Cowboy mounted shooting

Modern events use blank ammunition instead of live rounds, certified to break a target balloon within twenty feet (6 m).

Mounted shooting requires competitors to use four guns (2 single-action revolvers, 1 lever-action rifle chambered in pistol caliber, and 1 side-by-side double-barreled shotgun).

[1] In the early years, mounted shooting competitors were required to wear clothing of the American West, classic B-Western movies, or military cavalry uniforms of any time period or country.

The object of the sport is to shoot ten balloon targets while riding through a variety of challenging courses using specially loaded blank cartridges fired from Old West-style single-action revolvers.

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.

A competitor's placement in these divisions is based on the Class level as determined by SASS or CMSA when a member of these associations first joins the MSA.

Mounted Shooters are automatically moved into higher levels to maintain equitable and fair events against people of similar proven skills.

Mounted shooting events have been featured on ESPN, TNN, Fox Sports and the Outdoor Life Network.