Who Should Win the 2024 Barrel Racing Horse of the Year Award?

Emily Beisel, Andrea Busby and Hailey Kinsel share their picks for AQHA Barrel Racing Horse of the Year title on The Money Barrel with Kayla and Kreg Jones.
Emily Beisel, Andrea Busby and Hailey Kinsel aboard their Horse of the Year contenders.
Emily Beisel, Andrea Busby and Hailey Kinsel aboard their Horse of the Year contenders.

Each year, the top 25 barrel racers in the WPRA world standings vote for the Nutrena Barrel Racing Horse of the Year presented by AQHA, awarding the bronze to one great horse, and The Money Barrel asked some of the best barrel racers in the world to weigh in on which horse they think deserves the coveted title.

Horses are voted on during the first week of October by the top 25 barrel racers in the WPRA world standings, who submit their top three nominees by Sept. 25. Then, the cowgirls vote on the top three to determine who receives the coveted award. The top three horses of the year are then announced mid-October based on the voting points system.

After talking with Emily Beisel, Andrea Busby and Hailey Kinsel, it became apparent that the ultra-tough horsepower across the 2024 field has the NFR qualifiers’ respect for their competition.

Justaheartbeattofame “Gus”

Leslie Smalygo and Justaheartbeattofame, “Gus”, ended the 2024 season second in the WPRA world standings with $195,906 earned. Smalygo purchased Gus off the track as a 3-year-old because she’d owned his full brother and loved him but sold him early thanks to an offer she couldn’t turn down. Gus has a sire by the half-Thoroughbred Lanes Leinster out of a Dash For Cash granddaughter. And his dam is by Dash Ta Fame out of a mare going back to By Yawl (Dash For Cash/Go Man Go) and Duplicate Copy.

Justaheartbeattofame pedigree Gus

“I think there’ll be a lot of great horses on the ballot,” Beisel said. “We can start with the top of the list with Leslie (Smalygo) and Gus. For him to win Houston and Calgary, that’s pretty spectacular. That’s something to be proud of—and he’s won all of her money by himself.”

“It is so tough,” Busby said. “I feel like the top 50 could be nominated for Horse of the Year. I mean, the horsepower is unbelievable. I guess we can start at the top with Leslie and Gus. He wins Houston, he wins Calgary. That’s pretty awesome.”

“I think it would be cool to see an award of some kind given to the horse that won the most money at the rodeos all year long,” Kinsel said. “In that case, you can’t forget a horse like Gus. I mean that’s what I think that would highlight horses like that who truly did show up and bring home the bacon all year long.”

“I’ve got to watch Gus a lot,” Kinsel said. “I’ve seen Leslie and Gus at a lot of the summer rodeos I got to go to, as well as her standout winner at Houston. I think for Horse to Win Houston and Calgary the same year obviously doesn’t happen much. You can’t overlook that. Yes, I know he won a lot of money at just those two rodeos, but he also won a lot the rest of the year, too. I mean that horse has been a force to be reckoned with.”

There might be a favorite duo amongst the barrel racers—Leslie and Gus.

DM Sissy Hayday “Sister”

With over $3 million earned and four gold buckles for jockey Hailey Kinsel, DM Sissy Hayday needs little introduction.

DM Sissy Hayday pedigree

“How can you count Sister out,” Beisel asked. “She’s slammed the clock. Starts the year off with a win in Denver and has run countless 16’s on standards. It’s another phenomenal season for that mare.”

Sister’s sire, PC Frenchmans Hayday (“Dinero”), famous for his versatility, was voted third overall as 2005 AQHA/PRCA Heeling Horse of the Year and helped Sherry Cervi win third in the barrel racing average that same year. Potter Ranch’s PC Frenchmans Hayday (Sun Frost x Caseys Charm x Tiny Circus) is a full brother to the late, great French Flash Hawk (“Bozo”). Sister’s dam, Royal Sissy Irish, had four outs on the racetrack earning one second-place check of $759 (according to Equibase). The 2004 bay mare by Royal Shake Em and out of Thats Sissie Baby by Lazbuddie is among the top-producing broodmares in barrel racing thanks to Sister’s prowess.

