more Pictures from the Arizona outdoor Expo

Riding hard for the finish

I need to explain this mounted  cowboy shooting sport that I watched at the outdoor Expo so everybody understands what's actually going on.

The contestants ride around the arena on a course that has 10 balloons in various areas and they have to ride as fast as they can, because they are being timed, and shoot and break all of the balloons. Now the important thing is they're not shooting live ammunition, their shooting blanks and it's the burning powder that breaks the balloons when it hits them. So there's nothing dangerous going on here. But nonetheless the little kids  just ride around the course without a gun and are timed on how fast they can go. Bigger kids will carry a toy gun and point it at the balloons. And when the little wranglers get older they can carry a real single action 45 but it can't be loaded.

One of the little Wranglers learning the sport.

A little Wrangler showing good form

Taking people's pictures can sometimes be dangerous

Those streaks of smoke are burning powder grains, and that's what breaks the balloons.

All rigged up for the sport

It seemed to me there were more women riders than men

She looked like she enjoys shooting things

Determined to win

A lucky shot

It takes a lot of practice to shoot something while sitting on a galloping horse

This Cowboys horse stumbled and he lost his rein, but he kept shooting and riding

He looks the part, If he wants to look like a REAL cowboy he should lose the sunglasses and learn to squint

Turning for the finish line