Hailey Kinsel Brings Slick By Design Offspring "Spatch" to 2023 NFR

Hailey Kinsel, three-time world champion, will bring some major horsepower to the 2023 NFR: Spatch, a 2014 mare by Slick By Design and out of RC Back In Black, an NFR qualifying mare.

The stunning black stallion, Slick By Design, also known as Slick, owned by Highpoint Performance Horses, is a well-known figure in the barrel racing industry. Slick himself has been a three-time qualifier for the National Finals Rodeo with both Michele McLeod and Stevi Hillman. Together, Slick and McLeod achieved a remarkable feat at the NFR, running a 13.48, which remains the fastest time a stallion has ever run at the event to date.

Slick has earned over $640,000 in his lifetime and his progeny has earned over $5 million, $2 million of which were won in 2023 alone.

Prior to his success at the NFR and gaining popularity, Slick caught the attention of Cayla Small. When Jane Melby, who is a two-time NFR qualifier and Small's mother, offered to breed her great mare, RC Back In Black, Small chose Slick.

RC Back In Black, also known as Beauty, has an impressive record in the rodeo world. She not only filled Small's WPRA permit but also took Melby to the 2011 NFR where they placed in four rounds, won three rounds and finished sixth in the year-end world standings. 

Beauty has lifetime earnings exceeding $151,000 and progeny earnings of almost $1 million. She was recently awarded the Mare Power Award at the 2023 Barrel Futurities of America.

Slick and Beauty were a perfect pair, with remarkable achievements on both ends. It's not surprising that their daughter has also become a force to be reckoned with. Slick N Black, also known as "Spatch" due to her spatula-shaped face marking, has made a name for herself. 

Cayla Small and Slick N Black / Whitney Shoop with Shoop Shots Photography

Spatch and Small won the Fizz Bomb Futurity Championship, the American Qualifier, and Round One of the 2019 Pink Buckle, earning a combined $280,000 so far in her career.

Hailey Kinsel, a three-time world champion, took notice of those achievements.

"Hailey actually called me just a month ago and funny I didn't even have her phone number but we are both good friends with NFR Qualifier Ivy Conrado-Saebens," said Smalls. "Hailey asked Ivy who she would run at the NFR as a backup horse and she said Spatch."

Spatch should excel in the Thomas and Mack arena, which is notoriously known for smaller patterns, as she comes from both NFR Qualifiers and go-round winners.

"She's so special. She's the first one I raised and she is really good. She is quirky, she has an I'm a champion don't look at me and don't touch me personality." said Small.

Kinsel did indeed bring Spatch and her palomino mare, DM Sissy Hayday, known as Sister, to the 2023 NFR.