Mica Motes, 20, Weatherford, TX, delivered a one-two punch on SL Jaybird in The Non-Pro Cutting’s 5/6-year-old non-pro division, with a 222-point go-round win and a 223-point victory in the finals. The pair also won the go-round and finals of last year’s 4-year-old division of the same event.
Paula Wood was reserve champion to Motes with 220 points on 6-year-old Donas Cool Cat by High Brow Cat. Wood had also tied Julie Hansma, on Bob Dualin, with 219, as the second-highest scoring rider of the go-round. Hansma tied for seventh place in the finals.
SL Jaybird, a 5-year-old son of Smart Little Jerry, has earned more than $135,000 under both Motes and her stepfather, trainer Winston Hansma, who rode the gelding as reserve champion of the 2007 NCHA Super Stakes Classic.
“The Non Pro last year was my first show with him,” said Motes, who collected $7,263 for this year’s win. “It was a big surprise, but he’s just gone up from there. We’ve really clicked.”
Although Motes noted that SL Jaybird requires very little preparation before a show, she was concerned leading up to The Non-Pro, after the gelding fractured his skull five weeks ago.
“He’s very easy and simple to work, doesn’t take a lot of loping, and has no soundness issues,” she pointed out. “But he tends to hurt himself a lot.”
As Motes was riding SL Jaybird up from the pasture, he stumbled and pitched forward onto his head.
“He knocked himself pretty silly,” Motes said. “He had his mouth open for about two hours and he wouldn’t stop shaking his head. Then, not long after that, he sat back when he was tied up and the pressure from the back of his halter (in addition to the fracture) caused one of his eyes to swell shut.”
Although SL Jaybird had his veterinarian’s clearance to show in The Non Pro, Motes was still a little apprehensive, before the first go-round.
“With Jaybird, there is really no playing it safe,” she said. “He’s always going to try his hardest. He likes to go full-blown.”
SL Jaybird reminds Motes of her favorite mount, Dually Lena, who she retired last year at 14. Sired by Dual Pep and ridden by Winston Hansma in open competition, Dually Lena is an all-time leading cutting horse winner with more than $375,000 in earnings.
“Nobody will ever be Cookie’s replacement, but (SL Jaybird) is as close as I could get,” she said. “Cookie didn’t want to have anything to do with anyone but me, and Jaybird is the same way. He’s the sweetest horse, but he’s scared of everyone and everything. He’s always been hard to take to shows because he’s such a psycho and can’t be left alone.”
Equine therapist Karen Griffin received an arrangement of flowers from SL Jaybird at the Super Stakes, along with an apology for the black eye he gave her at the Bonanza, when he shied from his blanket and hit her with his head.
Motes’ affinity for horses is shared by her mother, Danny Motes, a former trick rider and the daughter of a rodeo producer, who has operated a nationally recognized broodmare care operation for nearly 20 years.
“I like getting to know the babies and getting them to trust people,” said Mica. “It has taught me about horsemanship and how to deal with people, too. I’ll always be involved with horses – maybe one day I’ll run a broodmare operation like my mom.”
Danny Motes and Winston Hansma raised and own the young stallion CD Lights, earner of $235,000, who Hansma rode as 2006 NCHA Open Reserve World Champion, World Champion Stallion and winner of the World Finals.
In other action on Saturday, June 16, Eddie Young, San Angelo, TX, won the 4-year-old division and $7,491 with 218 points on BBR Miller Time, by A Chic In Time. Julie Hansma was reserve champion with 215.5 on Flo And Tell.
The Non-Pro, held in Oklahoma City, continues through Tuesday June 19. Listen to announcer Tom Holt’s Cutting Edge News for twice daily updates.