Balloon Killers

Danny Urness tells us about his previous work on movies, the inspiration between his mounted shooting YouTube series "Horse 45s," and his passion for the sport!Horse 45s Road to Worlds Trailer: https://youtu.be/W7S2Qx-dlR0?si=G8xUFN_K1LejniojHorse 45s Canadian Finals: https://youtu.be/EqQTBxhs2HU?si=AePBbqtKnk-poqNwGo Fund Me for the Lipham family: https://gofund.me/c4ab429d0

In this episode, Chrissy interviews mounted shooting celebrities Deana and Eddie Miller, who were inducted into the CMSA Hall of Fame at Worlds in 2025!

David Thomas is the new official photographer for the CMSA majors. We talked about how he ended up in the role, his approach to photographing shoots, and what excites him about it.You can see David's work on his website and by following his Facebook page. You can enroll to automatically receive digital galleries with all of your images from the majors here.

This mother and daughter duo are a force to be reckoned with! Amber Rinell is PAFRA (Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Association) director for mounted shooting, as well as a L5 shooter. Her daughter LillyAnn trains her own horses and has cleaned up the awards in mounted shooting, as well as being a rising star in the breakaway and barrels!Click here for more information about PAFRA!

Tayler Bicandi spends a lot of time on the other side of the camera capturing the magical moments of NFR calf roping legend Shad "Money" Mayfield and other equestrian stars. You may have seen some of her amazing videos of mounted shooters. I caught up with her on New Year's Day!Check out the NFR vlog on Shad Mayfield's Youtube channel

In this final (video) episode of Balloon Killers for 2025, Chrissy interviews brand new CMSA President, Mitchell Kramer to talk about what he is excited about as he takes on this new role.

Heath Marshall is a renowned Colorado shooter, who has been shooting for many years. He is also a man of many talents. In this episode he tells us some of his shooting stories and we find out more about his western enterprises. You can find out more about Heath's horsemanship clinics, his poker rides, and his horseshoe art on his Facebook page.

In this Thanksgiving episode, I catch up with Biven Chapman, the daughter of De and Paul Chapman, who has followed in their footsteps in her success in mounted shooting. This year, she took home the ladies world champion title at the CMSA Worlds in Amarillo.

Laurie Blickenstaff is a mental performance coach who is working with a lot of mounted shooters. She talks about her own background competing in western sports, and how she got into mental performance coaching. Check out her website for a freebie and more info!

For the 40th episode of Balloon Killers, I celebrate by interviewing the lady who was the first ever female overall world champion. Kenda Lenseigne just celebrated her 74th win as a Ladies 6! I interviewed her in the 'party bus' in Amarillo, TX at the 2025 CMSA World Championships. Check out Kenda's online store

Dennis Alverson is a man of many talents when it comes to horses. As well as his achievements in mounted shooting, he is also a two times national skijor champion and he just ran the Mongol Derby, a 1000km horse race in Mongolia. Check out his club the Treasure State Mounted ShootersCheck out these videos of his Mongol Derby adventures:https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DK3Kg9F8A/https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16qR93Nhx8/https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17STxEXxwP/

Jessie Johnson hails from Selah, Washington and is the owner and operater of Hotshot Horsemanship as well as the founder of brand new USMS club Hotshot Mounted Shooters!

I caught up with CMSA announcers Mitchell Kramer and Adam Ross after the Saturday night showcase at the 2025 CMSA Western Championships at the South Point in Las Vegas.

I caught up with CMSA announcers Mitchell Kramer and Adam Ross after the Friday night showcase at the 2025 CMSA Western Championships at the South Point in Las Vegas.

I sat down on the couch at the South Point in Las Vegas at the 2025 CMSA Western Championship with Colorado rookie shooter Calista DeCesaro to talk about what it's like to be a new shooter!

Turner Thompson has achieved so much in mounted shooting and in other areas of his life that it's easy to forget he has only just graduated high school. I caught up with him to talk about what he has done so far and his plans for the future.

In this episode I speak to Dr. Matt Taranto and his wife Cammi about their specialist custom horse ear plugs. Ali Cooper, an avid mounted shooter and traveling representative for EquuSound also joins us to provide her unique perspective. You can find out more about these amazing ear plugs on their website: EquuSound

Donnie has been on the CMSA Wrangler committee since it's inception. He has contributed so much time and effort to ensuring our wranglers have fun and are prepared for the big leagues!

