A four-time WPRA World Champion with over $2,622,303 and climbing in WPRA earnings at just 31 years old, Hailey Kinsel’s career has been defined by precision, discipline and the once-in-a-generation partnership she built with DM Sissy Hayday (“Sister”), the winningest barrel horse of all time.

Raised on her family’s cattle ranch in Cotulla, Texas, Kinsel grew up working outside long before she ever practiced a pattern. The wide-open miles shaped her feel, her balance, and her instinct for a horse. She didn’t grow up in a structure built for rodeo domination — but she grew up in one that taught her how to ride.

“I didn’t grow up doing drills in an arena. I grew up riding outside and trying to get something done,” Kinsel said. “That’s where my horsemanship started.”

Before choosing rodeo full time, she spent her youth in competitive gymnastics. The strength, body control and mental discipline she developed there are still evident in her riding today.

From the Ranch to the National Stage

Kinsel’s competitive rise began in Texas high school rodeo, followed by a standout collegiate career at Texas A&M. In 2017, she won the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Barrel Racing Championship and The American Rodeo, signaling that her foundation was more than talent — it was durable.

But the pivotal moment came earlier that summer, when she and Sister won $50,000 at the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo, . It was the breakthrough that introduced her to the national scene.

Sister: A Champion Made, Not Bought

Kinsel and her mother, Leslie, purchased Sister as a 2-year-old and brought her along themselves. There were no shortcuts and no assumptions — just steady development, miles of conditioning, and a rider who understood the mare from the inside out.

“She wasn’t a horse that came to us finished,” Kinsel said. “We learned together, and I think that’s why our partnership is what it is.”

Their connection translated instantly to the arena. At her first NFR in 2017, Kinsel set a new arena record with a 13.11 and finished reserve world champion. It was a sign of what was coming.

Four World Championships and a Standard All Her Own

From 2018 through 2022, Kinsel and Sister delivered one of the most dominant eras in WPRA history. She won world titles in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022, and set multiple NFR and standard-pattern records, including the electric 16.56 posted in 2020. In 2025, she hasn’t backed off the throttle.

Through each season, Kinsel’s program remained steady and intentional. Miles of long trotting, consistent wind work and a focus on keeping her horses mentally quiet created longevity that few athletes achieve at the top.

“I ride my horses a lot,” Kinsel said. “Conditioning is the one thing I can control every day. They have to feel strong and confident before I ever ask them for speed.”

Her belief in maintaining a calm, decompressing routine after runs has also become a key part of her horsemanship.

“Cooling out is huge for me,” she said. “Sometimes I just walk circles behind the alley until they come back down. They need that time.”

Sister’s Enduring Greatness

Sister’s impact spans nearly a decade — a rarity in a sport where longevity at the top is hard to find. She was named AQHA/WPRA Horse of the Year twice, in 2018 and again in 2025, a seven-year gap that underscores her durability and elite performance.

In 2025, Sister placed at 20 of 21 rodeos and won five, proving she remained one of the strongest horses in the world deep into her career.

Kinsel was humbled by the honor.

“It means a lot because it’s voted on by the people who understand what it takes,” she said. “For her to be recognized again this far into her career is really special.”

A Champion’s Professionalism

Despite her fame, Kinsel handles public attention with intention. She values authenticity while keeping her private life grounded and protected, focusing public-facing efforts on professionalism and sponsor obligations.

“Social media is part of the job, but it doesn’t have to be your whole life,” Kinsel said. “I want to represent my horses and my partners well, but I also want to be smart about what I share.”

She is equally thoughtful about studying ground conditions, a habit she built early and continues at every level.

“I ask a lot of questions,” she said. “I watch how horses are standing up, I pay attention to what’s happening in different parts of the arena. That’s part of riding smart.”

A Legacy Still in Motion

Hailey Kinsel and DM Sissy Hayday changed the sport — not with noise, but with excellence. Their era has been defined by discipline, trust and a work ethic rooted in the South Texas dirt they both came from.

She is already one of the greatest barrel racers of all time, and at 31, her story is still being written.

• Hailey Kinsel Takes Back Center Stage, Wins Fourth World Championship
• Inside the NFR Grind with Lisa Lockhart and Hailey Kinsel on The Money Barrel
• Hailey Kinsel and DM Sissy Hayday Break NFR Barrel Racing Record With Go-Round Win No. 26
• Hailey Kinsel’s Hot Mare Summer 
• Groundhog Day? Hailey Kinsel and Sister Win Back-To-Back NFR Rounds