Cowboy Mounted Shooting, one of the nation’s fastest-growing equestrian sports, will take center stage at the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center on Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31.
The focus of the colorful event is the “Seventh Annual Border Wars” which brings contestants from the surrounding states to battle for a traveling trophy and prize money donated by area merchants.  Prior winners include South Carolina, Florida and four-time winner Georgia.

The 7th Annual Border Wars is hosted by the South Carolina Mounted Shooters, which is affiliated with the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA), the world-wide governing body for the sport. Following the competition on Saturday evening, the Tryon Hounds Riding Club will host a dinner and entertainment that is open to the public.

There is no charge to attend the competition. The Foothills Equestrian Nature Center is located at 3381 Hunting Country Road, Tryon, N.C. 28782.

Mounted contestants compete in this fast-action timed event by riding their horses through a pattern of balloons (called a “stage”) and shooting the balloons with black powder blanks from .45 caliber single action revolvers. Men and women compete in separate classes, each with six levels. Competitors range in age from 12 to 80-plus. In fact, “Granny Oakley,” who is more than 80 years old, rides her trusty horse as a Ladies Senior Level 3 competitor. Children younger than 12 compete as Wranglers where they ride the patterns but don’t shoot.

– Submitted by S.C. Mounted Shooters