Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

[RC] gun training your horse - Ed Kilpatrick

those are good tips on gun training your horse.  yes, start with a .22 pistol.  you can buy blank ammunition at Lowe's or Home Depot for a reasonable price, the same that is used in nail guns.  the blanks are available in different loads.  you can start out with a light load that is not much louder than a cap gun, then move up to the heavier loads.   after the ground training/desensitizing to gunfire, when you shoot from your horse, it is actually better to hold the gun where the horse can see it.  if you are right handed, shoot with the gun in the 1 o'clock to 3 o'clock position,  with the horse's head considered 12 o'clock.  just remember to stay relaxed when you shoot, because your horse usually picks up tension or anxiety that is telegraphed by the rider.
 
i have two ruger vaquero single action revolvers, chambered in .45 long colt, that i use for cowboy mounted shooting.  i shoot blank ammo for that.  the blanks are loaded with black powder and crushed corncob in order to break the balloons.  what i found out is that the smoke and fire from these loads usually bothers the horse more than the noise.
 
cowboy ed