NCHA News

Kenli Marvin is inducted into the Youth Hall of Fame

On October 12th 1998 Kenli Marvin was born to a 2 Million Dollar Rider, NCHA Futurity Champion, and NCHA Hall of Fame trainer with the name of Tommy Marvin and the worlds greatest mom Susan Marvin of Haskell Oklahoma. At the age of 2 her parents found an empty property in Barnsdall, Oklahoma. They moved there in a small camper where they first built a barn then the house where they currently reside today. 

Kenli attended Barnsdall public school up until the 6^th grade, she then started homeschooling so she could go on the road with her family full time. She graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Theology. 

Sam Graves who won the very first cutting ever on “Old Hub” is Kenli’s great great great grandpa so one could say cutting has been in her blood since the beginning. Her parents Tommy and Susan had her on a horse as soon as she arrived home from the hospital. At the age of 5 she competed in her first cutting on her dads trusted turn back horse “Cutters Toy”. By the age of 7 Kenli made her first NCHA Summer Spectacular Jr. Youth Finals on “Iza Jo Lena” and there was no stopping her after that. She went on to make her first NCHA limited age Non Pro finals at the age of 11 on “MK Kit Mate”. 

Kenli’s most memorable youth wins are:

• NCHA Jr Youth World Champion and show Champion 2012 
•  NCHA Sr Youth World Champion 
•  Reserve Show Champion 2016 
•  NCHA Sr Youth Eastern Nationals Champion 2015
•  Summer Spectacular Scholarship Finalist 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2018
•  Area 8 Champion 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 

Through the course of Kenli’s youth years she had the opportunity to ride many incredible horses. At the top of that list is “MK Vivian”. Although they got off to a rough start with Vivian bucking her off the first time she ever stepped on her, the pair quickly pulled it together and won not only one, but two NCHA Youth World Championships. The first time Kenli won the Youth World she only rode Vivian, but the second time around Vivian was in foal when the hauling year started so she had help from “CP Jesse Cat” who carried her to an Eastern Nationals Championship, “Sannabelle Cat,” “MK Reymate,” and “MK Chapman.” Each horse pulled together to help until Vivian was ready to go again. In Kenli’s time as a youth she also had the honor of showing the horse her dad won the NCHA Futurity on “HighBrow Super Cat.” A few more special horses through out Kenli’s years were “Catsa Movin,” “Tattoos On This Town,” and “Lenas Little Smarty” who started the paint obsession. Kenli says she wouldn’t be the person she is today without each and every one of these special horses. 

Being inducted into the Youth Hall of Fame is a moment Kenli has dreamed of since she was the age of 5. She is very aware she didn’t get here on her own. She’d like to first thank her sweet savior Jesus, who held her hand every step of the way. She would also like to thank all the amazing horse owners who were willing to sharing their horses throughout the years, this is a kindness that can’t be repaid, but she hopes to pass it on in the future. She is grateful for everyone’s help and support in and out of the arena. Lastly, she’d like to thank her parents who believed in her no matter what, and always made sure she had a horse to show. 

Kenli would like to leave a few worlds of encouragement to all the younger kids that might be listening. “No matter the odds never give up! If you work at it hard enough the possibility are endless!”