BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
Hailey Kinsel enjoyed not having the pressure on her for 10 nights at this year’s NFR.
The now four-time World Champion entered the NFR fifth and hit a barrel in Round 1, which gave her the opportunity to have fun riding her mare Sister and try to go as fast as possible for the next nine nights.
“She’s a challenger, she makes me be better, she does not let me slack and I’m thankful for that I really am,” Kinsel said of Sister.
The plan ultimately worked to perfection as Kinsel rallied to win Rounds 2 and 3 and then later Rounds 9 and 10 with the two fastest times of the rodeo. She finished the season with $302,172, about $25,000 ahead of 2021 World Champion Jordon Briggs.
“I just tried to take my focus off winning the World Title all week, I didn’t want it to be about that, I wanted to enjoy my horse and enjoy my time here,” Kinsel said. “I guess just taking a little pressure off, allowing yourself a chance to lose a little bit makes you freed up to win.”
Kinsel has now won four of the last five WPRA Barrel Racing World Championships and took time to reflect on her career so far in her press conference Saturday night.
“You start to realize that this does not last forever and you need to enjoy this as much as you can. So, I just become more grateful for every run, I don’t know how I could be more grateful than I am today, but the next run I make on (Sister), I’ll be more grateful to get to ride her, she’s amazing.”