The Autumn Ambush is sponsored by the Iowa Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association. The group is an Iowa equine club that is affiliated with the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association. According to the organization’s social media page, members like to “ride and shoot for fun and believe in the ‘Old West’ ways.”

Taylor Johnson, of Ellsworth, said the event is free for spectators to attend.

The action gets under way on Sept. 15 at 11 a.m. and Sept. 16 at 9 a.m.

Johnson said the show will feature timed events on horseback with participants asked to shoot 10 targets using black powder blanks. They use one gun to hit five targets, holster that gun and then use the other to hit the remaining five targets, he said. There are penalties if the rider drops a gun or misses a target.

-Submitted photo
Carol Yeager, Webster City, raises a gun as she races toward the target. Organizers expect as many as 50 competitors to take part in a mounted shooting event at the Hamilton County Saddle Club Arena on Sept. 15 and 16.

The competition will feature several classes of expertise, which are divided into categories for men and women, Johnson said.

It is expected to draw participants from Iowa as well as southern Minnesota, Nebraska and Missouri. Johnson said there could be as many as 50 people participating.

Participants are expected to wear chaps, cowboy hats and button-down shirts or traditional cowboy garb.

“It’s a fun event to watch and the participants really enjoy visiting and talking about the sport,” he said. “I would encourage people to come out and watch.”

Those interested in registering for the mounted shoot can do so at the ICMSA Facebook page. Click on the events section.