Mounted Shooting Champion Chad Little by Western Shooting Horse

Cowboy mounted shooting (also called western mounted shooting and mounted shooting) is a competitive equestrian sport involving the riding of a

horse The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million ...

to negotiate a shooting pattern. Depending on sponsoring organizations, it can be based on the

historical reenactment Historical reenactment (or re-enactment) is an educational entertainment, educational or entertainment activity in which mainly amateur hobbyists and history enthusiasts dress in historic uniforms or costumes and follow a plan to recreate aspect ...

of historic shooting events held at

Wild West shows Wild West shows were traveling vaudeville performances in the United States and Europe that existed around 1870–1920. The shows began as theatrical stage productions and evolved into open-air shows that depicted romanticized stereotypes of co ...

in the late 19th century. Modern events use

blank ammunition A blank is a firearm cartridge that, when fired, does not shoot a projectile like a bullet or pellet, but generates a muzzle flash and an explosive sound ( muzzle report) like a normal gunshot would. Firearms may need to be modified to allow a ...

instead of live rounds, certified to break a target balloon within .

History

In the spirit of the

soldier A soldier is a person who is a member of an army. A soldier can be a conscripted or volunteer enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, or an officer. Etymology The word ''soldier'' derives from the Middle English word , from Old French ...

and cowboy, one organization, the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) was created in the mid-1990s for

equestrians Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, driving, and vaulting. This broad description includes the ...

and cowboy action shooters to participate in a competitive shooting sport while riding horseback. The Mounted Shooters of America was formed in 2000 and may belong to either or both associations.

Firearms and safety

Mounted shooting requires competitors to use single-action revolvers, lever-action rifles chambered in pistol calibers, and side-by-side double-barreled

shotgun A shotgun (also known as a scattergun, or historically as a fowling piece) is a long-barreled firearm designed to shoot a straight-walled cartridge known as a shotshell, which usually discharges numerous small pellet-like spherical sub- p ...

s. Single action semi-automatic firearms, also known as self-cocking firearms, are also allowed in special military cavalry and Wild Bunch events (named after the 1969 Western movie of the same name that used more modern firearms). In general, firearm designs and the modern replicas used in the sport are of the pre-1900 American West and Military eras. All events, whether for Old West living history or shooting competitions, are directed by a certified mounted range officer who must be knowledgeable of firearm safety, event organization, and horsemanship. The direction of a mounted range officer helps to ensure the safety of the competitor, spectators and volunteers at all events.

Attire

In the early years, mounted shooting competitors were required to wear

clothing Clothing (also known as clothes, apparel, and attire) are items worn on the human body, body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin sheets of materials ...

of the

American West The Western United States (also called the American West, the Far West, and the West) is the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. As American settlement in the U.S. expanded westward, the meaning of the term ''the Wes ...

, classic B-

Western movies The Western is a genre set in the American frontier and commonly associated with folk tales of the Western United States, particularly the Southwestern United States, as well as Northern Mexico and Western Canada. It is commonly referre ...

, or military cavalry uniforms of any time period or country. Today, the most that are required is modern cowboy clothing with chinks or chaps, a long-sleeved shirt and a

cowboy hat The cowboy hat is a high-crowned, wide-brimmed hat best known as the defining piece of attire for the North American cowboy. Today it is worn by many people, and is particularly associated with ranch workers in the western and southern United ...

. The Mounted Shooters of America do not require chinks or chaps, except for showcase events at major venues.

Competition

The sport is regulated by several governing bodies, including the CMSA, Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association
/ref> CSA,Cowboy Sports Association
/ref> SASS,SASS Single Action Shooting Society
/ref> and MSA.Mounted Shooters of America
/ref> Mounted shooting requires skill in both horsemanship and

shooting Shooting is the act or process of discharging a projectile from a ranged weapon (such as a gun, bow, crossbow, slingshot, or blowpipe). Even the acts of launching flame, artillery, darts, harpoons, grenades, rockets, and guided missiles c ...

that is measured in the form of competitive events and is one of the fastest-growing equestrian sports in the nation. The object of the sport is to shoot ten balloon targets while riding through a variety of challenging courses using specially loaded blank cartridges fired from Old West-style single-action revolvers. It is a high-speed, timed spectator sport in which the competitor who rides the fastest with the fewest missed targets wins. The typical event requires two single-action revolvers, each loaded with five blank cartridges. Ten targets are arranged in a horseback riding

arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectato ...

. When the competitor is given a go-signal, indicating the arena is clear of people and hazards, the rider guides his horse across a timer line and engages the ten targets. When all ten targets are engaged, the rider returns across the timer line and his score is determined and recorded. The raw time of the rider is computed and penalties are added for missed targets or failure to follow the specified course or procedure, or knocking over barrels or target stands. Shooters enter the arena one at a time. Total score times are determined by taking the raw time for the stage (or course) plus penalties and/or bonuses. Penalties include missed targets, knocked over barrels and missed course direction. To level the field, different levels of competition exist for riders and shooters of varying abilities. For CMSA members, as an example, classifications include Senior Men's, Men's, Senior Ladies and Ladies. The classes are further divided by age, each with its own rules for safety applied. These classes are: * age 11 and under (may choose to shoot if qualified) * age 12–16 Junior boy or girl * age 16 plus Men's, Ladies or Senior Men's, Senior Ladies * age 55 plus Men's, Ladies or Senior Men's, Senior Ladies The MSA's classifications are Rookie, Non-Professional, Semi-Professional, and Professional. A competitor's placement in these divisions is based on the Class level as determined by SASS or CMSA when a member of these associations first joins the MSA. Competitors advance by accumulating winning placements. Mounted Shooters are automatically moved into higher levels to maintain equitable and fair events against people of similar proven skills. MSA members begin as a Rookie and advance to higher divisions by accumulating wins. While the MSA recognizes CMSA levels upon entry into MSA and upon moving to higher levels in the CMSA, the CMSA does not currently recognize MSA members' divisions or move-ups.

Blank ammunition and targets

Mounted shooting uses

black powder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate ( saltpeter) ...

theatrical blanks with no bullet. Companies such as Western Stage Props, Buffalo Blanks, Circle E Blanks, Lonesome Pine, and Whitehouse Blanks manufacture certified ammunition for competition. These blanks were originally used in movie production and on the theatrical stage so that flame and smoke can be seen from the muzzle of the firearm. A slow-burning powder component of the blank can break a balloon target at a range of up to 20 feet (6 m).

Media coverage

''Western Shooting Horse'''', ''which was later named ''Western Horse & Gun'', by new owners, was a national newsstand publication devoted to the sport and covers the organizations, people, horses, competition, training, guns and equipment. The magazine was headquartered in Cave Creek, Arizona, and was published six times a year. The magazin
suspended
print publication on December 17, 2017. As of late 2018, the website is defunct. Mounted shooting events have been featured on

ESPN ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The ...

, TNN,

Fox Sports Fox Sports is the brand name for a number of sports channels, broadcast divisions, programming, and other media around the world. The ''Fox Sports'' name has since been used for other sports media assets. These assets are held mainly by the F ...

and the Outdoor Life Network.

References

External links

Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association

The Champion - Western Spirit

CAS City - The World of Cowboy & Western Action Shooting
*Cowgirl Magazine
Kenda Lenseigne: Dare to Beat the Boys
{{Equestrian Sports Western-style riding Shooting sports events