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hat is SASS Mounted Shooting? Think of a cowboy or cowgirl
atop a 1,200 pound horse, six guns a blazing while galloping through a patterned
course of fire, and you may get the mental image of a cowboy action mounted shooter.
SASS mounted shooting is one of the nation's fastest growing equestrian sports
and is a direct spin-off of Cowboy Action Shooting.
Mounted shooting is a sport that combines elements of old-time Wild West Show
exhibition, along with the elements of barrel racing, pole bending, reining, and
many other equestrian skills; all done while using two .45 caliber single action
revolvers, loaded with 5 rounds each of black powder blanks to shoot ten balloon
targets set in a special random pattern or Old West type scenario called a 'stage'.
Typically, a competitor crosses the timing beam at a full gallop and engages the
first pattern of five targets. After a shooter fires the fifth shot, he or she
returns the empty revolver to a holster and proceeds to the next set of five targets.
Mounted shooters are timed through the stage determining raw time plus any penalties
incurred; for instance, 5 seconds added to raw time for knocked over barrel, dropped
gun, missed target. The contestant with the fastest accumulated time wins.
In this equestrian sport, the mounted shooters of the Single Action Shooting Society
take on the use of an alias. Your alias is like a western livestock brand, registered
and becomes your trademark. Names like 'Nickel Creek Cowboy', 'Calico Star', and
'Al Sieber, Chief of Scouts', are an example where folks dress the part, act the
part and become that person. It is a liberating part of the experience of stepping
back in history and playing cowboys and Indians for real.
There are Divisions 1-5, Ladies 1-5, Junior, Senior Limited, Senior Open, Junior
and Cart Divisions in SASS Mounted Shooting. Each competitor enters the sport
at the Division 1 level and moves on up through the levels as experience competence
and skill are achieved. As with all sports sanctioned by the Single Action Shooting
Society safety is First, Last and Always! The SASS MRO
I and MRO II courses
and the SASS Mounted
Rulebook have been developed to provide rules and guidelines for the equestrian
sport of SASS Mounted Shooting.
Mounted Shooting is open to all SASS members and all breeds of equine animals.
Mounted shooting is a fantastic family fun sport and serves to keep the Old West
alive in all genres. The west was a dangerous, mysterious and yet romantic time
of our American culture, and continues to capture the imagination of all. There
are many mounted shooting clubs throughout the nation striving to build this great
sport, provide an opportunity for horseman and their families, as well as demonstrate
safe use of firearms.
SASS produces major championship competitions and provides a central communication
point for its global membership. The Single Action Shooting Society wants you
to become a part of history and join in the experience of participating in SASS
Mounted Shooting! |
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