn't ride previously," Cindy confesses. But did that stop her? Heck no! She jumped right in, taking private lessons and working with the show's wranglers. Talk about dedication!

"It was important to me to portray Ashley as truthfully as possible, so I definitely felt it was important to be comfortable on and around horses. They can be quite intimidating creatures."

Life After Heartland: Still Feeling the Love

You'd think after all these years, people might've forgotten about Ashley Stanton. But nope! Cindy's still getting recognized, and she's loving every minute of it. She even shared a heartwarming story about a fan encounter at the Dallas airport. Picture this: Cindy's having a rough day with canceled flights, and out of nowhere, a sweet lady approaches her for a photo. Talk about a mood lifter!

"A fan's smiling face is the best way to do that!"

It just goes to show, folks - a little kindness goes a long way, especially when you're dealing with airport drama!

Behind the Scenes: Laughs, Pranks, and... Weather?

Now, let's dish some dirt on what really went down on set. Ever heard of the "Vortex"? No, it's not some sci-fi plot twist. It was the nickname for Ashley and Caleb's trailer location. Why? Because Mother Nature seemed to have it out for that spot!

"We got rain, lightning, snow storms, hail, I mean you name it, we had it."

And get this - Cindy was so good at playing mean that her co-stars would crack up after scenes. "Cindy, you're so mean, but you're not like that in real life so it's just so weird to see you be cruel, it's hilarious," they'd say. Now that's what I call good acting!

Ashley Stanton: More Than Meets the Eye

Sure, Ashley might've come off as the mean girl, but Cindy's got her back. She sees Ashley as a product of her environment - a girl trying to find her way in a world of materialism and manipulation. And you know what? Our girl Ashley grew up a lot over those four seasons.

"Ashley started off a certain way in the first season but it's safe to say that her transition as a person over four seasons was incredible."

Cindy and Ashley might not be twins, but they do share some traits - a killer work ethic, a great sense of humor, and a drive to grow and change. Now that's something we can all aspire to, right?

Life After Heartland: What's Cindy Up To?

Well, folks, Cindy's been keeping busy since hanging up Ashley's riding boots. She's even dipped her toes into the supernatural world - yep, our girl's been on "Supernatural"! And no, she didn't get pranked by Jared and Jensen (though she's got some serious FOMO about that).

As for riding? Well, let's just say Cindy's more likely to be spotted in stilettos than stirrups these days. But hey, never say never!

Want to keep up with Cindy's latest adventures? Hit her up on social media. Who knows? Maybe we'll see Ashley Stanton ride again someday!

Well, there you have it, Heartland fans - a little peek into the world of Cindy Busby and her time as the one and only Ashley Stanton. From learning to ride to weathering the "Vortex", it's been quite a journey. And remember, whether you're a city slicker or a born-and-bred cowboy, there's a little bit of Heartland in all of us!