Relive the Old West with Mounted Shooting Competitions

Are you an active shooter and horseperson and want to try one of the fastest growing and equestrian sports in the United States?  Do you enjoy fast-paced, timed events and dress in traditional western attire?  If you answered yes to any of these questions then you may want to try mounted shooting.

Mounted shooting is governed by the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) and hosts events for mounted shooters throughout the United States.  Mounted shooting is when mounted riders, dressed in  traditional western attire, use a .45 caliber single action revolver with 5 rounds of blank ammunition shoot a timed course. 

One of the key components of mounted shooting competitions is that the participant must be dressed in traditional western garb or in the style of the late 1800s.  Traditional western style would include long sleeve western shirt, blue jeans and chaps, western boots and cowboy hat.  The CMSA has a website to help participants dress according to these guidelines.

In order to take care of the mounted portion you must have a horse.  You do not have to own the horse, and the horse does not have to be a specific breed, but it must be trained to participate in the mounted shooting events.  It takes time to desensitize a horse to allow you to shoot from his back without bolting, spooking and or throwing his rider.  Without a calm, trained horse it will be very difficult to hit your target.  The horse must move obediently in the direction that you say at the correct speed to allow you to aim and hit your target. 

To shoot in competition you must use .45 caliber single action revolvers which were typically used in the late 1800 timeframe.  Single action revolvers must be cocked each time before firing, which makes the event more authentic and means you must drop the reins of your horse while cocking the revolver. At no time is live ammunition allowed at these events.  The only ammunition used is .45 caliber Long Colt, which is filled with black powder and will pop a balloon target at up to 15 feet.

During a mounted shooting event the field is split into divisions (Men, Women, Seniors) and then a pattern is selected from 50+ choices.  Multiple patterns are available depending on the event and the event is timed. 
The winners are based on the best time and the accuracy of the shooting.

If you want to try a new, fast-growing sport, then try mounted shooting and see how the western cowboys from days past used to live, work, and shoot on horseback.