Dusky Lynn Hall may barely be tall enough to reach her horses’ stirrups from the ground, but the barrel racing prodigy has done the seemingly impossible—amassed over $1 million in lifetime earnings at the age of 10

Hall wrapped up a successful week at The Breeders Challenge Finale in Fort Worth on Sept. 14 and walked out with over $123,000 in earnings and two championship titles thanks to her efforts aboard three horses.

She also walked out as barrel racing’s first 10-year-old millionaire.

From her first reported earnings in 2021 on Add A Dash, Call Blusher and Ol Doc, Hall’s already proved herself as one of the most versatile jockeys in the game. Raised in a hardworking family, Dusky Lynn’s parents, Chad and Dusky Hall, worked to provide the American dream for her and her older brother, Branden (20).

“Chad and I didn’t come from much money,” Dusky said. “My mom was a horse trainer, dad was a welder. His mom, who passed away recently, was an accountant, and his dad worked for the highway department. We both started with nothing, but we wanted to give our kids the things we didn’t have.”

But it’s not Chad and Dusky going against the clock at some of the toughest divisional and aged races in the world. It’s 10-year-old Dusky Lynn, driven by big dreams and a passion for barrel racing, creating one of the most skilled young jockeys the sport has ever seen.

“Even at an early age, when Chad saw that Dusky Lynn had the ability to ride these kinds of horses, he wanted to give her whatever we could afford at the time,” Dusky said. “And she’s gone and made something out of the opportunities we’ve given her.”

The proof is in the numbers. While Equi-Stat’s report shows Dusky Lynn off the mark, Dusky’s background in accounting and a savings account set up for her daughter have helped her keep careful track of the young athlete’s winnings.

“I started Dusky Lynn a savings account when she began really winning at 6 years old,” Dusky said. “Every bit of money she’s ever earned, I put in that account. We don’t make her pay expenses, so it’s all her winnings.”

And the records confirm it: Dusky Lynn has earned over $1 million in trackable winnings in the past four years, plus a truck she won in Las Vegas last December.

But for Dusky Lynn, the money isn’t what drives her—it’s the love for horses and the thrill of competition.

“When she gets on, no matter where we are, she’ll tell her horses what they’re going to do,” Dusky said. “Sometimes I hear it, sometimes I don’t. She doesn’t make a big deal out of it because it’s just her and her horse. She’ll say, ‘Okay Wally, we’re going to win this.’ Then she rides off and does it.”

Though they strive for success, Dusky Lynn’s parents work hard to make sure she enjoys being a child despite her success.

“We don’t want her to grow up too fast,” Dusky said. “She loves cheering on her friends. At the Breeders Challenge, she got her nails done, bought a dress, and went to the draw party. It was really fun, because got to be a little girl and get dressed up. In today’s world, she’ll grow up quick enough.”

While some have tried to argue that Dusky Lynn’s size gives her an advantage in barrel racing, the trick might actually be in her developing mind.

“I admire her confidence,” Dusky said. “She doesn’t doubt her horses or their abilities. She just trusts them 100%. If something goes wrong, she shakes it off and gets right back on the next horse. She starts every race with a clean slate.”

One thing is for certain—she’s paying her dues through sweat and work in the saddle, while keeping her education at front of mind.

“She rides five to six horses every morning,” Dusky said. “Then we break for lunch, and she does schoolwork from 1 to 5 p.m. while I do office work.”

Dusky Lynn’s dedication to her craft is a reflection of her parents’ hardworking nature. Dusky helps manage her and Chad’s supply chain management business, utilizing her accounting degree to keep the books for their large organization. Chad, the head of the company, keeps operations running smoothly.

“Chad started in trucking,” Dusky said. “I’ve been doing the accounting since we got married in 1997. Chad and I worked hard to build an empire. We made it through the lows—when fuel was $6 a gallon, and we had 100 trucks running. We didn’t see the light of day, working 15-hour days. But we pushed through it all.”

More on Dusky Lynn Hall

• 8 Keys to Raising an 8-Year-Old Barrel Racing Phenom, Part I
• 8 Keys to Raising an 8-Year-Old Barrel Racing Phenom, Part II

The Horses

Right now, Hall has five total weapons loaded, although one is out on injury leave. Her mom keeps an eye out constantly for horses that could fit Dusky Lynn’s skillset and keep up with the competition, so that when the young jockey’s abilities level up they can be ready to add more power to the string.

KD Baby Driver

The newest addition to the team is KD Baby Driver. Trained by Carlos Renato, the 2017 model by A Streak Of Fling out of Watch Me Go Guys by Frenchmans Guy recently won the Breeders Challenge Finale Youth and Derby with Hall. He’s been a regular fixture placing and winning deep at derbies since he joined Hall’s lineup in summer 2024.

Aint Seen Famous Yet

The Halls purchased “Wally,” from Amelia McCumber in May 2023, and the duo hit it off nearly immediately, going on a winning spree from the All-American Youth in early summer, to the Breeders Challenge and Pink Buckle Race in the fall. The palomino that goes to the right turn first is a 2014 Aint Seen Nothin Yet out of A Nasty Chick by Its Royal Time. Amelia’s stayed involved with Wally and helped coach Dusky Lynn on keeping the gelding sharp on the pattern.

Jets Letters Ta Abby

“Jax,” joined the team in February 2023. He came from Busby Quarter Horses and is by the Busby’s iconic stallion Blazin Jetolena. On the bottom he’s out of Real Famous Abby by Dash Ta Fame. Jax was trained and campaigned in his younger years by Ashley Schafer, who Dusky Lynn has taken lessons from on multiple occasions.

“One thing I’ve learned is that it’s important when you buy these (trained) horses to keep going back to the people that you bought them from to help keep them sharp,” Dusky said. “You’ll have a lot longer road to success if you just try to do it your own way.”

TroubleNvrLookSoGood

The AQHA Senior World Champion “Dexter,” joined the team in Sept. 2022. The 2013 gelding and the then 8-year-old and the 2013 First Down French son out of Tatango Twist Te earned an American Contender series win within a handful of runs together. Futuritied by Michele Deboer and campaigned by Southeastern Circuit NFR lady, Ericka Nelson, the Hall family purchased Dexter in Fall of 2022 from Pennsylvania’s Beth Liddic Miller.

VF Eysa Famous

In early 2022, “Eysa,” became the first of Hall’s current lineup to join. She was trained and seasoned by NFR qualifier Sarah Rose Waguespack. The 2015 model is by Eddie Stinson out of VJ Eyesa Red Design by Designer Red. The red mare has excelled at the Ruby Buckle events, plus helped Dusky Lynn capitalize on the XTreme Mini Million sidepots happening at major races.