To celebrate the fathers of mounted shooting I sit down with siblings Dylan and Rylee Lawson, and their dad Kenny!

For the 30th episode of Balloon Killers I talk to Jacee Ball who was the 2024 CMSA Overall High Point Cowgirl and was awarded the Stifel back #3 for the 2024 season. Her biggest and most recent accomplishment though is becoming a new mommy to baby girl Journee!

Ezra Yoder is famous for his runs without a bridle/headstall and no reins. He is the owner and operator of No Reins Performance Horses. You can find No Reins Performance Horses on Facebook and on YouTube!

In this Mother's Day special, I interview Brandy and Morgan Swanson who are mother and daughter mounted shooters. Brandy runs the Get a Grip custom grips business. You can find her on Facebook at Get a Grip or TikTok @getsomegrips.Check out the picture of my custom grips.Brandy is currently running a contest on TikTok. Anyone who has a set of Get a Grip custom grips can upload a video of their grips tagging @getsomegrips to be entered to win some custom grips. The video with the most likes will win the grips.

In episode 27, I talk to Ohio shooter Sylvio Pellegrino about his book "Being Raised a Mounted Shooter."You can purchase the book by contacting Sylvio on Facebook or by emailing [email protected]

I caught up with Rick in person in Arizona at the CMSA Winter Championships where he was competing. As one of the new owners of United States Mounted Shooting, he talks about his hopes and dreams for the future of USMS. Learn more about USMS and upcoming shoots check out the website https://usmountedshooting.com/

It's our 25th episode! To celebrate, I talk to Angie Seagle who hails from the pacific northwest and is the treasurer of the Western Washington Mounted Shooters. In this episode we talk about mounted shooting in her area of the country, amongst other things. Just a reminder that the Charlie Little Benefit Shoot is coming up on April 8 in Shelbyville, TN. If you can't attend, you can still sign up to donate. 100% of the proceeds raised will go to the Little family.

Jesse and I sat down to talk about days one and two of a three-day bootcamp clinic he facilitated (and I attended) with De Chapman and Matthew L. Jobe in Fountain, CO. I would highly recommend putting this event on your calendar next year!

So many people on the podcast talk about how mounted shooting is a family sport, and in this episode JD Casperson talks about the many different roles he plays in the sport and his pride in the accomplishments of his family.

I first got talking to Trevor about horses feet at the Tombstone shoot in Arizona and was immediately impressed with his wealth of experience and knowledge as a farrier. Trevor talks about shoeing mounted shooting horses and also the many other hats he wears as the husband of a successful mounted shooter, a father of a mounted shooter, and a mounted shooting competitor himself.

While in Queen Creek at the CMSA Winter Championships, CMSA #1 Jim Rodgers and his wife Lily were kind enough to give me a tour of their mounted shooting memorabilia and shared some of their stories.

In this video episode that originally went live on Facebook on 02/22/2025, I caught up with CMSA Director JD Graham on the final day of the CMSA Winter Championships in Queen Creek, AZ. He reviews his time in AZ and talks about what's to come and what we have to look forward to!

In this video episode that originally went live on Facebook on 02/21/2025, I hang out after the showcase with announcers Mitchell Kramer and Adam Ross again to download Stages 3 and 4, and the Friday Night Showcase of the CMSA Winter Championships in Queen Creek, AZ.

In this video episode that originally went live on Facebook on 02/21/2025, Adam Ross and Mitchell Kramer, announcers at the 2025 Winter Championships in Queen Creek, AZ, talk about their highlights of the competition so far, and what to look forward to in the coming days of competition.

Friday 21st February at the 2025 CMSA Winter Championship in Queen Creek, AZ was dedicated to Charlie Little. In this video episode of Balloon Killers that originally went live on Facebook on 02/21/2025, Cathy and Don Litvak, good friends with Charlie and the Little family, share their memories of Charlie.Gary Vickers is putting on a shoot to honor Charlie and fundraise for the Little family. You can sign up on CMSA and pay for entry even if you can't attend, and the money will go to the family.

