Welcome to the Gun Show:
That Time I Tried Cowboy Mounted Shooting

Did you know Cowboy Mounted Shooting is the fastest growing horse sport in the U.S.? After trying it first hand, this English equestrian with no firearms background, can see why. I recently had an Old West of a good time–wielding a six-shooter, blasting red and white balloons to smithereens while on the back of a speeding moving jogging horse. This took place during a clinic with Kenny Lawson of California Peacekeepers when I attended the American Horse Publications annual equine media conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Thank you to Mary’s Tack and Feed for sponsoring my cowgirl jeans and shirt. And thank you to Lady Photographic for the great photos!

In order to channel my inner Annie Oakley, I first made a trip to Mary’s Tack and Feed in Del Mar (my favorite tack shop) to get expert advice on how to look Western. After multiple wardrobe changes, a lot of laughter, and too much time in the fitting room, I settled on a lightweight Cruel Girl snap-front shirt in midnight blue, Kimes Ranch Jolene jeans, and the comfiest Ariat cowboy boots in bronze. I also got an Ariat belt.

Even though I normally ride in breeches and sunshirts, I will be able to wear each of my cowgirl pieces separately in my civilian life. For example, the cowboy boots look awesome with a few of my dresses, and the snap shirt will be cute with my skinny jeans or breeches.

Psssttt. . . There’s still time to enter our Resistol RideSafe Instagram giveaway. You might win an innovative cowboy hat (pictured below) meets ASTM/SEI approved riding helmet! Click here to see the guidelines and enter.

At the beginning of the clinic, Kenny along with co-clinician Dan Byrd, a former polo player, demonstrated their World Champion mounted shooting skills so we students could visualize what it’s supposed to look like. When I first heard the thunderous gunfire, I got the giggles because it was so shockingly loud. I wasn’t sure how I’d fare when I began shooting with the bomb-like sound close up, but thankfully they provided earplugs for us (the horses typically wear them too).

Safety First, Shooting Later

The other attendees and I began learning the sport unmounted because we had to cover the basics of gun safety. Blanks are used for Cowboy Mounted Shooting, but they contain a caustic black powder which sprays out to pop the balloons if your aim is on target.

Photo by me. All others on this post by Lady Photographic.

For our first exercise, all the other newbies and I literally pointed our index fingers in an imaginary gun shape while on foot aiming at the tall poles, each outfitted with a single balloon on top. We were instructed on how to shoot straight with our arm extended and then to do a cross-body shot, with our shooting arm aiming across our torso, pointing the opposite direction.

Next we were given leather holsters. I was surprised at just how girdle-tight and high up on our waists the holster was supposed to sit, which made for an unfortunate muffin top. Then I was entrusted with not one, but two revolvers.

The revolvers were about two pounds apiece which doesn’t sound that heavy, but since I am not used to packing heat and the repeated motion of drawing, shooting, and replacing weapons in “my” holster, my wrist was a little sore by the end of the shooting session.

It was hard for me to grab the first gun (on my left) without looking down and then later, after my rounds were fired, place it in the holster again without looking, then grab the gun on my right. It didn’t occur to me to ask until the clinic’s end, “So are these real guns?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” was the response.

Once we were outfitted with our shooting gear, we practiced shooting from the ground, while walking past our balloon targets. Kenny instructed us to draw the left one first, take our five shots, put the weapon back into the holster without looking, then draw the right one and repeat the process.

The timing of when to aim, cock, then fire took some getting used to, and I was pleasantly surprised when I actually shot most of the balloons on my first round. And when I missed, it gave me the determination to do better next time. I can see how this sport is addicting.

The Mounted Part

I’ve been riding for decades, and I know how to mount and dismount a horse, but I felt like a complete greenhorn trying to get on and off my horse while wearing the holster with the guns!!! It added another level of complication to fairly simple equestrian skill.

Once I was in the saddle atop Buttercup the palomino (whose blond tresses many a woman has tried to mimic at the beauty salon) and later Flipper, the clinicians took turns riding alongside, coaching me on when to shoot and where to go. Without their helpful narration, I would have been much less successful.

“I think I’m only going to do this from a walk,” I said at one point as the added layer of challenge–to aim, shoot, and fire while also steering a horse through a specific pattern, sunk in. I had flashbacks to riding off course in an equitation class.

Kenny said I should go as slowly as I liked and that the people he trains who begin at a slower clip tend to progress faster, because they are perfecting technique. He affirmed my turtle pace, stating that riders who come in thinking it’s all about the speed can get themselves into a dangerous situation.

By the end of the clinic I was comfortable enough to trot through the course, and was amazed at how the complexity of multitasking–listening to the coaching, steering through the pattern, and shooting–increased by going just a little bit faster.

The Draw of Cowboy Mounted Shooting

One of the cool aspects of mounted shooting is that any breed of horse is welcome in the sport. Obviously, speed is important as well as the ability turn quickly, so Quarter Horses dominate.

As a Thoroughbred owner I asked if they ever saw Thoroughbreds compete and the answer was yes. And I learned that riders can compete at essentially any age. They told us of a gentleman who is 83 and still competing, and there are classes sans firearms for children under 12.

Dan said that cowboy mounted shooting is really all about angles and strides, to which I said, “Just like jumping!” A weathered handbook that showed dozens of all the possible mounted shooting course options surfaced, and I eagerly looked at an advanced course and realized that once a rider becomes proficient on the shooting part, the level of difficulty and complexity of the various patterns would keep the riding challenge fresh.

Going Out With a Bang

At the start of the clinic Dan passed out 3×5 cards and told us to write down our three goals for the day. Mine were as follows:
1. Shoot at least one balloon. I actually shot most of them–leaving behind only a few still inflated.
2. Not freak out over the sound. Having the earplugs helped, and I really did get used to the sound.
3. Have fun trying. This was easy!

At the end of the clinic, Dan had us read all of our goals aloud to the group. Some people had funny ones like, “Don’t fall off the horse,” or “Don’t shoot myself.” I believe everyone met their goal. After reading my three, I thought of a fourth: Try mounted shooting again.

Cowboy Mounted Shooting was one of the most fun and challenging experiences from the saddle I have ever enjoyed. You should give it a shot–you’ll literally have a blast.

Your Turn: What new-to-you-equestrian sport are you gunning to try?

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