“I think she’s the best there’s ever been, and she’s proved it over and over and over,” Busby said.

Teasin Dat Guy “Chewy”

The newest mare to Beisel’s string of horses, Teasin Dat Guy, “Chewy”, has been around the ProRodeo scene since her 5-year-old year but joined Beisel’s string in early 2024. Molly Otto trained and jockeyed Chewy for her owner, Katie Lindahl, all the way to the 2021 NFR as a 5-year-old. The gritty mare also won a boatload of futurities with Otto in 2020—some by clocking a 16.9 on a standard set—and had already hit nearly a half-million bucks in lifetime earnings by last winter. Lindahl raised the daughter of Frenchmans Guy out of her Blazin Jetolena/Juno Dat Cash mare Teasin Jetolena.  

Teasin Dat Guy pedigree

“I think that I’m going to brag on Chewy a little bit because she was nominated,” Beisel said. I think it’s pretty cool that Chewy started the year with Molly (Otto) at the circuit finals and did well with her. And then Kylie took her to some rodeos early in the spring and then look at what she is done for my season. So, for that mare to have been ridden by three different riders and won everywhere from St. Paul to Puyallup is pretty cool and I’m a big fan of her, obviously.”

“Chewy wasn’t with Emily for the first part of the year and she was on some other horses,” Kinsel said. “But she showed up in June and she’s still kicking our tails, and it is September. It’s impressive what that mare has done.”

Jettin Ta Heaven “Keeper”

Halyn Lide jockeyed 12-year-old Jettin Ta Heaven, “Keeper”, all season to earn their first NFR qualification with $121,965 earned in the 2024. Lide rode Keeper to wins in Oakley City, Utah, Greeley, Colorado and Window Rock, Arizona. Keeper is by JL Dash Ta Heaven and out of Zeros Gypsy Jet.

Jettin Ta Heaven pedigree

“One horse who isn’t talked about nearly as much is Halyn Lide’s gelding,” Beisel said. “I mean, (Lide) is a high money winner over Cowboy Christmas and she also was co-champion at Denver. Keeper’s won at rodeos from Ponoka to Puyallup. That’s a pretty straight horse.”

“Keeper, he’s just been a little warhorse all year long and just kept giving it,” Busby said.

“He showed up in a lot of different setups and showed his talent,” Kinsel said. “He’s made some imperfect runs that slammed the clock.”

Skyy Blue “Skyy”

After missing out on the NFR last year, Ashley Castleberry and Skyy Blue, “Skyy” came into the 2024 season with a vengeance. Castleberry finished the 2023 season just two spots outside the top 15 in 17th place, with $87,814 won. In 2024 Castleberry started the year off strong with a win at the Texas Circuit Finals followed by wins in Puyallup, Washington and Lehi, Utah, all aboard Skyy. The 11-year-old gelding, Skyy, is by Stoli out of Sweeten My Dreams who is by Runaway Rebel.

Skyy Blue pedigree

“Another one is Skyy Blue, Ashley Castleberry’s main horse,” Beisel said. “I mean he’s been a war horse. Now he is in so deceiving in his style, but he slams the clock, and he doesn’t really vary. He is a warhorse.”

DM High Roller “Vanilla Wafer”

LaTricia Duke’s Pink and Ruby Buckle Stallion, DM High Roller, “Vanilla Wafer”, carried her to the No. 8 seat in the world standings with $129,148 won in the 2024 season. The 7-year-old gelding is by BFA Champion, FrenchStreakToVegas, and out of World Champion, Happy To RunEm.

DM High Roller pedigree

“And then I think another one that’s got a lot of people pulling for him is Vanilla Wafer, LaTricia Duke’s stud,” Beisel said. “I mean, what a story. It’s been fun to watch and he had to do it the hard way. I don’t know that he’s had just a huge easy win that has boosted them up in the standings. Some of the other horses have had that leg up. He has just had to show up every week. I just think for a stallion to be doing that, he’s really, really special to watch.”

