It was a bad week for balloons in Murfreesboro. Thousands were shot where they stood by cowboys and cowgirls mounted on their trusty horses. They burst to the sounds of applause from farmers and farm hands who gathered for the Cowboy Mounting Shooting Association’s Eastern Championships.
For those of you who’ve never heard of Cowboy Mounted Shooting, it’s a sport in which cowboys, or anyone who can ride a horse and shoot a single-action Colt .45, compete against each other to shoot at balloon targets while galloping around a course.
Cowboys and cowgirls of all ages are timed as the ride around and shoot the targets. The course consists of 10 balloons. Riders must pull their pistols, cock them and fire. Ammo used in the gun has no projectile, it’s just black powder, in case you were wondering if people accidentally get shot. The rider with the most balloons shot in the shortest amount of time wins.
The Eastern U.S. Championships are held at MTSU’s Miller Coliseum located on Thompson Lane. The event is a five-day gathering of riders from over 30 states. This year 260 participants turned out and one man even came from Australia to compete.
“There are over 500 events scheduled this year,” says Frank Turben, president of the CMSA. “We hold four major events: the eastern, western, national and world championships.”
Turben has been with the association for 11 years and runs it from Scottsdale, Ariz. He received his position because he was a rider in the association who is experienced with computers.
“I was in Phoenix when I saw an ad for the association,” Turben recalls, “I had a gun and a horse and I decided I wanted to learn the sport.”
I ask him what his favorite event is and he says that it’s probably the rifle event, but he says what really interests him is the horses.
“Sometimes the riflemen don’t even have to hold the reigns,” he says as he shows a picture of just such an instance. “The horses are well trained.
“Horses are just like people, they all have their own personalities. They aren’t forced to do anything and some can’t wait to compete.”
He says that he has seen a marked increase in the caliber of the horses over the years. They seem to just get better and better.
Cowboy mounted shooting takes more skill on the horse and the rider part then one may think.
The rider must not only draw his/her pistol while riding, but also cock it for every shot before aiming at the target. There are two sets of five balloon targets in each pattern and the rider has one pistol for each set.
“We choose a different one of our 50 patterns for every event,” Turben says. “The horses and the riders don’t know what it is until the competition begins. There’s a lot of stuff going through your mind when you cross that timer and a lot of coordination is needed between the horse and rider.”
He says that the popularity of the sport has risen since he has been with the association. In fact, the eastern championship was moved to Murfreesboro because a local shooting club sprang up in the area and told the national association about Miller Coliseum.
People of any age can enter into a competition. There are six different classes of riders for every age group and gender. The youngest group is called “wranglers.”
“Little kids get to ride and shoot as well, however they shoot at targets from the ground with the help from their parents and a certified ringmaster,” Turben explains.
The event is for anyone of any age. It’s enjoyable to watch, and definitely a sport that is off the beaten path. If you like cowboys and cowgirls dressed in colorful clothes from a bygone era you should check out cowboy mounted shooting. However don’t bring your favorite balloon.
