Who are the Minnesota
Mounted Shooters? We are a group of
individuals who like to ride, like to shoot, and like the
old west. Our association is a local one that is affiliated
with the national association, Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association
Or CMSA.
What is Mounted
Shooting? Mounted Shooting is a horse
riding and shooting competition, with the theme of a western
re-enactment. The rider shoots black powder blank
cartridges from .45 caliber pistols, at balloons,
and is scored on accuracy and time.
Are there clothing
requirements? Yes, but only at CMSA
sanctioned events. Think in terms
of “rolling back the clock ” to the late 1800’s you
will have a pretty good idea of the look that we are trying
to present. We try to look as authentic to the period
as possible, by wearing shirts without collars, and high-waisted pants with buttons, not zippers, for example.
How about guns?
Mounted Shooters use .45 caliber single action revolvers
like those used in the late 1800’s. Single action
revolvers must be cocked each time before firing by drawing
the hammer back. A double action revolver can be fired
by simply pulling the trigger, without cocking the
hammer. Double action revolvers are not of the period,
so we use only single action revolvers. A lever action
rifle is used in the rifle event along with a revolver.
Do you use live
ammunition (lead bullets) or bird shot?
No. The cartridges fired are called .45 caliber Long
Colt. The brass cartridge is loaded with black powder
(like that used in the 1800s) and then topped off with
a paper wad. This
load will break a balloon up to about 15 feet. Live
rounds are strictly prohibited at competitions. At
each event we have a person to load the riders guns as he
or she enters the arena, and a person to unload the guns
after the rider is finished. Riders do not carry loaded
guns outside of the arena or when not competing.
What about gun leather?
Riders can buy “off the shelf replicas” of the old time
gun belts and holsters. Or, you can have custom-made
gun belts and holsters to suit your wishes. There
are several custom “makers” that you can find in ‘old west’
magazines or on the Internet. We have a few “makers”
right here in the greater Minnesota area.
Okay, how about
a horse? Are there requirements like
breed, or registration? No. You can use any horse
or mule that you want. Some horses take to this sport
easily, others do not. It is up to your horses’ temperament
and your desire to train him or her to get used to shooting,
turning, and going fast. Some riders will use earplugs
for themselves and their horses.
Is there a pattern
to ride? Yes. There are 50+ possible
patterns. The patterns everyone will ride are drawn out of a hat on the day of the competition.
A competition may consist of 4 to 6 patterns a day.
Each pattern consists of 10 balloons. To give you
an idea of riding a pattern, let’s say that there are 5
white balloons and 5 red balloons. The 5 white balloons
may be grouped together in one place or spread out over
the entire arena. The rider shoots all 5 white balloons
first. Then, the rider holsters the first gun while riding
to the far end of the arena, draws the second gun, and shoots
the 5 red balloons, which are usually 5 in a row straight
towards the finish line. We call this the “The Run
Down”.
Are there levels
of skill? Yes. There is a men’s division
Levels 1-6, a Women’s division Levels 1-6, a Seniors division
Levels 1-6 and a Wrangler division for those 11 and under.
Rider starts a Level 1. When a rider wins level 1
twice, they advance to Level 2, and when they win Level 2
three times, they advance to Level 3. Four wins at Level
3 and on to Level 4, etc. Some shoots have a prize
for the best score overall where age or gender does not
matter. Mom competes against Dad who competes against
the kids.
Kids? Do the kids
ride and shoot? Yes... and no.
The riders in the Wrangler division (11 and under) ride the same pattern
that the grown-ups do, but they shoot Hollywood cap pistols,
engaging each target as if they were shooting real blanks.
They then shoot (.45’s with blanks) at balloons,
from the ground while standing stationary with mom or dad
at their side.
How about scoring?
The riders are scored on time and accuracy. There
is a 5 second penalty for each missed balloon, a 5 second
penalty for dropping a gun, a 10 second penalty for not
running the course correctly and a 60 second penalty for
falling off your horse. Speed is important, however, accuracy
is usually more important than speed. A typical pattern
can be run in 25-50 seconds, so penalties can really hurt.
What does membership
cost? $25 per year for an individual,
$35 per year for a family. Membership entitles you
to a discount on CMSA membership, newsletters
and association with a great bunch of people. An
application form can be printed from this website under
link.
Can I become involved
in the MMSA? Yes! The MMSA is
a new association of rider/shooters that needs it members
to shape it into what it will become. We keep our
membership fees and entry fees low because of member participation.
Where can I get
more information? You can visit the
web page for the national organization at www.cowboymountedshooting.com
or Minnesota Mounted Shooters directly,