If there ever was a group that defines the term “small but mighty,” it very well could be the crew of mounted shooters from Wessington Springs who, last month, competed and prevailed in a definitive way at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) World Championship in Amarillo, Texas.
'We have to drive at least 1600 miles to see each other,” laughed Kelli Shryock, pointing out that the local CMSA competitors, made up of Brett Borkowski, Jake Krohmer, Kelli and her husband Craig, don’t blink an eye when traveling as far as Tennessee, Nebraska, Arizona, Nevada and Texas to compete. “You have to go to a more populated area to compete, so it takes a lot of dedication. I figure, if you live in this state and have to travel, you had better do it right.”
And doing it right is precisely what Kelli did during the October 1014, 2023 CMSA World Championships. Riding JMS Firewaters Jewel, she had a whirlwind trip winning American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Select Amateur World Championship, 2023 CMSA Senior Ladies Highpoint Saddle and 2023 Top Ten (7th) Overall Ladies World Champion SL6 Class.
“In South Dakota, we don’t have many shooters, but we have quality,” pointed out Craig, who, alongside Kelli has also competed in the sport for 16 years. “Look at the small amount of shooters overall — about 15 that earn points in this state — and South Dakota has the two-time world champ.”
The two-time world champion Shryock refers to is Wessington Springs native Brett Borkowski, who after 18 years of fierce CMSA competition, once again brought home hefty hardware from Worlds: 2023 Shotgun World Champion, Reserve World Champion Rifle Shooter and AQHA World 3rd and 5th place. This year’s accolades arrive on the heels of the 2021 CMSA World Champion title, Men’s Open Double Down Finals Championship and the Overall World Champion at that year’s event.
Borkowski and wife Amy Schimke, well known for their equine performance program, have dedicated years of thoughtful genetic matings, research and meticulous training into the talented horses they bring to competitions across the nation.
“My Highpoint horse came from Brett and Amy’s breeding program,” Kelli pointed out.
The tight-knit group also includes Jake Krohmer, who credits the Shryocks for introducing him to the sport in 2013. His stellar performance at the 2023 World Championship earned him 2nd overall in the Men’s 3 Class and 54th overall at the World Finals. In points, he finished 2nd in his class for 2023.
“I owe it all to Craig and Kelli for showing me the ropes and getting me into it all those years ago,” Krohmer shared with thanks. “And if I ever have any questions I can go to them and of course Brett — everyone always goes to him with questions. They always are happy to make time.”
Coined by Craig as the “Wessington Springs Wolfpack,” the local mounted shooters find success through hard work, an investment in good horses and gratitude.
Kelli said that financially, contestants typically don’t win as much as it costs to enter the competition and shell out in diesel fuel to travel.
“Brett is one of the lucky ones,” said Amy of the twotime World Champ, who has won a pretty penny in competitions across the United States over the years.
But Kelli was quick to chime in, “You have more luck when you work hard. There is an incentive to win because it’s so expensive to go.”
Kelli said that she works out daily, focusing on core strength and physically conditioning her body.
“I’m competitive at it and it gives me a purpose. I’m thankful for it because horses are my life,” she explained. “Otherwise why should I be out in the cold, battling the clock. I choose to always be learning, regularly attending clinics and working out. I plan to do this as long as my body allows.”
According to the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) mounted shooting is the fastest growing equestrian sport in the nation. Mounted contestants compete in this fastaction, timed event using two .45 caliber single action revolvers each loaded with five rounds of specially prepared blank ammunition. The cartridges are crimped at the end, don’t have a projectile, and are loaded with a small amount of black powder. What pops the balloons is a combination of gas and heat as the gun powder is ignited.
“It’s a big enough sport that there is something going on every weekend,” Borkowski added.
Competitors work their way through a field of targets and are scored based on time and accuracy. Time penalties are doled out for missing a balloon, dropping a gun, an erroneous pattern or falling off the horse. The CMSA offers a variety of levels of competition for everyone, ranging from novice levels to the seasoned professional.
Cowboy mounted shooting is a demanding sport for riders and horses who need to become one with their timing. A high level of trust needs to be developed before an athlete entirely drops the reins and begins pumping cartridges and firing at the balloon targets.
“We are often taking body language to a whole new level of trust between horse and rider,” Kelli said. “The rider is looking back but the horse needs to move forward.”
Inadditiontogoodhorses and hard work, members of the “Wolfpack” all agree on a central theme: what makes this group great is that they all continue to learn from each other.
“We are always bouncing ideas off each other, whether it’s nutrition, shoeing or course management,” Borkowski said.
“We regularly run best practices by each other when it comes to course management,” Krohmer said, with Amy adding that the patterns are released a mere 24 hours before competition.
“There are 80 courses and patterns to study in the rule book so knowing your course management is key to success,” Schimke expressed.
According to members of the WS Wolfpack, one of the most vital components of the sport is the people.
“The big thing is the people in it — it’s an open, generous type of group,” Craig said. “Out of all the equine sports, this sport stands out when it comes to lifting up others. You’ll see it amongst the very top competitors — they’ll go as far as sharing their guns if their opponent’s equipment has a malfunction.”
Borkowski and Krohmer wholeheartedly agree with Craig when it comes to the generosity and family atmosphere that shines within the CMSA.
“The atmosphere really has a family side to it,” Krohmer explained. “You might be beating somebody but they’re still cheering you on. And it includes contestants from five-years-old to over 80, which is so unique.”
Kelli brought up a poignant example in the form of a question during a group interview with the WS Wolfpack at the True Dakotan newspaper office: “Do you carry sutures now?”
Krohmer, Schimke, Borkowski and the Shryocks shared in a grateful and knowing laugh, stemming from an incident at Worlds that could have resulted in tragedy — yet instead illuminated the camaraderie that lives with the CMSA family.
“My horse, Miss Priss, cut itself during a run. A nail from a pulled shoe hooked the hind foot and cut an artery,” Borkowski explained.
To illustrate the seriousness of the situation, Craig described the amount of blood pouring from Miss Priss.
“There were full hoof prints formed from blood, we were able to track her blood trail back to the stall,” he said.
“A bunch of people pitched in and ran over to the stall with anything they could find to stop the blood — like diapers and net wrap,” Borkowski and Schimke shared. “Someone we didn’t even know stepped up and sutured the cut. We are so amazed and thankful how willing people were to help out — just drop everything and come running.”
The passion for the sport doesn’t end with the rider, in fact, the horses best suited for success in mounted shooting tend to be on the intense side, filled with fervor and a desire to succeed.
“She ran the 4th fastest time while being cut,” Schimke pointed out, adding with a laugh that the bond between her husband and Miss Priss runs deep. “If it came down to it, he would choose her over me.”
The Shryocks weighed in calling her a “diva, ” quickly adding that oftentimes, good horses tend to get hurt because they’re trying so hard.
All jokes aside, Borkowski is quick to give credit to his horse’s abilities.
“She is my security blanket, she does exactly what she is asked to do for every run,” Brett said of Miss Priss, “It really helps with the mental aspect. When riding something you know is going to make the perfect run, you can focus on your shooting.”
When it comes to competition, next up for the WS Wolfpack is the Black Hills Stock Show, January 26-27. From there, their travels will branch off across the nation, horses in tow, setting their sights on the next milestone and destination, paths brightly lit by the gratitude and fellowship that illuminates the sport they love.
