The word Cowboy has stood for independence, honesty, and freedom for over one hundred years. Though the pinnacle of the free range cowboy has long since passed, the romanticism remains undeterred in the minds and spirits of Americans everywhere. In and around Miamitown Ohio, the 1st Ohio Cowboy Mounted Shooters of America come together to pay homage to that hard ridin’, straight shootin’ hero of the Old West. CMSA allows today’s cowboys and cowgirls to compete on horseback, shooting a prescribed pattern, with the fastest, most accurate rider walking away with the prize. Hard ridin’, and straight shootin’.

But for the 1st Ohio CMSA club, that’s just part of the story. Since the very beginning, competitors have been organizing trail rides, competitions, raffles, and auctions for various charities and worthwhile causes. Although 1st Ohio has some of the best riders in the country, they cheer hardest for their competitors. Veteran riders give their best advice to anyone asking; a broke bridle or forgotten holster is nothing to worry about, as a rider will soon find offers from others to “use mine, go shoot.” Cowboys and cowgirls lend their guns and holsters for new competitors to “try before they buy;” some of the top horses in the country have carried dozens of different riders through patterns, as the owners loaned them out when a competitor’s horse was suddenly lame or not feeling well.