The Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association is the national sanctioning body for one of the fastest-growing action shooting sports: shooting pistols from horseback while navigating a course. CMSA coordinates events, establishes rules, recognizes championships, and connects shooters with local clubs. CMS...
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The Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association is the national sanctioning body for one of the fastest-growing action shooting sports: shooting pistols from horseback while navigating a course. CMSA coordinates events, establishes rules, recognizes championships, and connects shooters with local clubs.
CMSA operates as a network of affiliated clubs scattered across the country. Each club hosts matches—typically Day-Specific Qualifying (DWPQ), Western Performance Qualifying (WPQ), regional championships, and state championships. Competitors register through the club hosting the event, pay entry fees, and compete against shooters of all experience levels.
The competition calendar runs year-round: - Winter Championship (February) - Regional qualifiers throughout spring and summer - State championships (February through July depending on region) - National Championship in May
With 70+ affiliated clubs nationwide, CMSA maintains a searchable event calendar covering:
| State Coverage | Notable Regions |
|---|---|
| Arizona (10) | Phoenix, Queen Creek |
| Colorado (22) | Castle Rock, Denver area |
| Ohio (35) | Most events in state |
| North Carolina (16) | Lumberton |
| Pennsylvania (22) | Western PA venues |
| Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon | Multiple venues per state |
New shooters should start with a club's introductory or "buckle buster" events—lower pressure matches designed to teach you the sport.
CMSA doesn't host events directly—member clubs do. Some of the most active include:
Each club sets its own schedule, entry fees, and added money (prize pools). Clubs typically limit entries (ranging from 30 to 233 competitors per event) to keep matches manageable.
You'll need: - A horse (calm, responsive to gunfire) - Firearms (typically revolvers, .22 or .45 caliber) - Membership with a participating club - Entry fee for matches ($140–$300+ depending on event)
"Straight Shootin'—Hard Ridin'—Raw Horse Power" — CMSA motto
The sport combines horsemanship, marksmanship, and speed. Competitors navigate courses while drawing and firing at targets from the saddle. Scoring factors in accuracy, speed, and missed targets.
CMSA maintains a full event calendar filterable by: - Month (January through December) - Club name - State - Event type (DWPQ, WPQ, Regional, State, National, Classic)
Each listing shows dates, location, entry limits, and links to registration and event details.
Start by finding a club near you through the CMSA directory, attend a local match, and join that club. Most clubs welcome newcomers and offer beginner-friendly events. The community is active year-round with shoots scheduled nearly every weekend somewhere across the country.
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