If you follow barrel racing at all, you are familiar with the fast yellow horse, her head shake in the alley and that tail swish coming home. You are also familiar with the handy jockey on her back. Together, they are four-time world champions and arguably one of the best to ever do it. Hailey Kinsel and Sister are headed back to their ninth National Finals Rodeo in an attempt to claim their fifth world title.

DM Sissy Hayday, better known as Sister to the rodeo world, first claimed the AQHA/WPRA Horse of the Year title with Hailey Kinsel seven years ago and again this year was chosen. With nearly a decade of consistent dominance behind them, Kinsel and Sister are proving that greatness doesn’t just fade away — it endures.

In the 2025 season, Kinsel ran Sister in only 21 rodeos, but their efficiency is unmatched. Together they placed at 20 of those, taking home five wins. One of those big wins came at the prestigious Reno Rodeo, where they took the title for the second consecutive year. Her consistency and confidence have made Sister a living legend in a sport where longevity is rare but remarkable.

Hailey spoke to BarrelRacing.com, saying, “She’s 14 this year and just keeps craving it more,” Kinsel said. “She’s never given me a sign she wanted to stop. If anything, she wants it more now than she ever has. It’s wild. I’ve prioritized Sister and her needs for a long time, and she’s more than paid me back for that — and continues to do so every single day.”

Though Kinsel and Sister have been synonymous with success since 2018, this year’s Horse of the Year race was one of the most competitive in recent years. Megan McLeod Sprague and her incredible horse Seis Corona (“Jagger”) earned runner-up honors after an impressive comeback season. None other than Kassie Mowry and Force The Goodbye (“Jarvis”), the reigning world champions, rounded out the top three after a record-breaking year.

This year, Kinsel will enter Las Vegas fourth in the world standings with $186,317 in regular-season earnings, adding to more than $2.6 million in career earnings. With Sister’s proven ability to shine under the bright lights of the Thomas & Mack Center, another world title is well within reach.

With $3,429,801 in recorded lifetime earnings, Sister continues to defy expectations and prove that she is among the best in the sport. She’s more than earned this title. Fans are eager to watch Hailey and Sister chase another gold buckle under the lights of Las Vegas this December.