Cowboys in Ohio?

A bunch of cowboys stopped by the fairgrounds this weekend. Every year they hold a shooting and riding competition. It all seems good-natured and fun. The goal is to ride around a course as fast as possible while shooting at balloons with single action revolvers. Seems easy doesn't it?
The skills displayed were very impressive. I saw several race through at a gallop and hit every target. Most of the competitors wore  authentic western clothes, looking like they stepped right out of a Remmington painting.
They had classes for young and old and really young and really old. One grandmotherly type got a bit annoyed by her coach as she was entering the ring. The coach asked her five or six times if she was sure she had loaded her guns. The balloon guy told us later that she had entered several races last year forgetting her ammo. The club presented her with the "Click Click" award at the Christmas banquet. I am not sure if she had much of a sense of humor about the whole thing, but today she did send off a bunch of bullets.
I wonder what these guys use for ammo. I was a bit freaked out being in the line of fire the entire morning, but nobody seemed to get shot. The pistols made a very large bang and some of the horses were spooked by that. It takes a special animal to not freak out with all of the gun fire and smoke popping right behind their ears.

That balloon is toast.

Since all of the natives have been driven out, balloons will have to do.

Did the wild west have pylons? I don't think so, but the horse sure looks fine.

"Take that you varmit!"

Cute photo of the many spectators... and the people riding them.

Now there's a job I could do.

This crew kept the balloons full and ready to shoot.

A little girl on a giant horse wearing a duster. Is anything cuter?

Well maybe another little girl shooting things.