Eugene Mounted Shooters are a Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association® (CMSA) affiliated club. Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association® is the Fastest Growing Equestrian Sport in the Nation. Mounted contestants compete in this fast action timed event using two .45 caliber single action revolvers each loaded with five rounds of specially prepared blank ammunition. The CMSA has a variety of levels of competition for everyone, ranging from novice levels to the seasoned professional. More information about the sport can be found here

Do I need to have a horse that is broke to gun fire?

No. It’s best to have a well-broken horse and introduce them slowly to gun fire at a practice. Every horse is different when it comes to responding to gunfire and there are many different and sometimes unusual strategies to get them desensitized to gunfire. 

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Do I need to bring my own guns or holsters?

You don’t have to, but eventually you may want to buy your own if you are serious about the sport. The best way to find out what kind of guns or holsters work for you is to try them out and talk to peers. It’s also much easier to improve your gun handling skills if you can practice with an unloaded gun at home. 

Can I bring my kids? And can they compete?

Yes. Kids can even compete against each other at different levels in the Wrangler class. The riders in the Wrangler class ride the same pattern that the grown-ups do, but they may shoot Hollywood cap pistols, engaging each target as if they were shooting real blanks. They then shoot the real McCoy (.45's with blanks) at balloons, from the ground while standing stationary with mom or dad at their side.

What comes with a CMSA membership and how do I get one?

You may purchase a CMSA membership through EMS for an individual for $75 or $110 for a family. The membership cycle starts in October on the day of the World finals and resets every year on that date. New members will receive a rule book with course patterns for the year and a CMSA membership card.