Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Shoot 'em up cowboys

Rio Grande Rustlers host mounted shooting stampede for 26 cowboys

Jane Moorman News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jmoorman@news-bulletin.com

Belen Cowboys mounted on their horses watching the action in the Belen Horseman's Arena looks like any other equine event held at the Valencia County Fairgrounds.

The only difference from a typical weekend at the arena is that these cowboys, attired in authentic Old West clothing, are wearing fire arms.

No, it's not a lynching gang waiting for the judge's verdict, or a posse looking for an outlaw. It's a Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association sanctioned event hosted by the Rio Grande Mounted Rustlers.

The guns are actually .45 caliber single action revolvers, replicas of those from the late-1800s, loaded with black powder blank cartridges.

The 26 contestants, ranging in age from under 11 years of age to older than 55, are from across New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and, even, Texas — El Paso that is.

There are several families represented, including the Bishop Clan from Radium Spring, N.M., who have three generations competing — two of which won top honors.

Other families participating are the Byrds, from outside Phoenix, Ariz., who won the furthest traveled award, and the Hollomanns, a father and daughter duet, from Artesia.

In the stands are several interested spectators who just stopped by to see what was going on at the Rio Grande Stampede.

The best way to describe what's going on in the arena is that it's a modified barrel race. There are five balloon targets placed in a pattern prior to the first barrel and then five targets in a straight line after the barrel.

While riding his or her horse as quickly as possible, the riders shoots their single action pistols at the balloons and are scored on accuracy of shooting and the time it takes them to complete the course.

Because the revolvers are single action, the rider must cock the hammer back after each shot. They also must change guns midway through their ride, since each revolver holds only five shots.

The contestant is doing all of this while attempting to shoot accurately.

Kay Rivers of Los Lunas has been competing in the mounted shooting competition for a little under a year.

"I've done gymkanas and shown horses for most my life, but this is my third mounted shooting competition," Rivers said.

"There's a lot to think about while you're running the route. Before I start, I've mapped out my ride in my mind. You have to do (shoot) the balloons in the right order or you get a 10 second deduction in your time."

But what makes this event different from other equestrian events is the shooting.

"It's not easy hitting a target while on a moving horse," she said. "You have to keep your arm straight and look right down the arm to aim. If you bend your elbow, or take your eye off the balloon, you're going to miss."

If the rider misses a balloon, five seconds is deducted from their time.

Each of the contestants will tell you, as in any equestrian event, you need a good horse that is trained for the activity.

"You need a horse that can accept gun fire," Rivers said. "The horse is about 75 percent of the team. They have to know when to turn sharp and have a good rate, which is knowing when to speed up and slow down as required."

Rivers is not the only rustler to participate in the stampede. Donny McDougal, who is also the event ramrod, also competed along with David McDonald of Tomé and Shawn Ortega of Highland Meadows.

The Rustlers have 14 members from the Central New Mexico area ranging from Sandoval and Cibola counties south through Bernalillo, Valencia, and Socorro counties.

The Rio Grande Stampede took the competition to a new level with a mounted rifle shooting match.

"This was the first ever mounted rifle shooting match in New Mexico," said Donny McDougal. "In this competition, you use a pistol for the first five balloons, then you use a rifle for the five targets on the straight-away."

When the sun set on the Rio Grande Stampede, Leigh Bishop took home the top honors in the pistol competition, while his son, Sean, won the rifle event. Kristina Byrd won the ladies overall honors with the best total time.

"We had a good turn out and I think everyone had a good time," said McDougal. "We had several of the spectators show interest in joining in the fun of the competition. That's what this is all about — having fun."

It's also about accumulating points in the state standings in preparation for the state championship to be held on Nov. 12 and 13.

"We have three more events before the New Mexico Territory State Championship," said McDougal. "We'll be seeing these guys at the Runnin' for the Border in El Paso, the Territorial Border Wars in Gila, which is a double point event, and the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium."

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