So what target do you shoot first when riding
through a gate, the one on the right or the
one on the left? Well, the book will clear
that up for you as well. As a general rule you
would shoot the off target, or left target first
because you can take the on, or right target,
behind you, while twisting in your saddle, as
you race past it. The severity of the arc you
make coming into a barrel turn or a gate, is
course management. In mounted shooting
some courses take up to 28 seconds to run for
the fastest shooters, so the lower levels on a
long course like that will be running a 45 to
60 second run. A 60 second run is the slowest
that we record.
Ok, back to course 50; Yes, I do (actually we
both do) have ADD and jump all over the
place, keeps life interesting! The CMSA rules
state, in regard to course 50, “ Engage all light
targets first, then round the rundown barrel”.
That means you can shoot the first 5 balloons 5
different ways. I have drawn up the 5 different
ways I have seen this pattern run so you can see
the differences. Look at them and tell me what
you think is the fastest way to run the course??
See pictures C-1 through C-5…….. Let’s break
them all down.
In picture C-1 all the light colored balloons
shots are on your strong or right side (if your
right handed), we call those “on” shots. This
would be a good way to go if you are scared to
try the “off ” or left sided shots, of if it is your
or your horse’s first shoot. This may be the best
decision for your first time out but you and
your horse will have to travel over a lot of extra
real estate to get to the run down barrel barrel.
In picture C-2 you again would be taking all
“on” shots; less ground to cover, but you will
have to slow your horse down dramatically
to get him to turn that tight. Another thing
to consider is that you will be running back
towards the timer if you go this way. This may
not bother your horse, but it might! Young
horses, focused horses and even occasionally
naughty seasoned horses can have a hard time
turning out of what they perceive to be the run
home. There are some courses that require this
test of obedience, but in my opinion it’s best not
to gamble on it unless you have to. This bobble
in steering could cause a rough ride without a
consistent rhythm, remember, fast is smooth!
This way… Not so smooth so not so fast.
Picture C-3 is getting closer to the right
approach for a right handed shooter. If you are
a left handed shooter this is THE right way to
Horse property!
C
ountry living twenty minutes from downtown! This 2373
sq. ft. Ranch style home has mature trees, mountain
views, an extensive horse set-up and room for toys! 2.67 acres
with irrigated, cross fenced pastures, a 6 stall shed row barn
with attached paddocks, lighted arena, hay storage easily
accessed by a hay retriever, and close to South Mountain
riding trails. An additional building, formerly a one-room
schoolhouse, gives 900 sq. ft. of workshop, tack room and
storage, and has an attached covered area for trailer parking
or ?? Large living room, spacious family room with wood
burning fireplace, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, formal dining room,
eat-in breakfast room in kitchen, 2 car garage. New roof, new
paint interior and exterior, ceramic tile throughout. Nicely
updated. Complete $30,000 home solar system, ceiling fans in
every room.
Many more features, too many to list.
AZintheSaddle.com
go. Make sure to have your arm and elbow in a
straight line to the target.
Picture C-4 is the correct, in our opinion, way
to go if you’re a right handed shooter. This
path gives you two off shots and three on shots.
This means your rein hand will be separated
from your shooting hand on 3 out of 5 shots.
Adding the length of your arm to the maximum
distance your ammunition is effective can help
you hit 3 long shots. This will allow you to get
closer to the barrel in the middle.
Take a look at picture C-5. It’s the same path as
picture C-4 except bigger curves. Tell me, what
course do you think is faster, C-4 or C-5? C-5
is covering more real estate, true…….But….in
Mounted Shooting Smooth is fast. Picture C-5
shows the fastest way to run course 50.
We hope this month’s article helped you
understand a little about course management
in our great sport: Cowboy Mounted Shooting.
For more information about Cowboy Mounted
Shooting please check out our website or just give
me, Gary Baddog Bennett, a call directly. I’ll be
happy to talk to you about it! We’ll see you again
same time same place next month!
www.mrbaddog.com (602) 565-1514
7220 S. 27th Ave, Phoenix AZ 85041
$452,000
Listing Agent
Juanita Welsh
REALTOR®
602-237-9778
Co-listing Agent
Darlene Klein
REALTOR®
602-237-4912
MLS# 5016509
April 2014
25