| Kenda
has been riding for over 30 years and training horses for the last 15
years in Texas, California, and
Washington. She has spent her
life on the back of a horse, and
competed all throughout her childhood in both western and english
disciplines. After high school, she began her career as an apprentice in Texas to some of the top Cutting horse trainers in the NCHA. In 1994, she accepted another Cutting horse apprenticeship in Southern California, where she continued to learn from the best. 
  Age 2, riding Black Banana Age 7, riding Fasha |
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| 2008 |
2008.
What a YEAR! January started the year just right, with Kenda and Justin winning the MSA 20x in Marana, Arizona in January. February was filled with local jackpot shoots across the state of Arizona, only to be gearing up momentum for March, where the pair took home the Overall Cowgirl and Pro Champion Cowgirl title at the Festival of the West Classic in Phoenix. Kenda was particularly proud of the Overall Cowgirl win, mainly because it is truly a story of coming from behind and lapping her competition. She was in the Overall spot but then missed a target in the 5th stage, which dropped her into second place. That miss, even with a 5 second penalty, only put her 1.2 seconds behind of her competition, Mainly because Justin had been running so hard all weekend. Going into stage 6, she knew that she had to beat her competition by at least 1.2 seconds, which is often a hard thing to do in this sport. Kenda and Justin were first to go in the order, and pulled out an amazing 11.135 second run. Next to run was her competition for the Overall spot, who turned in a time of 12.6. See video of this amazing run! On to Mississippi for the National Championship held in Tunica, Mississippi in April, where the pair log another World record on their resume. The pattern was the "W", with 3 barrel turns and ten targets standing between them and a big check, a big title and heart racing excitement. The team turned in a time of 16.293, which ended up being the fastest time overall! (Yep, she beat the boys again. The Overall men's fast time was a 16.4)! May was another big month for Kenda and Justin. The team went on the road with 14 year old student, Christina Winnett and her horse Sugar, and headed South East to Guthrie, Oklahoma for the Behlen Country Classic. It is apparent that just one world record set that spring wasn't enough for Kenda and Justin... Count THREE world records set in Guthrie, all thanks to a little red pony and a cowgirl with a plan. From Guthrie, the girls and their horses headed North to Spearfish, South Dakota where another big check was won in the Cowgirl Pro Class. Back home to Washington for the North Pacific Regional Championship in Goldendale where the words "clean sweep" become evident. Overall Match, Overall Cowgirl, Eliminator and Pro Champion all in one weekend! History was made in August. Since CMSA's inception in the early 90's, there has never been a woman to win the high overall at a major. In Nampa, Idaho, with the turn of the clock and 60 targets, this changed forever. Kenda became the first and only woman to hold such a title. Justin got his credit where it was due by being presented with an embroidered blanket and a big check... ok, so he probably doesn't know what the big check means, but enjoys his blanket. Just weeks later, they hit the road again to win the high overall at the Montana State Championship in Bozeman for the second year in a row! September was a time where Justin got to have most of the month being "just a horse" out in the green pastures of Ellensburg. Kenda flew in to Tennessee for the Eastern United States Championship, held in Murfreesboro and borrowed a horse. Being on a different horse did not stop her... she won both the Colt Eliminator and the Wrangler Pro Class! When she returned home from Ellensburg, Kenda had a photo shoot and interview with the world renowned Western Horseman magazine ( for the January 2009 issue). Later that month, the trailer was packed again, and the pair headed south along with backup horse Huckleberry and youngster Tater (Kenda's 2 year old colt), to the MSA World Championship in Laughlin, Nevada. The weekend proved to be another successful one! Kenda and Justin won the World Champion Cowgirl title, and reserve High Overall. Huckleberry had a shot at the title as well, but Kenda missed a target in the last stage on him which took him out of the running. To his credit, it was not his fault! (in MSA, a competitor can enter 2 horses). The year wound down with a grand finale, starting in November at the World Championship where the team took home the reserve World Champion title for the 2nd year in a row. They also won the World Point Champion Cowgirl title for the 4th time, and ended the season as the National High Point Average Cowgirl Champion and ranked number 2 in the World. December truly ended the season with success, just as it started. It was the first ever World Series of Mounted Shooting , held in conjunction with the World Series of Team Roping during the NFR in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kenda and Justin won both qualifying rounds, and although Kenda missed a target in the last round, the team ended up the high money winner of the weekend with a check for nearly $9,000... not too shabby for about 30 seconds (and 4 years) of work! Look for us next year on the road, take care and be safe! Kenda and Justin |
