Ryan Motes (pictured) knows there is more than one way to head a calf, but his forte is heeling them. On Sunday, November 11, at the Texas Stampede in Dallas, Motes, who manages a cutting horse broodmare facility in Weatherford, Texas, qualified for the Wranglers National Finals Rodeo with a 4.6-second, second-place run with partner Jimmy Edens.

Motes will be the first from a family of three generations to compete at the NFR in Las Vegas. His father, David Motes, is a former World Champion team roper, and his grandfather, Glenn Motes, was also an NFR finalist.

Although roping has been his passion since he headed his first steer at four, Motes, now 27, is surrounded by cutters. His sister, Mica Motes, won her first major NCHA limited age event at the tender age of 15; his wife Courtney was a youth cutter; his mother raised and owns 1996 NCHA Derby winner Delight Of My Life; and his stepfather is top cutting trainer Winston Hansma, who won the 1994 NCHA Futurity on CD Olena, the sire of Ryan’s roping horse.

CD Starbucks, bred by Danny Motes, was originally on course to become a cutting competitor. Winston Hansma had ridden the gelding’s full brother, Starring CD, to earn over $70,000, and was well along in training CD Starbucks for the NCHA Futurity, when he suggested a change of tack.

“He’s cool, he cuts, and you’ll probably have some fun on him, but he’s not as nice as his brother,” Hansma told Danny. “But as hard as he stops, Ryan could make this horse a superstar.” The now 9-year-old CD Starbucks has earned well over $200,000 as a roping horse.

While Ryan competes on CD Starbucks at the National Finals Rodeo, which runs from December 6 through 15, Hansma will be aboard another CD Olena offspring at the NCHA Futurity in Fort Worth. Simply Champagne, by CD Olena and out of Delight Of My Life, owned by Danny Motes, is a full sister to CD Lights, 2006 NCHA World Champion Stallion, owned by Motes and Hansma.

The $4.3 million NCHA Futurity begins Sunday, November 25 and runs through December 16 at Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Fort Worth, Texas.