story by Riata Cummings
Makynli Motley is a 13-year-old eighth grader attending Rocky Mountain Middle School, where her favorite classes include history, English, and agriculture. She is the daughter of Lori and Jeremy Motley of Wallsburg, Utah, and has one sister, Kelsi, and two brothers, Kray and Ryker. The family enjoys spending time together outside; camping, fishing, bike riding and trail riding. They own an assortment of animals, including dogs, cats, horses, mules, pigeons, pigs, chickens, fish, goats, and cattle. Because of her love for horses and her desire to share that passion, Makynli would like to own a riding barn and teach riding lessons when she is older.
Makynli grew up surrounded by friends that have always rodeoed and started competing herself when she was only 6-years-old. The all-around cowgirl now competes in the breakaway roping, goat tying, pole bending, barrel racing, and ribbon roping. Her favorite is the breakaway roping and she says she enjoys “the adrenaline rush, excitement, and speed” of the event. Makynli rides a big, powerful, 8-year-old horse named Zen for the barrels and pole; 5-year-old Roho for the breakaway roping; and Chap is her 18-year-old goat horse. So far, Makynli has qualified for the state finals in the pole bending, goat tying, and ribbon roping, and has placed in the top ten in breakaway roping every rodeo this season. Makynli has had some rough luck with her barrel/pole horse and a torn tendon but hopes to be back to competing before too long. Her favorite rodeo thus far was the junior high show in Hurricane, Utah. She has set a goal to qualify for the state finals in the rest of her events and to earn a spot at the National Junior High School Finals Rodeo or the Silver State International Rodeo.
Rodeo has taught Makynli that, “nothing comes easy,” and that accomplishing her goals takes time, effort, and practice. She has come to love the hours spent in the practice pen, honing her skills and sharpening her mind. She lives by the saying “practice makes perfect,” and has seen the evidence of that in her rodeo career. Rodeo has seen Makynli through some challenges, like putting down her old horse, Tracer. Luckily, she was able to look back on the happy memories with him and keep pushing forward. She strives to be a good sport, a kind person, and true to herself and she says her friends would describe her as “sarcastic, energetic, and outdoorsy.”
Makynli’s hero is her father, who has always been hard working and loving. She looks up to those qualities and hopes to live her life in a similar way. Makynli would like to thank her parents and siblings for giving her the opportunity to rodeo and for their support along the way.