January: 2008 MSA 20X Champion Cowgirl. Marana, Arizona March: 2008 Festival of the West Classic Overall Cowgirl. Phoenix, Arizona 2008 Festival of the West Classic Pro Champion Cowgirl. Phoenix, Arizona April: 2008 CMSA National Championship Pro Champion Cowgirl. Tunica, Mississippi 2008 World Record Set at the National Championship, Tunica, Mississippi May: 2008 High Overall Match Winner. Darby, Montana 2008 Three World Records Set at the Behlen Country Classic. Guthrie, Oklahoma June: 2008 Colt Eliminator Champion Cowgirl. Behlen Country Classic in Guthrie, Oklahoma 2008 Wrangler Pro Champion Cowgirl. Behlen Country Classic in Guthrie, Oklahoma 2008 7 Down Pro Champion Cowgirl. Spearfish, South Dakota 2008 Overall Champion Cowgirl. Coeur D'Alene, Idaho July: 2008 High Overall Champion and Overall Champion Cowgirl. North Pacific Regional Championship. Goldendale, Washington 2008 Eliminator Champion Cowgirl and Pro Champion Cowgirl. North Pacific Regional Championship. Goldendale, Washington August: 2008 High Overall Champion at the Western United States Championship in Nampa, Idaho 2008 High Overall Champion at the Montana State Championship in Bozeman, Montana September: 2008 Colt Eliminator Champion Cowgirl. Eastern United States Championship in Murfreesboro, Tennessee 2008 Wrangler Pro Champion Cowgirl. Eastern United States Championship in Murfreesboro, Tennessee 2008 MSA Overall World Champion Cowgirl. Laughlin, Nevada October: 2008 Eliminator Champion Cowgirl. Arizona State Championship. Globe, Arizona November: 2008 Reserve World Champion Cowgirl. Amarillo, Texas 2008 National Average High Point Champion Cowgirl. Amarillo, Texas 2008 World Point Champion Cowgirl, Colt Eliminator Champion Cowgirl. Amarillo, Texas December: 2008 World Series of Mounted Shooting High Stakes Jackpot. High Overall Money Winner. Las Vegas, Nevada. |
| 2007 |
2007
is shaping up to be a successful year for Kenda and Justin. It
started in May at the Oregon State Championship in Hermiston, where the
team took a High Overall title back to Ellensburg. June marked not only a high dollar win in California, but an opportunity to ride at a shoot for a very good cause. The fight for Cancer. July started a ball rolling in the winner's circle, with a pro class and eliminator championship win at the north Pacific Regional in Goldendale. The ball continued to roll, gaining momentum in the right direction! Following the North Pacific Regional Championship are five - yes, FIVE High Overall wins in a row. Utah State, Idaho State, Washington State, Montana State and the North Mountain Regional Finals. Justin ran like the wind and Kenda shot clean at all five Championships... an accomplishment the team has never attained before. The month of September started with some noteworthy accomplishments! Kenda was given the opportunity to fly to the Eastern United States Championship and ride Ernie and Diane Purcelli's two horses. Kenda entered both horses in the Pro Class and won 1st and 2nd in the finals. To add, she won the Eliminator Finals on Diane's mare, Dottie while also SETTING A NEW WORLD RECORD! November ends the 2007 season, and not without more entries on the resume. The two one-day "Spooktacular" matches, held the weekend before Halloween in Spokane, WA proved to all that Huckleberry can hold his own! Justin sat the weekend out which gave Huck the opportunity to edge his way into the winner's circle. The shoot's format was scored and paid only only the first 3 stages where Huckleberry won the High Overall both days! Southward we go! The Arizona State Championship held in Prescott the weekend before the World Championship was not only a good last-chance "practice", but also proved to be very productive for Kenda and Justin. Together they won the Overall Cowgirl, Reserve High Overall, and the ACMSA Eliminator Champion Cowgirl titles. Following the AZ State shoot was a High Stakes Pro Shootout held by the California Desperados in Las Vegas, NV where the team won the Overall Cowgirl title. The season draws to a dramatic and spectacular end at the World Finals, held in Las Vegas. Along with many great memories, Kenda and Justin take home the titles of Reserve World Champion Cowgirl, Masters Division Champion Cowgirl and Overall Stage Winner and Ladies 5 Class Winner. Huckleberry also had his moment to shine by winning the High Overall in the Maturity. |
2007 Oregon
