The Dakota Running Irons held its annual two-day mounted shooting competition in conjunction with the Black Hills Stock Show the last weekend of January. Entries for the event are limited, but more than two dozen shooters from South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska gathered in the Summit Arena in Rapid City, S.D. to entertain spectators while competing for prize money.

“Cowboy mounted shooting has become quite a draw for spectators,” said match director Craig Shyrock. “We appreciate Sutton Rodeo for partnering with us to host the event and allowing us to showcase our sport to the public.”

All ages can compete, such as Madi Reisenauer who is in the Open Wrangler class which does not use ammo, they engage targets only by pointing the pistol but not actually shooting it. [Photo: Keith Benz]

The competition was held over the course of two days, but each day is its own stand-alone event. Each day, contestants raced against the clock and shooting accuracy in a three-stage main match event. A ‘clean’ run is anything that doesn’t accumulate penalties such as a missed balloon or tipped barrel – each of which will garner a five-second penalty. Times from each stage, or pattern, are added together to determine the top overall times.

Mounted Shooting showcases a rider’s horsemanship and dexterity through an exposition of horsepower, speed, and agility. [Photo: Mark Quigley Photography]

Friday’s overall match winner was Keith Benz from Bismarck, N.D., and Saturday’s was Jessie Graf from Sturgis, S.D. The rest of the field is also grouped by class and gender for additional payout categories. Friday’s fastest lady was Taryn Thompson. Thompson, a 14-year-old Ladies Level 3 mounted shooter from Groton, S.D., is only in her second year of shooting, but she’s already been making her mark in the shooting pen across the country.

Ladies Level 3 shooter Taryn Thompson travels across the country competing in Cowboy Mounted Shooting. [Photo: June Thompson]

“Mounted shooting has allowed me to travel all over the country with my horses and family. I love competing alongside my friends and family and getting to meet new people,” said Thompson about competing in the sport.

Cowboy Mounted Shooting is the fastest-growing equestrian sport in the nation, adding multiple new members daily, and totals more than 20,000 current members. With more than 400 events occurring across the continent annually, there are always plenty of opportunities to check out what mounted shooting is all about.