Rider Technique

Outside The Arena

Stepping Outside The Box

 

We’ve all heard the expression “stepping outside the box”—thinking or acting outside the normal way of things. This is also true in mounted shooting, except I call it “stepping outside the arena.”

 

No doubt about it, time in the saddle makes us all better riders—but that doesn’t mean that we must work solely on mounted shooting. There are many other things we can do to better our shooting and riding skills beyond the walls of the big arena—things that ensure that our horses don’t become “sour.” We stay fresh, too, when we’re out doing different things with our shooting horses. For example, I enjoy cutting and roping; they involve hand-eye coordination, and changing speeds and directions. All are required for success in mounted shooting. Yet cutting and roping are different enough that the horse and I don’t get bored.

 

And you don’t necessarily need any cattle. I frequently go to the round pen or the track and move my horse forward at different speeds, while I balance and twist my body—always focusing on the hands. In these exercises, I drop the reins, hold my arms out to the sides and twist, keeping my eyes on the tips of my fingers. It’s best to start while your horse is standing still, then gradually move forward. We should strive to do this at a lope in both directions. With more than 50 different mounted shooting patterns– including numerous direction changes while we’re holding out a 3 lb gun and staring down targets–we have to have good balance, flexibility and hand-eye coordination. This drill will help immensely. I have graduated to the point where I can ride my horses completely around the path track at my ranch (see photo). So when I get in the shooting arena, I have confidence not only in my horse, but also in my flexibility, balance and hand-eye coordination.

 

Another favorite drill (outside the arena and in a safe place) entails dry-firing pistols at various objects. For example, I have wood fences on the outskirts of our property. I trot and lope by and point and dry fire at the fence posts. I also target rocks, trees and bushes—just about anything I come across. I make it fun, a game for my horse and I by pointing at five objects, doing my gun change and then dry-firing at five more targets. Remember to check your guns first to make sure they’re not loaded and never point at a person (even if your mother-in-law just happens to be in town, or your crazy neighbor walks by!!).

 

Seriously, it is amazing how creative we can be outside the arena. I was at an event in South Dakota; all the arenas were being used, so I found some five-foot pine trees in a nearby field. They were great as targets and obstacles to maneuver around.

 

That’s thinking outside the box, er, I mean the arena. It’s a useful exercise, but just as important, it makes practice fun for both your horse and you!

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