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Alexandra Short competing at Battle on Betty’s Butte. [Photo: Erik Short]
Mounted shooters came from near and far to partake in the Battle on Betty’s Butte this past weekend, June 17-18, 2023, at Flying D’s arena in Bismarck, North Dakota.
“The North Dakota Mounted Shooters is more than an association, it is a family,” according to helper and now competitive shooter, Alexandra Short, of Bismarck by way of Washington state.
Short says she has always been passionate about mounted shooting, but never in a million years thought she would be around anyone who did it. Amazingly enough when her family moved from Washington to North Dakota, they ended up living down the street from where it all happened. For about three years, she helped at shoots and participated in clinics. Now, for the first year she can shoot a full season competitively.
Alexandra Short pictured in her first competitive full season. [Photo: Erik Short]
As always, the horse has a big role in all of it. Short’s five-and-a-half-year-old horse, Evie, is green, but has no fear of gunshots, music, or balloons. Short said, “It’s at least one piece that we’re not having to worry about too much, because she doesn’t care.” Short added, “Evie tries hard like she really wants to please, and she is starting to have fun now. Yes, even the horses have fun in mounted shooting.”
Back in 2011, Miles Cahoon saw mounted shooting at a Fourth of July rodeo and told his wife, Jolene, that he wanted to try it sometime. She asked how he would have time and he said, “I don’t know, might have to take time.”
‘If you don’t have the time, make time.’ Cahoon on his horse, Belle. [Photo: submitted]
Cahoon says he has been shooting ever sense. The rider has a unique way of preparing for an upcoming shoot. He starts the beginning of the day and away he goes. Cahoon has been riding the same horse since he started. Her name is Belle, a 16-year-old mare. According to Cahoon, “Belle really listens to cues, and she’ll rate really good.” He also says that for mounted shooting you want your horse to slow up just that tenth of a second before you shoot, and Belle does that.
Former world champion trick rider, Jaye Kukowski, now finds herself with her ‘homegrown baby’ and her bulldog at mounted shooting events.
Kukowski’s horse is a Palomino, named Legacy. Legacy has dexterity, agility, and has been trained by Kukowski her whole life.
Kukowski said that there are now more than 50 patterns for mounted shooting, so she must be able to get to the shoot and just go where she is led. The former trick rider stated that the horse can’t be ‘push-button’ style, rather must move off leg pressure.
Everyone uses reins, but according to Kukowski, “You want them finished to where you just put a leg into them, and they’re going and we’re not having to steer so much.”
Good advice from the cowgirl that used to hang and stand on her horses but is now shooting off them at high speeds — proving to be another thrill for the horse lover.
For full results or more info, visit cmsaevents.com.
Marianne is a horse enthusiast to the core. She is a sophomore at St. Mary’s High School and works a couple of different jobs and side gigs to be around horses, including working at horse day camps outside of Bismarck. Marianne also plays basketball, volleyball, track, tennis, and is an honor roll student. She is the daughter of Angela and LeeRon Planet.