In keeping with the club's commitment to education, the Colorado Mounted Thunder held a clinic in conjunction with a shooting event at the Denver Horse Expo. The clinician was Kenda Lenseigne, the reigning World Champion and genuine superstar in the mounted shooting world. Kenda is the four-time World Point Champion Cowgirl and holder of six World Records. In 2009, Kenda became the first woman in CMSA history to win the Overall at a World Championship. Just six months later in April 2010, she again made history by becoming the first woman to win the Overall at the National Championship. In short, Kenda Lenseigne is not just the best woman shooter, she is the best shooter — period.

“The timed event aspect of this sport really appealed to me, and there is a definite skill level that both my horse and I need to have to be able to perform,” said Kenda. “I feel good that I've been able to blaze a trail for the cowgirls and open up that door to prove that this is a co-ed sport and that both men and women can compete equally.”

Leslie Furnald holds a shotgun up to her cheek and gazes at a target shaped like a tombstone. She’s dressed to shoot, 19th century style, wearing a green corset over a black prairie dress swathed with glittering pins and buckles. Wavy red hair spills out the back of her emerald cowboy hat. Clustered behind her, dozens of target shooters, judges and range officers in western duds watch quietly.

The Watchung resident shuts her left eye and squeezes the trigger, swiftly toppling the first target. A judge in a marshal costume looms behind her with a stopwatch. Smoke is still curling out the gun barrel as she plucks another shell from her ammo belt. Three shots later, the tombstones are toast and the crowd hoots "whoo hoo." Furnald, aka Dancin’ Angel, is New Jersey’s top target-shooting cowgirl. She will be defending her title this weekend at the 9th annual state championship, Purgatory in the Pines.