Doug Champion of Champion Living Fitness has coached over 30 NFR qualifiers. He talks about his connection to mounted shooting, his journey from rodeo into fitness, his rodeo school, and suggestions for mounted shooters to improve their health and performance.Find everything Champion Living Fitness on thewebsite including links to their podcast. Check out theirYouTube channel andFacebook page.

Jamie Travis talks about the CMSA futurity and derby events and, of course, Travis Quarter Horses! Check out the wealth of resources Jamie provided: https://www.travisfamilyquarterhorses.com https://www.facebook.com/travisquarterhorses https://fb.watch/w-JercbW6n/  https://www.cmsafuturity.com/ https://www.facebook.com/cmsafuturity

Payson Peterson of Pueblo, Colorado, talks about the very early days of CMSA and his journey in the sport. Check out this video of Payson's special horse Plaudit's Joker II aka Percy, inducted into the CMSA Horse Hall of Fame in 2009: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHUM7BCyxDI 

Gene and Lindsay Johnson were the people who introduced me to the sport of mounted shooting through their performance at the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo. In a full circle moment, I was lucky enough to interview the couple who changed my life! To see Gene's beautiful leather work, please check out Diamond S Leather on Facebook and @diamondsleratherwy on Instagram. If you are a newer shooter or looking to get into a consistent practice don't forget to check out the Balloon Killers January Challenge.

If you're looking to get into a routine with your mounted shooting practice in 2025, start January with the Balloon Killers January Challenge. This episode provides all of the info you need to participate. There is no cost, and if you complete it you will be entered into a giveaway for a goodie bag. There is no cost to participate, so what are you waiting for?Find the instructions and tracker in this folder. You can download or copy the documents to either print or complete on your device. You will need to submit the completed tracker to [email protected] by end of day on February 8th to be entered into the giveaway.

Adam Ross is not only a talented CMSA announcer, he is also a decorated mounted shooter who has had a phenomenal 2024! He opens his interview with a tribute to Charlie Little. This is the video he talks about.

Jess holds two mounted shooting world records. She talks about growing up in the sport and the horses and people that have been instrumental in her success!

In this episode of Balloon Killers I talk to Paige McGinnis and Kristen Daulton, co-editors of the CMSA Rundown Magazine! If you would like to suggest any content ideas or offer help/support please email [email protected] and/or [email protected]

Carl Watson is a veteran mounted shooter, who has helped to set up a number of clubs throughout his time in the sport. He is also a leather worker who makes custom holsters and scabbards. Check out his leather work here: https://www.facebook.com/p/Watson-Custom-Leather-100071139161623/

Carrie Hirshberg of Hirshberg Performance Horsemanship talks to us about building human and equine athletes for the sport of cowboy mounted shooting. Keep checking on https://www.hirshbergperformance.com for the exciting new offerings Carrie describes in her interview.

I interviewed Matt fresh from a big win at the MO state fair. He talks about his focus on horsemanship and making handy horses, and his cowboy top hand competition! Check out Flint Hills Ranchin Adventures on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flinthillsranchinadventures/

Laura Smith started Missouri CMSA with her husband Travis. She talks about her many years of experience in mounted shooting and horse training, as well as what it's like to set-up a new club! Check out Missouri CMSA here: https://mocmsa.com/ and on Facebook

Dr. John "Blue" Bunch started out with SASS and is one of the first CMSA members with a double digit CMSA number. He talks about the early days of cowboy mounted shooting, long guns, and his cowboy stories! Check out his books here: Advance Revolvers The French Vaquero: The Story of a Cajun Fighters Journey Verda Veta

Elizabeth Clavette was the 2021 Overall National Cowgirl as well as countless other wins and accomplishments in mounted shooting. She plays Annie Oakley each year at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, and she has published a book called the Ultimate Pattern Guide Book to help newer shooters navigate the different patterns. You can find Elizabeth on Facebook at Double E Performance Horses or you can contact her at [email protected]

In the second episode of Balloon Killers, I interview Ken Jardine, the Commander of the CMSA Cavalry Troop and the 2023 Cavalry World High Points Trooper.

In the first episode of Balloon Killers, I interview De Chapman, Events Director for CMSA and ShootPony Founder. De has won numerous local and national titles and is currently sitting in the top 10 in the world standings!