April 12, 2008 — The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) will have the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) as part of its 61st National Appaloosa Show and 2008 World Championship Appaloosa Youth Show at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds in Jackson, Miss. Participants of the CMSA will showcase their talents in this inaugural Appaloosa competition June 27, offering $5,000 in added payouts.
Cowboy mounted shooting is one of the nation’s fastest growing equestrian sports and has been described as “equestrian NASCAR.” Contestants mount their colorful Appaloosas and compete in this fast-action timed event using two .45 caliber single action revolvers, each loaded with five rounds of specially prepared blank ammunition.
Courses of fire are set in a variety of patterns. The first half (five targets) of a course of fire will vary with each go and requires the Appaloosa and rider to stop, turn, change leads and accelerate rapidly. The second half (five targets), called the “run down,” is a straight course with targets set at 36-foot intervals.
Typically, a competitor crosses the timing beam at a full gallop and engages the first pattern of five targets. After a shooter fires the fifth shot, he or she returns the empty revolver to a holster–while turning around a barrel and then racing to the far end of the arena–and draws the second revolver. At the far end, Appaloosa and rider turn another barrel and then engage the five remaining targets of the run down at full speed.
Scoring is based on the elapsed time, plus a five second penalty for each target missed or barrel knocked over. An average course of fire normally takes a contestant between 15 and 25 seconds to complete.
Four divisions are available for competition:
- Non-Pro Men (levels 1-2)
- Non-Pro Women (1-2)
- Pro Men (3-6)
- Pro Women (3-6)
Elimination classes begin at noon on June 27 at the Kirk Fordice Equine Center. There is a $75 entry fee with 100 percent payback.
The top riders will compete in the finals that night at the Mississippi Coliseum. The finals offer $1,200 in each division: first place will receive $720, second place will receive $480, third place will receive a saddle pad and fourth place will receive a headstall both donated by The Horse Teacher, Joestes Wyatt.
Participants also have a chance to win $200 from the Rifle Jackpot that night.
The 61st National Appaloosa Show and 2008 World Championship Appaloosa Youth Show will be held June 23-July 5 at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds in Jackson, Miss. To learn about the Appaloosa Horse Club and its events, visit www.appaloosa.com.
