The Reno Rodeo kicked off in Reno, Nevada, on June 21. Barrel racers of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association highlighted the stage. Hailey Kinsel and DM Sissy Hayday claimed the 2024 Reno Rodeo title with an aggregate time of 51.54 seconds.
—> Find complete results and standings from the 2024 WPRA barrel racing pro rodeo season here.
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Hailey Kinsel and DM Sissy Hayday Win 2024 Reno Rodeo
There aren’t many rodeos Hailey Kinsel and her four-time WPRA world champion mount DM Sissy Hayday haven’t already won. Reno Rodeo was one of those elusive wins — until this year. The duo from Cotulla, Texas, who now resides in Stephenville, finally took home the Reno Rodeo championship and added $16,081 to their 2024 WPRA world standings earnings.
“It felt amazing, very emotional, and just like a big old, ‘We did it!’ I’ve been second there twice,” Hailey said. “I’ve known my horse could win that rodeo, that she’s capable. To actually get it done and get that accolade for her and for myself was really special.”
Hailey and “Sister” took home the 2024 Reno Rodeo win with an aggregate time of 51.54 seconds on three runs. The duo also split second in the first round with a time of 17.27 and finished sixth in the second round with a 17.21. They closed out the rodeo in the finals with a 17.06 to finish second in the round and ultimately clinch the average title. All totaled, Hailey added $16,081 to her world standings earnings in Reno.
“In the first round, that was the highest I’ve ever placed in that first round, so I knew we had a good shot, and coming back in the Finals she felt strong,” Hailey said, adding a note of thanks to her friends who help her along the way, and to Abby Larson who’s helping on the road this summer.
Hailey’s and Sister’s record is well-known in the barrel racing world. They’ve won nearly every title available and broken numerous arena records and earnings records. Still, the 13-year-old mare by PC Frenchmans Hayday and out of Royal Sissy Irish by Royal Shake Em is showing no signs of slowing down.
“She is running really wide open and having fun out there,” Hailey said. “That’s a big goal for me this summer is to just make sure she stays healthy and having fun and craving it. Because when she’s craving it, she is really hard to beat, and she’s really, really fun to ride. That’s where I feel we’re at right now. She’s just like, ‘Give me more.’ I’m just trying to keep that feeling up for her.”
Horses on the Road with Hailey
Along with Sis, Hailey has some talented backup horses in her arsenal this summer as well. Helping to share the load with Sis is 10-year-old bay mare BCK Spyder Monkey (The Goodbye Lane x Phoebes Myth x Phoebes Cartel). “Spyder” joined Hailey’s team in 2023 after winning nearly $58,000 with previous owner Kallie Wright.
“I plan to run Spyder at some setups she’s going to like — the more barrels on the fences and deeper ground stuff,” Hailey said.
Between rounds at Reno, Hailey also hopped on a flight to run TR Judges Doll (Judge Cash x TR Dashing Badger x Mr Illuminator) at the West of the Pecos Rodeo in Pecos, Texas. “Reese” has been in Hailey’s barn since 2018. Together, Reese and Hailey have earned more than $19,000 in EquiStat earnings. This year Hailey’s mom, Leslie Kinsel, was able to take Reese from Cotulla to Pecos to meet Hailey for the run. They picked up $457 for a 12th-place finish from a time of 18.30.
“I flew back and hopped on Reese at Pecos, and thanks to my mom, because she hauled her over there from Cotulla, which Cotulla is not close to anything,” Hailey said with a laugh. “That was nice to be able to go back to that rodeo and get a little check out there. I flew back in to Reno knowing I needed a nap, but my horses were well rested.”
Also out on the road with Hailey this summer is a 5-year-old full sister to Sister, An American Royal. “Libby” has been getting seasoned this summer and entered in a few jackpots and futurities between Hailey’s pro rodeo schedule.
“She’s doing great. She’s hauling along really good. I don’t have any intention to run her at a rodeo, but I’ve been jackpotting along, and I might take her to a futurity or two when I have time,” Hailey said. “I ran her at the barrel race in Reno at the Patriot and she pretty much hit the wall at the first barrel, very Sis-style first barrel, and was right in the middle at the bottom of the 1D there. It’s pretty exciting that she likes Reno too.”
Summer Game Plan
As of June 25, the WPRA world standings had Hailey sitting in the No. 10 spot with $51,742 in earnings. After Reno, she can add $16,081 to that number. The summer run of rodeo is just hitting full steam, and the world standings are sure to be shaken up in the coming weeks. Right now, Leslie Smalygo holds onto her No. 1 position in the world standings. Hailey plans to pursue her eighth National Finals Rodeo qualification, and making sure her summer run is successful is part of the goal. For Hailey, success is measured ultimately in the health and happiness of her $2.8 million mount.
“I’ve got a handful of rodeos over the Fourth of July that I drew good at that I plan to run Sis at, and probably Spyder at one of them, and try and make maybe a few more runs, but a few less miles, if possible, this summer,” Hailey said. “That’s something I would like to do with Sis is keep her off the trailer a little more but keep her working and making the runs, because she’s seeming to thrive off of that right now.”
2024 Reno Rodeo Barrel Racing Results
First round: 1. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 17.24 seconds, $4,991; 2. (tie) Hailey Kinsel and Kassie Mowry, 17.27, $3,921 each; 4. Emily Beisel, 17.30, $3,089; 5. Millie Marquart, 17.38, $2,377; 6. Ilyssa Riley, 17.39, $1,901; 7. (tie) Jordan Driver and Tiffany Lujan, 17.40, $1,188 each; 9. Hailey Garrison, 17.43, $713; 10. Shelley Morgan, 17.45, $475.
Second round: 1. Tiffany Lujan, 17.09 seconds, $4,991; 2. (tie) Hailey Garrison and Kassie Mowry, 17.15, $3,921 each; 4. Cindy Smith, 17.18, $3,089; 5. Toria Madsen, 17.19, $2,377; 6. Hailey Kinsel, 17.21, $1,901; 7. Emily Beisel, 17.30, $1,426; 8. (tie) Kelly Allen and Sara Winkelman, 17.33, $832 each; 10. Ashley Castleberry, 17.34, $475.
Finals: 1. Emily Beisel, 16.99 seconds, $3,697; 2. Hailey Kinsel, 17.06, $2,773; 3. Jordan Driver, 17.19, $1,848; 4. Hailey Garrison, 17.23, $924.
Average: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 51.54 seconds on three head, $7,486; 2. Emily Beisel, 51.59, $6,417; 3. Hailey Garrison, 51.81, $5,347; 4. Jordan Driver, 52.06, $4,634; 5. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 52.18, $3,565; 6. LaTricia Duke, 52.29, $2,852; 7. Tiffany Lujan, 52.30, $2,139; 8. Millie Marquart, 52.44, $1,426; 9. Kassie Mowry, 56.65, $1,069; 10. Sara Winkelman, 57.10, $713.
