If you are a fan of the old west then cowboy mounted shooting might be the sport for you.
Billed as North America's fastest growing equine sport, cowboy mounted shooting was demonstrated as part of Horse Extravaganza at the Grain Millers Harvest Showdown two weeks ago.
"It's huge in the states. It's been going there for quite awhile," explained competitor Cain Quam after his performance.
The sport has more recently made inroads into Canada.
"It's been in Alberta since I think 2006," said Quam. "It first came to Saskatchewan in 2009," adding it moved north as the sport gained media in the United States. "People were taping into that."
Cowboy Mounted Shooting is a worldwide competitive equestrian sport regulated by several organizations which requires the riding of a horse to negotiate a shooting pattern where targets are engaged with black powder blank ammunition that is certified to break a target balloon within twenty feet and not beyond twenty feet.
No bullets are used, said Quam, explaining the burning gunpowder is what pops the balloon.
The Saskatchewan Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association website provides more details on the sport.
"Mounted Shooting requires skill in both horsemanship and shooting that is measured in the form of competitive events. The typical event requires two single action revolvers loaded with five blank-cartridges. Ten targets are arranged in a horseback riding arena. When the competitor is given a go-signal, indicating the arena is clear of people and hazards; the rider guides his horse across a timer-line and engages the ten targets. When all ten targets are engaged, the rider returns across the timer line and his score is determined and recorded. The raw time of the rider is computed and penalties are added for missed targets or failure to follow the specified course or procedure or knocking over barrels or target stands."
While American media spurred interest in Canada, Quam admitted "it took awhile to get going." The biggest initial barrier was working with the Canadian regulations regarding firearms.
"Gun laws are different here than in the States," noted Quam.
For example it is illegal to shoot game off a horse, and the transportation of handguns from event to event requires special permits.
Mounted Shooters use .45 caliber single action revolvers like those used in the late 1800′s. They are fully functional firearms, said Quam.
"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. Despite the use of double action revolvers in the Old West, our competitions are limited to single action revolvers," detailed the Association website.
Quam said competitors have "permits that allow us to travel with restricted weapons to an approved shoot." They are also prohibited "from transporting any live ammunition."
For Quam, who grew up involved in the horse industry, mounted shooting was love at first sight.
"I saw the sport on TV and thought wow, that's exciting," he said, adding the first time he participated he was hooked. "I knew it was a sport anybody who loved horses and liked guns even a little bit would get hooked on."
The Saskatchewan Association has reached nearly 60-members, and has spent time promoting the sport through demonstrations like the one at Harvest Showdown, with plans calling for the first actual competitions in the province to take place in 2013, said Quam.
There are three districts; Regina, Saskatoon and Paradise Hill, with the provincial association with each "planning to hold two shoots each," he said, adding "we hope that we can grow into more chapters."
For those interested in the sport, Quam said there are costs. The two pistols run at about $600 each, and the holster can add $250 to $500 more, plus you need a horse.
The sport is "90 per cent horsemanship," said Quam, adding the biggest thing someone new to the sport needs "is a really broke horse."
"Ultimately if the horse doesn't put you within 10-15-feet of that balloon, you're not going to be able to kill that balloon," he said.
Since the sport is carried out over a large number of courses (64 in total), you need a well-broke horse which can adapt to the pattern at a particular event quickly.
You can learn more about the sport at the SCMSA website at http://www.saskcowboymountedshooting.com
