The Rundown - The Official Journal of the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association: AQHA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

AQHA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP —A CHANCE TO SHINE

In this milestone event, horses and riders alike displayed the versatility and athletic ability of the American Quarter Horse and the excitement of Cowboy Mounted shooting— CMSA style!
By: Jim Rodgers

The American Quarter Horse Association’s World Championship in Oklahoma City is the association’s premier annual event drawing American Quarter Horse exhibitors from all corners of the globe. The AQHA World and its importance to the Quarter Horse industry is unsurpassed. It was a great honor for the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) and Cowboy Mounted Shooting to be featured in the Saturday night November 7th Championship Competition. Ten of CMSA’s top riders competed in a one-stage event that was billed as the “Red Dirt Duel” (in reference to the arena turf). The competition was advertised extensively throughout the Quarter Horse Industry and the metropolitan Oklahoma City Area as one of the most exciting equine sports ever.

An AQHA Official was quoted as saying “Cowboy Mounted Shooting is the shot heard around the AQHA World,” (coining a phrase used to describe the first shot of the American Revolution in 1775) as an event as exciting as any ever witnessed in the main arena on a Saturday Night. The spectator crowd came alive with cheers of enthusiasm and sheer approbation as contestants vowed for the coveted AQHA World Championship Global Trophies that were awarded to both the Top AQHA Mounted Shooting Quarter Horse ridden by a cowboy and the Top AQHA Mounted Shooting Quarter Horse Ridden by a Cowgirl. This writer had the opportunity to announce the event, along with Wayne Wise, one of the official AQHA Announcers.

Bobby Ruwe

Wayne said that he has never seen excitement like the AQHA spectators gave to the CMSA Shooters. The general sentiment among the shooters included as an exhibitor by AQHA and CMSA in the first ever Cowboy Mounted Shooting Event at the AQHA World was almost overwhelming, even to the most experienced CMSA Competitors.

Steve Wilson of Celina, OH riding Lonis Delight, also made a flawless mounted rifle Class exhibition run that delighted an almost unbelieving audience as he took down all ten targets with precision! CMSA National Spokesperson Annie Bianco-Ellett, mounted on El Costa Prom, was featured in the AQHA Red Dirt Duel advertisements and promotions. For the CMSA demo, Annie and “Costa” ran a special pole bending stage for the spectator audience with equal precision and the crowd
went wild. Annie was also given the honor by the AQHA event staff of presenting the United States flag in the opening ceremony and she made appearances in radio and on television interviews, promoting the AQHA World and the introduction of mounted shooting. As the Grand Finale of the CMSA exhibition, Annie returned to the arena to give a special demonstration and dissertation on El Costa Prom as a proven stallion of World Champions, with over 200 offspring on the ground!

When the smoke cleared the arena floor and the approving crowd settled down for the awards presentation, it was all smiles as the AQHA World Championship Mounted Shooting winners were recognized. Miss Tripln Prissy ridden and owned by Laura
Parmentier of Union, Missouri took the ladies top honors and Binghams Rhet Butler owned and ridden by CMSA Hall of Famer Bobbie Ruwe, finished as the top cowboy and overall winner. Congratulations to both of these great competitors and to all of the CMSA personnel and competitors who helped make this exhibition the success that it was!

The AQHA World was a wonderful experience for all who participated, both CMSA contestants and officials alike enjoyed a true feeling of accomplishment. The AQHA World was a CMSA milestone in the growth and acceptance of Cowboy Mounted Shooting as a major equestrian sport and timed event.