Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Pardner, there'll be shootin' and whoopin' and fancy ridin' Thursday when the Indiana Mounted Regulators converge on the fairgrounds for a little target practice.
"We use 45-caliber long Colts, like they used in the old West," said Terry Martin of LaGrange County. He has competed as a mounted shooter since 1998.
Riders run contesting patterns (barrels, poles and flags) and shoot at target balloons. The five blanks in each gun are loaded with imitation gunpowder with enough firepower to pop a balloon at 10 to 12 feet.
"You shoot the first five balloons, holster that gun, do a run down, round a barrel and shoot the next five balloons," Martin said.
The show is sponsored by two local 4-H Clubs - the Horse and Pony Club and the Shooting Sports Club.
"We were hoping we could schedule them during the fair," said Gary Dent, shooting sports chairman. "We're doing it as a partnership to promote the horse riding and the shooting. It takes special training, especially with the horses."
Martin said the Indiana Mounted Regulators group started last fall and already has 50 members. They travel to give demonstrations, like the one set in the horse arena next week, and to compete for points.
Mounted shooting is open to men and women. Competition is conducted at six levels of proficiency.
The riders dress in western attire popular in the 1800s.
"Some people dress like you'd see in a Western movie," Martin said. "Mine's strictly U.S. Cavalry with a military saddle and tack."
Martin also fires a level-action rifle from horseback, a skill level few riders achieve.
"You have to drop the reins at one point and you're at the mercy of your horse."
Mounted shooting isn't for every horse.
He recommends people interested in the sport bring their horses to a demonstration and see how they react to the noise and smoke. A horse that's been contested isn't necessarily a good candidate for mounted shooting either because they have a different expectation when entering the ring.
"Some horses will take to it really easy; some never take to it," Martin said, adding the best thing to do is spend a lot of time with the animal and bring them along slowly.
Thursday's event is free to the public. The show starts at 7 p.m. at the Kosciusko County Fairground horse arena.
The Indiana Mounted Regulators are affiliated with the Cowboy Mounted Shooters Association.
