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Diary of a Mounted Shooter: Part 5
Finally! Although I've been riding at home over the past two weeks, it had been that long since I shot off my mare. The family complications that prevented us from getting to go to practice last week had resolved themselves, so I was excited to get to shoot again. I had been so encouraged by the progress she had shown the last time I shot off her. I so wanted her to do well this time. So off we went to practice!
Just for good measure, we took along the two year old filly of my husband's that I've started breaking out. No sense waiting until the last minute to get her used to the gunfire, right? Actually, I think she's genetically programmed to be a shooting horse. I've never seen her flinch yet to the shooting I've done at home at... er ... near and off my mare. Just to test this theory one day a few weeks ago, I thought I would see how Cami (the filly) would do if I shot near her. I had been working her under saddle and in the bit for the first time, so I thought I would throw shooting into the mix, too. After all, I never know when to quit, right. Anyway, I loaded the pistol, handed my cell phone to my husband for him to take video and stood her in the middle of the round pen and told her to stay (my version of ground tie). Then, I proceeded to fire the gun from about three feet away from her. Nuthin! I fired a second time. Again, nothing. Oh, I think she turned her head to look at what I was doing. I made a complete circle around her while firing the pistol, from front to rear back to front. She just stood there without a care in the world. So that was easy. Anyway, we decided to take her and maybe ride her around a little bit in between practice runs to get her used to being away from home, the gunfire, the horses and all.
I have to say, this was probably the best practice I've ever been to. Cutter wasn't perfect, but she actually wasn't a complete lunatic either. She still had a few issues with the shooting on the first five, but again, the faster I let her go, the fewer issues I had with her. I think she turned a corner at the last practice, and although she's not going to make a beginner shooting horse any time soon, I think she's finally on her way to making a pretty good shooting horse for me. I'm actually looking forward to the next competition instead of dreading what I might have to endure so the rest of my family can have fun.
It's taken a year to come this far, a long frustrating year. But I'm glad I stuck with it and didn't give up. I've been stretched as a shooter and as a rider. And I've probably grown as a person, too. I'm tickled to death finally with my little mare. I think we are going to start having fun.
And as for the two year old filly, she did great. She wasn't bothered in the least by the shooting. I jogged a couple of patterns with her, and even set balloons off her without so much as a twitch of an issue. I even dry fired off her just for good measure. There was nary a flinch. Yep, I think she's got shooting horse in her blood and will make my husband a good one. Of course my other two year old that I need to get started is a half brother to my little mare. But he's also a half brother the two year old filly.
I wonder which sister he will take after.
Just for good measure, we took along the two year old filly of my husband's that I've started breaking out. No sense waiting until the last minute to get her used to the gunfire, right? Actually, I think she's genetically programmed to be a shooting horse. I've never seen her flinch yet to the shooting I've done at home at... er ... near and off my mare. Just to test this theory one day a few weeks ago, I thought I would see how Cami (the filly) would do if I shot near her. I had been working her under saddle and in the bit for the first time, so I thought I would throw shooting into the mix, too. After all, I never know when to quit, right. Anyway, I loaded the pistol, handed my cell phone to my husband for him to take video and stood her in the middle of the round pen and told her to stay (my version of ground tie). Then, I proceeded to fire the gun from about three feet away from her. Nuthin! I fired a second time. Again, nothing. Oh, I think she turned her head to look at what I was doing. I made a complete circle around her while firing the pistol, from front to rear back to front. She just stood there without a care in the world. So that was easy. Anyway, we decided to take her and maybe ride her around a little bit in between practice runs to get her used to being away from home, the gunfire, the horses and all.
I have to say, this was probably the best practice I've ever been to. Cutter wasn't perfect, but she actually wasn't a complete lunatic either. She still had a few issues with the shooting on the first five, but again, the faster I let her go, the fewer issues I had with her. I think she turned a corner at the last practice, and although she's not going to make a beginner shooting horse any time soon, I think she's finally on her way to making a pretty good shooting horse for me. I'm actually looking forward to the next competition instead of dreading what I might have to endure so the rest of my family can have fun.
It's taken a year to come this far, a long frustrating year. But I'm glad I stuck with it and didn't give up. I've been stretched as a shooter and as a rider. And I've probably grown as a person, too. I'm tickled to death finally with my little mare. I think we are going to start having fun.
And as for the two year old filly, she did great. She wasn't bothered in the least by the shooting. I jogged a couple of patterns with her, and even set balloons off her without so much as a twitch of an issue. I even dry fired off her just for good measure. There was nary a flinch. Yep, I think she's got shooting horse in her blood and will make my husband a good one. Of course my other two year old that I need to get started is a half brother to my little mare. But he's also a half brother the two year old filly.
I wonder which sister he will take after.
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2 Comments
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Comment by Jennifer Key on July 5, 2009 at 8:19am - I see you've discovered the fun I was having with my Cutter trials. :-) Yep, this is all your fault. And I wouldn't trade a minute of it. Not only do I now have my husband involved in the horses thanks to your introduction to mounted shooting, I've acquired a new best friend. Thanks for it all!
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Comment by Dianne Lipham on July 4, 2009 at 5:38pm
- Let's hope he takes after Cami and you dont have to work so hard at it. He has heard the gunfire since he was a baby here and now at your house, so I think he will take to it now that you got the tough one out of the way!!!! Way to go with them Jen. I got you in this crazy sport and am proud of how far you have come.
© 2009 Created by Ken Amorosano
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