Henderson returns to the Old West for annual event

By Dave Clark (contact)

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008 | midnight

The Eighth Annual Pony Express Shootout scheduled for Sept. 27 is expanding during its second year in Henderson with Civil War and Mountain Man encampments added to the roster of 19th-century themed cowboy-shooting and mounted shooting competitions.

"It's just a great Old West event," Single Action Mounted Shooting President Richard Howes said. "People will get to see a lot of characters dressed in Old West clothing."

Howes was enthused about the lineup, which he expected to draw as many as 500 people to the Henderson Saddle Association.

"It's a lot bigger," he said. "We had about 30 participants last year. We're going to have 100 to 150 participants between all the different groups."

Metro Police K-9 and mounted units do demonstrations. Wildlife artists will be exhibiting Western and animal-themed pieces.

The annual event is a fundraiser for the Single Action Mounted Shooting group, which will host a silent auction of items such as a weekend hotel stay, golf package, artwork, gun leathers and Old Western-style clothing certificates. Howes hoped to raised $600 for the 35-member nonprofit group, which also performs Old West shows, rides in parades and helps disabled children with horse-riding therapy.

The Civil War encampment will feature an artifact museum and individuals speaking about the war's history. The Mountain Man encampment will replicate the culture of the beaver and fur trade from 1800 through the 1840s, he said.

"They do a cooking demonstration — how to make possum stew," Howes said. "They talk about survival and how to live off the land."

The cowboy and cowgirl shooters will talk to visitors about the 19th century guns used in competition. They shoot .45 Colt Peacemaker revolvers from galloping horses at 10 targets.

"It's just a massive adrenaline rush to get on my horse and go as fast as we can," said Howes, who competes. "(The horse) just loves it. She tears up the ground."

This year marks the shootout's second in Henderson, following a move from Pahrump to attract more tourists and spectators.

Dave Clark can be reached at 990-2677 or dave.clark@hbcpub.com.