mounted shooting horse training

Question
QUESTION: How is the best way to get a horse used to guns.  I would like to train my barrel racing gelding for mounted shooting, but he very shy of the sound of gun shots.

Thanks, Roger

ANSWER: Hi Roger!

This is just another issue of good horsemanship and building confidence.  Make sure all of the basics are solid as a rock with this horse.  Know that you can control with willingness on the part of the horse each and every footfall.  Use your flag, tarp, slicker, and lass rope and make sure your horse is confident and willing with each of these.  I would make sure I could rope up feet, flanks, belly on your horse and that again your horse was willing and confident with these skills.

If you have all of this stuff working well for you and you know that you can control your horses feet and you have his mind and you know you can get a little careless with your flag, tarp and slicker then adding another element that makes a loud noise will not be a problem.  When you say your horse is shy of the gun shots it really means your horse lacks confidence and is just plain shy.  If you can really get wild with your flag, tarp and slicker; if you can get careless making other loud noises for example dragging around a 2X6 and letting it drop and bang down on the ground or tossing and dropping other large loud objects and your horse is in control physically and mentally, then you know you are ready to move on to shooting.  I frequently make my horses help out with barn clean-up can chores.  I have several large metal garbage cans that I gather up trash and toss into the cans.  I'm pretty noisy!  My horses become part of the job.  I ride with confidence and I never forget the most basic elements of good horsemanship.  It is all about the feet.  If my horse gets troubled at something, what ever goofy thing I'm doing, I go right back to bending and getting to the feet and in turn getting to the mind.  

If you can do all of these things with confidence, then one more loud popping sound is not going to cause trouble.  I'm guessing you will be using a .22 cal hand gun and not a .357 or 45!  So, a .22 sounds pretty much like a bull whip.  My friend drives a lot of cattle and I use his bull whip every now and then.  It pops pretty loud.  When we started we just jumped right in with a no big deal type of attitude.  Everyone took turns popping away.  If a horse got a little bothered, we would put them to work, did some bending, did a lot of rubbing and just got on with life and doing our job.  Loud noises happen.  The only thing I can say about shooting is be respectful of your horses ears and hearing.  Aim  carefully if you are using live rounds and don't sacrifice good horsemanship for anything!  

Have fun Roger.  Go slow and expose your horse to build confidence.  If things fall apart, just stop and start over.  Keep me posted!

Smiles, Denise

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: When first using the gun around him, do I just hold him with a halter and lead or stand in the middle of the corral and let him run around awhile?  I am starting with a pistol air gun and shooting balloons.

Answer
Hi Roger!

Nope, don't just allow him to run around while you are shooting.  There is no support for the horse.  He does not know what to do!  He may think that jumping the fence and getting as far away as possible is the right answer.  I would have him in a good rope halter with a 12' tree line lead and be asking him for his attention.  I would be making my requests kindergarten clear for him and supporting him if things go wrong.

Did you do all the other prep work with flags and other loud things?  If so, I would treat shooting like it is your job.  Have an attitude of pure business and your horse will pick up on that feeling.  I would start on the ground and if your horse has trouble with the sound, yield his hindquarters, get his fronts coming through, go right back to your groundwork and support your horse.  Let him know that shooting is now his job too.  Do your ground work until your horse can offer to stand relaxed, then shoot again.  If your horse is really troubled about the popping, go back to using your flag, and doing other loud chores, throwing away garbage, toting around lumber or what ever that is loud and clanks!  Just expose your horse but stay on the edge of trouble.  Don't do so much that your horse thinks he cannot survive!  This is a really important point.  I've heard Ray say so many times that we have to stay on the EDGE of trouble.  

If your preparation had been good, then an air pistol and balloons should be no trouble.

Have fun, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Smiles, Denise