ENTERPRISE, Ore. — A lifelong competitor in reining has signed a letter accepting a scholarship to Texas A&M University, where she’ll compete on the Aggies’ nationally ranked equestrian team.

Kendall Wigen, who will graduate from Enterprise High School in the spring, signed the paperwork for the scholarship Nov. 13 during a ceremony with family and friends in the school’s gymnasium.

She said she’s not allowed to discuss the details of the scholarship.

Her parents, Travis and Melissa Wigen, were on hand to witness the signing. Both have long been involved in reining. Travis is a professional horse trainer with the National Reining Horse Association and Melissa is a nonprofessional with the same organization. Elder sister Madison, who is attending Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, also has spent years competing in reining. Both sisters served as officers in the youth National Reining Horse Association and had extensive show careers.

“I’ve been riding since I was about 3 and showing since I was 5,” Kendall Wigen said.

In a 2023 interview, Wigen said she gets a real feeling of family from the reining community.

“I like the community that comes with horse shows,” she said. “It’s family all around the country, like it’s different from friends at home.”

In reining, riders guide their horses through a precise pattern of circles, spins and stops. All work is done at the lope or the gallop. Rides start with a score of 70 and can go higher or lower depending on the quality of the ride. 

Wigen said five riders compete in an event at any one time. The current roster for the Aggies’ equestrian team lists 50 athletes, but only 10 or so of those compete in reining.

She has lived most of her life here and in Utah. In addition to her activities astride a horse, she’s been a multiple-sport team member in volleyball and basketball and has been active in FFA and National Honor Society.

She said that she also was recruited by several other Division I universities, such as Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, the University of Georgia and University of South Carolina.

She chose Texas A&M because she liked it best.

“I liked the campus and I liked the team,” she said.

As of Nov. 12, the Texas A&M equestrian team was ranked No. 2 in the country, behind only Auburn. The team has won three national championships, in 2002, 2012 and 2017.

Wigen plans to major in law and minor in business.

“I want to be an attorney,” she said.

Texas A&M is a long way from Enterprise and in a much different community. Its main campus is in College Station, Texas, and is home to more than 71,000 students.

Wigen said she’ll miss Enterprise a bit, but she’s eager to see new places and meet new people.