Some guests flinched — others cheered — when the loud bang of a competitor’s gun echoed on Jan. 25 at the John Justin Arena, 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive.
Ninety-three competitors split into 44 different classes within three categories — main match, rifles and shotguns. They all had the common goal of popping all 10 balloon targets as fast as possible.
Rider LillyAnn Chromey presents the U.S. flag at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition on Jan. 25 at the John Justin Arena, 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive. The competition featured 93 competitors across 44 different classes within three categories — main match, rifles and shotguns — according to the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Senior Men’s Division Class One mounted shooting competitor Mark Parker rides with his gun out at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition on Jan. 25 at the John Justin Arena, 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Rider LillyAnn Chromey cuts a corner at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition on Jan. 25 at the John Justin Arena, 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive. The Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition’s point system is based on speed and accuracy. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Rider LillyAnn Chromey shoots a balloon target as she darts to the finish line at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition on Jan. 25 at the John Justin Arena, 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
A Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo ground crew worker replaces a balloon target between riders at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition on Jan. 25 at the John Justin Arena, 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Rider LillyAnn Chromey shoots a balloon target at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition on Jan. 25 at the John Justin Arena, 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive. The Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition’s point system is based on speed. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
A balloon target remains untouched after a rider misses his shot at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition on Jan. 25 at the John Justin Arena, 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive. Missed or unpopped targets add five seconds to competitors’ runs. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
A fan watches a competitor shoot balloon targets at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition on Jan. 25 at the John Justin Arena, 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo ground crew workers run to replace balloon targets at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition on Jan. 25 at the John Justin Arena, 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo ground crew workers fill balloons with air between competitor runs at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition on Jan. 25 at the John Justin Arena, 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Ear plugs are available for visitors to grab at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition on Jan. 25 at the John Justin Arena, 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
A machine rakes soil during a break at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition on Jan. 25 at the John Justin Arena, 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Senior Women’s Division Class One competitor Beth Raley fires her gun at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition on Jan. 25 at the John Justin Arena, 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)
The guns use specially prepared blank ammunition, according to the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association, the host of the competition. Only single-caliber pistols like Colt Single Action Army or Bisley Model, Smith & Wesson Schofield, Russian or Remington Models 1875 and 1890 and their reproductions, and Ruger Vaqueros, Bisleys or Montados.
Results will be posted by the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association.
Scoring:
The riders are scored on time and accuracy. There is a 5-second penalty for each missed balloon, a 5-second penalty for dropping a gun, a 10-second penalty for not running the course correctly and a 60-second penalty for falling off your horse. Speed is important; however, accuracy is usually more important than speed. A typical pattern can be run in 15-35 seconds, so penalties can really hurt.
Source: Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association
Cristian ArguetaSoto is the community engagement journalist at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him by email or via Twitter. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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