FORT WORTH, Texas -- Hailey Kinsel of Cotulla, Texas, got the best Valentine's present a girl could ask for with her horse, Sister. The dominating duo has been making a splash everywhere they go, and the American Semi-Finals was no exception on Wednesday. Kinsel and Sister ran a 14.08 to qualify among the top 30 barrel racers advancing to the second round on Thursday.

DM Sissy Hayday aka "Sister" is a gorgeous 6-year-old Palomino mare. She is by PC Frenchman's Hayday out of a daughter of Royal Shakem. Kinsel and her mom, Leslie Kinsel, found Sister as a 2-year-old in the Texas Best sale.

"We had talked to Dillon Mundorf, her breeder, about her and were interested," Kinsel said.

Kinsel is a current student at Texas A&M studying agricultural economics, and she is also a breakaway roper on the Fightin' Texas Aggie Rodeo Team. Kinsel bought Sister in the middle of her freshman year at college, and her mom took the first shift in riding the mare every day on the ranch. When Kinsel would come home from school, she would take her turn riding Sister.

"I can't credit either of us with doing the most training--it was truly a joint effort," Kinsel said.

She also mentioned some struggles she has had with Sister, such as her naturally stiff disposition around the barrels. Kinsel said that they are constantly working with Sister and asking for her to give her face and bend. However, Kinsel said Sister has always been a natural turner and made her first time loping around a barrel look effortless.

Seasoning Sister has been simple, Kinsel said.

She's a business woman -- to this day, she'll spook at every banner or sign if you're just riding around the arena, but when you make a run, she blocks everything out and just works. Then she'll walk back in the same arena and spook at the same sign. ... She's funny like that.

Sister was held to the age of 5 to start her futurity year, so this is only her second year running barrels. Sister has already won over $35,000 in the past 14 months of competing. She helped Kinsel to her first pro rodeo win in Elizabeth, Colorado, last summer and split second at Denver this year.

Hailey credits most of her success to her mom, who has helped her since day one.

"I've learned so much from her, and I feel truly blessed to have her wisdom constantly in my ear," Kinsel said. "Both of my parents are very supportive, helping me drive and take care of horses whenever I need them."

Kinsel stays busy by having a full load of schoolwork, three horses to care for full time, pro rodeos, college rodeos, and her bible study that she runs. Kinsel has gotten used to lots of late nights in the library after a long day of class and working horses.

"But I have to remind myself anytime I start to get stressed out of feel overwhelmed -- I choose to live this lifestyle because I love it," she said

Kinsel said her goals are to make the circuit finals and then the National Finals Rodeo. She knows both would be a big accomplishments, and she isn't going to put a timeline on them.

"It entirely depends on when my horses are ready," she said. "Hopefully we can make a little more money this spring at the circuit rodeos to give us a good start."

By Whitney Thurmond

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