Cowboy Mounted Shooting

Guns were blazing in the Jim Norick Arena.

By Tara Christiansen
The American Quarter Horse Journals
July 5, 2012

Cowboy Mounted Shooting

Cowboy mounted shooting is one of the fastest-growing western sports, and it descended upon Oklahoma City on July 5. (Tara Christiansen photo) To view more gun-slingin' photos, scroll down to the slide show below.

It's one of the fastest-growing western sports, and it descended upon Oklahoma City on July 5.

For the second year, AQHA and the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association have teamed up to bring cowboy mounted shooting to Battle in the Saddle at State Fair Park, a decision that pleases not only competitors, but spectators as well.

Cowboy mounted shooting offers something for everyone. The sport combines the timing and precision of a groomed marksman, the highest degree of horsemanship and everyone's favorite element: speed. And in the spiffy outfits, well-groomed horses and loud noises, what's not to love? (OK, if you don't like loud noises, ear plugs are readily available at every mounted shooting event.)

Several familiar faces showed up for the cowboy mounted shooting at Battle in the Saddle, including "Outlaw" Annie Bianco-Ellett of Cave Creek, Arizona, who will be performing a mounted shooting demonstration during the event's Friday night finals. Also in attendance was Chad Little of Saint Michael, Minnesota. Chad won the first AQHA cowboy mounted shooting open world championship aboard Hickorys Irish Gold earlier this year in Houston.

Chad has got a little more than mounted shooting on his mind at Battle in the Saddle this year; the Minnesota cowboy has also ponied up for a run at the World's Greatest Horseman Shootout title. He competed this morning aboard Lil Ruf Catalyst, the 2011 AQHA-Pfizer Versatility Ranch Horse open world champion, in the herd work portion of the Shootout. The Shootout consists of four events: herd work, steer stopping, rein work and fence work. If Chad wins, he'll earn a paid entry to the National Reined Cow Horse Association's World's Greatest Horseman competition in February 2013 in San Angelo, Texas.

To view photos from Stage 1 of the cowboy mounted shooting competition, watch the slide show below, brought to you by The American Quarter Horse Journal.