TUNICA, MISSISSIPPI—Three American Paint Horses recently won division titles at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) National Championships held in Tunica, Mississippi, on April 17-21, 2012.
 Kings Silent Glide and John Shelton round the pattern while shooting to win the Mens Level 2 division. Photo Courtesy: Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association |
The Jeffers National Mens Level 2 division was won by Kings Silent Glide, also called “Sundance” with rider John Shelton of Wartrace, Tennessee. Sundance is a 1997 chestnut tobiano gelding bred by Doug Cook of Springfield, Missouri, and owned by Brady Carr of Columbia, Tennessee.
While well-known American Paint Horse, Flash Me A Wild Card, otherwise known as “Joker,” has won numerous CMSA national and world titles in past years with his owner Rock Clark of Columbia, Tennessee, he had had some bad luck this year. But when his young rider, Jake Gentry of Petersburg, Tennessee, took him into the arena they came out the winner of the Jeffers National Limited Wrangler Class. In the Wrangler class, the kids do not shoot, but do have to maneuver the horse through a pattern as the adults do and then later have to shoot from the ground at ten targets. Joker is a 2000 black overo gelding bred by Joyce McKinney of West Harrison, Indiana.
Tobanos Warman, or “Toby,” took two riders to wins in their divisions. Toby’s usual rider, Share All Carr of Columbia, Tennessee, rode the 1996 red roan tovero gelding to the win in the Jeffers National Ladies Level 2 and Carr was named the Limited Double Down Finals Reserve Champion Cowgirl. When the she learned about a rider from Canada whose horse was hurt and needed a replacement horse, she loaned Toby to him. Neils Laustan of Lacombe, Alberta, Canada, rode the gelding in the Rifle Class and won the Taylor’s and Company Limited Rifle Class. Toby was bred by Charles Bishop of Mansfield, Georgia, and is owned by Brady Carr of Columbia, Tennessee.
To learn more about the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association, see www.cowboymountedshooting.com. APHA recognizes Cowboy Mounted Shooting for APHA performance points as well as PAC performance credits.
 Young rider, Jake Gentry, takes Flash Me A Wild Card through the pattern in the Limited Wrangler Class, all without using his stirrups. Photo Courtesy: Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association. |
 Share All Carr takes Tobanos Warman through the pattern in dramatic style, winning the Ladies Level 2. Photo Courtesy: Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association. |
 Fully trusting his borrowed mount, Neils Laustan, shoots a rifle while not using reins—and at a full gallop—to win the Limited Rifle class. Photo Courtesy: Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association |
About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association (APHA), the international breed registry for the American Paint Horse headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012. In fulfillment of its mission to collect, record and preserve pedigrees of the breed, APHA recognizes and supports 111 regional and international clubs, produces championship shows, sponsors trail rides and creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members’ experiences with their horses. APHA has registered more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded, and now serves over 64,000 active youth and adult members around the world.