Trainers Pen

Finding The Right Partner

Buying a Shooting Horse

With mounted shooting growing strong, people are always looking for competition horses.  If you’re in the market, here are some important guidelines to remember when you’re looking at a prospect or a finished mounted shooting horse.

 

The first question that we are asked by prospective buyers is, “Does he have speed?” Speed is important; this is, after all, a timed event. But it’s not the most important factor. You need a horse that will grow with you in the sport, that will make a strong partner as you wind your way up the ladder of mounted shooting competition.

 

But more important than speed is handle! Having all the speed in the world will not do you any good unless your horse is under control and has good schooling. A finished horse should know his canter leads, he should come off your legs and give to pressure. The horse should rate easily; he/she should also be soft and flex at the poll. A slower horse with good training will always outrun a faster horse that is blowing out all of the turns and barrels. A horse that is not under control will have to take more strides, letting a slower horse with more handle outrun him.

 

You need a horse that suits you.
We have found that older horses—approximately seven years or older—make the best prospects for novice shooters. Geldings are great for any shooter and a good mare will give you a lot of heart and try. Stallions are not suited for a novice rider (although they can be great in the right hands). A horse with some age that has been hauled and has a calm disposition works best. A seasoned play-day horse or ranch horse works great.  If you’re looking at a barrel horse, be sure it has been started calmly and is not sour or anxious in the alleyway.

 

A lot of shooters do not have the time during the week to ride every day, the time that it takes to keep a younger or inexperienced horse on track. If you’re a new rider and a new shooter you need a gentle horse that is great with the gunfire so you can concentrate on your riding and shooting. A more experienced rider will have the ability to help a horse through the pattern more, so they may be able to handle a less experienced horse. The bottom line: the less you have to worry about your horse, the more time you will have available to concentrate on your shooting!

 

Finding a sound horse.
Mounted shooting is a physical sport for your horse, so you want to be sure to purchase a healthy mounted shooting partner that can last a long time. It is very important when you are buying a shooting horse, or a shooting horse prospect, that the animal is in good health and will be able to withstand the toll of competition. Don’t be afraid to take an experienced horseperson with you to advise you on your purchase; you also should pursue a pre-purchase veterinary examination. It is heartbreaking to put a lot of time and training into a horse, only to see it become unsound during the shooting season.

 

If you have a prospect, start your new horse slowly!
The biggest mistake we see in this sport is people rushing horses through the introduction to mounted shooting. People just want to go out and “see if he shoots” or “see how fast he goes.” Take your time; be sure you have a nice handle on your horse before you ever pick up a pistol. If you’re new to mounted shooting, seek advice from a professional or more experienced shooter. If you have a prospect, you can also haul him to a shoot and see how he handles himself in that environment.

 

Finally, do not run a new horse at full speed at the very start of his training, as this can make him overly excited and later hard to handle. Keep everything calm and in control. Get started right; training is so much easier than re-training.

 

A well-trained horse that has had the proper introduction to mounted shooting will make your first shoots ENJOYABLE, and most importantly, SAFE!

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