Then you look at a horse like DM High Roller and LaTricia Duke. I think Vanilla Wafer has proven his resilience out here. He is placed everywhere from $12,000 added Moses Lake, 16 on a standard to $1,500 added Jacksonville, Texas. So, there’s that kind of horse that can handle multiple setups all year long and just keeps running no matter how much his money is up.”

Force The Goodbye “Jarvis”

“That horse, my gosh,” Beisel said. “I mean… when Kassie and Jarvis show up, you can’t outrun ’em. They’re untouchable.”

Equi-Stat’s All-Time Leading Rider, Kassie Mowry’s jockeyed her outstanding gelding, Force The Goodbye, “Jarvis”, to wins in Salt Lake City and Ogden. The 6-year-old gelding is by The Goodbye Lane and out of VF Forcit First who is by Burrs First Down.

Famous Lil Jet Rollo Pedigree

“I feel like Kassie and Jarvis must look at the rest of us and think, ‘why is this so hard for the rest of you?’” Busby said, laughing. “He’s amazing and it’s going to be so fun to watch them in Vegas again. (Kassie) came out to the northwest for a couple of rodeos to get a rodeo count in and it just doesn’t matter. He’s inside, he’s outside. I’m going to put my plug in for Jarvis.”

“He hasn’t gone to near as many rodeos as a lot of the other horses that are more notable to me,” Kinsel said. “I haven’t got to watch him as much, but I’ve watched him do amazing and some he was close or at least tried, and I think that’s important too. You see a horse that maybe just didn’t have their day or had an unlucky draw, but they showed up and tried.”

Jets Top Gun “Benny”

Jets Top Gun, “Benny”, carried Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi to a World Title in 2023. This year in 2024, the great gelding, Benny, carried Busby to a No. 12 finish in the world standings with $115,838. The 9-year-old Busby Quarter Horses owned gelding is by Blazin Jetolena and out of GL Famous First Lady who is by Dash Ta Fame.

“Benny, he won the world with Brittany (Pozzi Tonozzi)  last year,” Busby said. “I don’t think there are many horses to have got two people to the finals. I think he’s one of the best that’s ever been. And I’m sure I am absolutely biased there, but I think he’s, he’s one with everybody that’s gotten on him. Janet did a great job. Brittany did a great job letting him see all the rodeos and he just keeps on keeping on.”

Famous Lil Jet “Rollo”

“Jordon wasn’t even able to ride (Rollo) at the beginning of the year,” Kinsel said. “But he showed up in a big way and might get the NFR made in four months. You’ve got to give those horses props.”

2021 World Champ, Jordon Briggs jockeyed her famous gelding, Famous Lil Jet, “Rollo”, to a No. 17 finish in the world standings with $103,192 won in 2024. The two-time AQHA Horse of the Year, Rollo, is by Dash Ta Fame and out of Blazin Black Beauty who is by Blazin Jetolena.

Although Briggs finished just outside the top 15 for the year, Rollo once again earned the respect and admiration of NFR jockeys and has been one of the major storylines of the 2024 season after winning over $100K in the final few months of the season.

“How can you not pull for him when he’s been out three quarters of the season and come in for the last 90 days and do what he’s done?” Beisel said.

Famous Lil Jet Rollo Pedigree

Which horse will win Horse of the Year?

“Man, I could go through every single one of them and give you something positive about each,” Kinsel said. “I hate to leave anybody out, but those are the ones that really come to mind for me, this year specifically.”

Beisel explains the horses that deserve the award most are the ones that can win in the winter and summer months, thriving in any different setup and overcoming the unideal conditions, time and time again.

“There are several great candidates this year,” Beisel said. “It’s going to be tough. We all just kind of knew who it was going to be last year. But this year, I feel like there’s seven or eight horses that have had a great year and great stories.”

Busby, Beisel and Kinsel all stressed how special these animal athletes are—and they’re right. These horses are tough, gritty and resilient—how can you just pick three?

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