Summer Events 2026 | Give it your best shot
Shotgun
Mounted shooting has been an informal pastime for many years, but after a small group of men and women in Arizona organized the activity in the early 1990s, the sport grew significantly.
Stephanie Strube is secretary of Colorado Mounted Thunder, one of two large and active Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) clubs in Colorado.
“It is by far the most family friendly equestrian sport I’ve ever been involved in,” Strube said, adding that she has been competing in the sport since 2005. “We have kids 1 year old and people who are as old as 86 in our club.”
The simple description of mounted shooting is ‘shooting balloons while riding a pattern,’ but there’s more to it. The emphasis is on safety for everyone involved including participants, volunteers, horses and spectators.
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Chrissy Riley, on Bear, competes with a .45 single action revolver in a cavalry class in Estes Park, Colorado.
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Axel Thurner, treasurer and arena director for the Colorado Mounted Thunder, aims his .45 single action revolver at a match in Estes Park on 23-yr-old Quarter Horse, Red.
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Diane Male, with a .45 Revolver, competes on her Quarter Horse in Estes Park.
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At a competition in Estes Park, Colorado, Lincoln Male rounds a turn on Quarter Horse Penny.
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Cowboy Mounted Shooting involves coordinated rein handling combined with shooting ballons and rapidly switching firearms while riding a pattern. Lincoln Male has chosen traditional western wear including hat, long-sleeve shirt and chaps.
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For a full period experience, some Cowboy Mounted Shooting competitors compete in period clothing. Here, Victoria Dickinson is wearing traditional garb including a hat, jacket and long skirt.
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Axel Thurner, on 23-year-old Quarter Horse, Mocca, competing in Estes Park, Colorado.
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Diane Male draws one of her two .45 revolvers during an Estes Park, Colorado competition.
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Cowboy Mounted Shooting enthusiasts encourage beginners to take their time on the course. Here, Raelynn Male, a first-year shooter competing in Ladies Level 1, takes it slowly to do it right on Double Check.
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To maintain the look of the Old West, some women choose long skirts for mounted shooting. Here, Emily Honeyman takes aim at a balloon in a main match.
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Axel Thurner, treasurer and arena director for the Colorado Mounted Thunder, competes with a lever action rifle in the rifle class at the Prowers County Fairgrounds in Lamar, Colorado.
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Some Cowboy Mounted Shooting competitors choose a lever action rifle for competitions. Here, Delos Searle competes in the rifle class on Chip at the Prowers County Fairgrounds in Lamar, Colorado.
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CayDee Clausen competes in the shotgun class on her POA Scooter in a war bridle at the Weld County Fair in Greeley, Colorado.
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Some competitors enjoy the shotgun class, which involves more training and a reliable mount. Here, Larry Gaskell aims his shotgun at a balloon while mounted on Hank at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Colorado.
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Limited wranglers are the youngest competitors in Cowboy Mounted Shooting and often begin with lead line. These wranglers learn to navigate a course without carrying or shooting a gun. Here, Heather Badley leads her young daughter Amberly Badley in the Wrangler Limited Class in Estes Park, Colorado.
Wranglers
Strube says the initial expenses can be a roadblock for people who want to start mounted shooting. When competitive mounted shooting first began, participants were required to dress in period clothing, but as the sport grew, that rule was relaxed to allow traditional western wear. In addition to a suitable horse, required elements include appropriate western tack, holsters, firearms, hat, and chinks or chaps.
Women can choose traditional western wear including jeans, a long-sleeved button shirt, a cowboy hat or helmet, and chinks or chaps. An alternative option is classic 19th century attire such as a full-length dress or skirt with a blouse and Victorian lace-up shoes.
“If a woman is wearing a dress, she doesn’t have to wear a hat and can wear short sleeves,” Strube said. “This follows period clothing. Some women wear English riding breeches or yoga pants under their skirt. Some choose to wear dresses, especially in summer, because they’re cooler.”
Men can don traditional western wear or period clothing with high-waisted pants, suspenders and high-collar button shirts. Riders can use any breed of horse, pony or mule in a competition.
There is no minimum age for participants. If a child can sit up in a saddle, they can compete as a wrangler. Strube explains that youth up to age 10 are considered limited wranglers. These competitors aren’t required to wear holsters and guns and are not required to shoot.
Ten-and-11-year-olds compete as open wranglers and carry guns. Open wranglers begin with ground shooting under adult guidance. Wranglers are required to wear eye and ear protection. Anyone over age 12 is a mounted shooter.
“It’s all about the child learning how to handle their firearm safely before they do it on horseback,” Strube said. “They shoot ten balloons on the ground, and a parent must be with them. The parent stands behind the child with the guns in their own holster, and hands the guns one at a time to the child so they can shoot the balloons, then the parent takes the firearm. The child is never walking around with the gun or loading it. They are completely controlled in the center of the area.”
The firearm for a young wrangler can be plastic rather than the .45 caliber firearm used by older competitors. Eventually youth must pull their gun and point at the balloon as they learn how to handle a horse with one hand while navigating a pattern.
Since firearms are an integral part of a CMSA competition, requirements are centered on safety and authenticity. According to CMSA rules, firearms must be ‘fixed sight, single action .45 Colt caliber designed prior to 1898, or reproductions thereof.’ Anyone handling a firearm must treat it as if it’s loaded.
Strube explains that the ammunition is black powder in crimped bullets – the hot embers pop balloons. Competitors must use ammunition supplied at the competition site and observe loading and unloading zones to maintain safety for all.
Participants load only five rounds, and when the firearms are holstered, the cylinder is always indexed so the hammer rests on the empty chamber. At any time during a competition, the match director or range master can ask to see a firearm. If there have been any alterations, such as loading six rounds instead of the required five, there’s a 60-second penalty. Any break of the rules can result in time penalties or disqualification.
Although CMS is a timed event, youngsters and beginners are encouraged to take their time on the course. Many who are new to the sport will follow an experienced horse and rider who shoots the balloons while the beginner follows. This allows a novice horse and rider to experience the sound of the gun and popping balloons without a rider shooting from their back, resulting in better control and confidence.
One aspect of horse safety is using a horse that’s been trained to accept the sound associated with shooting, both from the ground and while mounted. While most horses wear sound-muffling earplugs to reduce noise intensity, Strube encourages people who are interested in CMS to bring their horse to a competition to help acclimate them to the sounds.
“Horses are herd animals,” Strube said. “When they’re around a group of horses that don’t care about the shooting, it helps them relax and take to it faster instead of being alone and exposed to a new loud noise. At our winter shoot, we offer a ‘time only’ class so you can ride through the pattern without shooting.”
Stube says that with a horse that isn’t accustomed to balloons, that aspect can be just as challenging. Being present at a competition is a good way to expose horses to balloons before they’re asked to work a pattern with speed.
While it can be tough to be a newbie in any sport, CMS is beginner friendly.
“When people reach out to us, I encourage them to watch a competition, talk with the people there, and let me introduce them or provide references,” Strube said. “We have clinicians in Colorado who host clinics or offer private lessons to help people get started.”
Mounted shooting requires a lot of volunteers, especially at the local level, because there’s so much equipment involved. Strube believes volunteers help pull everyone together.
“This is such a friendly sport,” Strube said. “Once you come around everyone and introduce yourself, they’re willing to loan their equipment so you can get started without investing a lot up front. That way you can find out what you’re comfortable with.”
For more information and upcoming events of the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association, visit http://www.cmsaevents.com/home.