State High Overall Champion 2007 Oregon State Champion Cowgirl 2007 $10,000 Rundown for Life Eliminator Winner 2007 South Dakota Pro Class Champion Cowgirl 2007 North Pacific Regional Pro Champion Cowgirl 2007 North Pacific Regional Eliminator Champion 2007 Utah State High Overall Champion 2007 Utah State Champion Cowgirl 2007 Utah Pro Class Champion Cowgirl 2007 Idaho State High Overall Champion 2007 Idaho State Champion Cowgirl 2007 Washington State High Overall Champion 2007 Washington State Champion Cowgirl 2007 Montana State High Overall Champion 2007 Montana State Champion Cowgirl 2007 North Mountain Regional High Overall Champion 2007 North Mountain Regional Champion Cowgirl 2007 North Mountain Regional Pro Champion Cowgirl 2007 Eastern US Championship Pro Class Champion. Read "Girl Power" Article 2007 Eastern US Championship Eliminator Champion 2007 Eastern US Championship WORLD RECORD! (read article) 2007 5th in the top 10 Nationally Ranked Cowgirls 2007 Arizona State Champion Cowgirl 2007 ACMSA Eliminator Champion Cowgirl 2007 CA High Stakes Pro Shootout Champion Cowgirl 2007 Reserve World Champion Cowgirl 2007 Masters Division Champion Cowgirl 2007 Ladies Division 5 World Championship Winner 2007 Overall Maturity World Champion |
| 2006 |
2006
was a
productive year in the winner's circle for Kenda Lenseigne. She
proceeded to take home Overall Cowgirl titles at the Oregon and Utah
State Championships; as well as the High Overall title at the North
Pacific Regional Championship, with an astonishing 7.678 second
lead
over second place. At the 2006 World Championship, as history repeats itself, Kenda won the World Point Champion Cowgirl title for the third time, and the World Pro Class Champion Cowgirl title for the second time. As if that was not enough... The list of accomplishments do not end there for Kenda at the 2006 World Championship. She was contracted to jockey a mare in the World Maturity Finals, and won the event in the SIP (Stallion Incentive Program) class. In addition to that, Kenda entered her 5 year old gelding in the Futurity (4 and 5 year olds) and took 4th place in the open class. |
2006 Oregon
State Champion Cowgirl 2006 Utah State Champion Cowgirl 2006 Utah State Pro Class Champion Cowgirl 2006 North Pacific Regional High Overall Champion 2006 South Pacific Regional Championship Overall Pro Class Champion 2006 South Pacific Regional Championship Eliminator Champion Cowgirl 2006 World Point Champion Cowgirl (read article) 2006 World Pro Class Champion Cowgirl 2006 State High Point and Regional High Point Cowgirl |
| 2005 |
After taking some time off from the sport of mounted shooting, and moving to Washington State, Kenda resurfaced at the 2005 World Championship and shattered a World Record by .435 of a second. She also won the World Point Champion Cowgirl title for the second time, and won the World Pro Class Champion Cowgirl Title. | 2005 World
Point Champion Cowgirl (read article) 2005 World Pro Class Champion Cowgirl (read article 1) , (read article 2) 2005 World Record Holder (read article 1) , (read article 2) |
| 2000 |
Kenda
brought home to Southern California the World Point
Champion Cowgirl Title, as well as the Reserve World Champion Cowgirl
title. |
2000 World
Point Champion Cowgirl 2000 Reserve
World Champion Cowgirl 2000 California State Champion Cowgirl 2000 Western Regional Champion Cowgirl 2002 California State Champion Cowgirl 2003 California State Champion Cowgirl |
| 1998 |
It
was in California that Kenda discovered Mounted Shooting, when she
saw a demo held at a small local rodeo in San Bernardino. She
had moved on from the Cutting horse world, and was training
horses in general discipline and instructing riders
at the time. Given her competitive background, she immediately jumped on the opportunity to try the new sport, and amazingly qualified for the World Championship after only her 4th shoot in 1998. Kenda won the World Ladies Limited Champion Title, as well as the Reserve World Champion Cowgirl title that year. |
1998 Reserve World Champion Cowgirl 1999 Nevada State Champion Cowgirl |
| Kenda is the founder
of the Washington State Mounted Shooters, a
charter club of the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association. In it's first
year, the WSMS became the fastest growing CMSA club in Northwest
history. In its second year, the WSMS paid out over
$22,000 in cash and prizes to its competitors, another first in
Northwest history. Kenda has coached hundreds of riders in her tenure, and continues to promote and encourage riders to meet their potential. She has started, tuned, and finished many mounted shooting horses, with her horse, Justin, being the ultimate testimony of her abilities. She bought Justin in 2004 for a mere $2000 from a teen aged trail rider. By November 2005, he had a world title and a world record on his resume. The road to champion status was not easy as Justin needed a lot of work. However, Kenda has incredible patience and dedication, and knows potential when she sees it. Kenda, along with her husband, currently own and operate a training facility in Ellensburg, Washington, where she keeps a long list of satisfied clients and happy horses. |
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