Horse training

[victorcharlie]

I've got a Tennessee Walking mare that I'd love to train to shoot off of.  Any advise appreciated.

[tacklebury]

Start with a CO2 air pistol first.  If it balks at that, you may have issues.  If it is cool with the air pistol, use a .22 revolver with shorts in it.  Then graduate to .22 LR and then if all that works, you should be able to graduate to the .45's, .44's or .38's.  It's typically easier to start younger, but nothing says they have to be young to get accustom to it. 

[AtlLaw]

+1 on what T'bury said.   
 
The Walker gelding I used to ride was pretty laid back and would quickly get used to just about anything I did.  The same with my Appendix Quarter Horse.  On the other hand, my grade mare, while a great trail horse, could be real spooky about some things.  And my Quarter Horse mare was a basket case!  Always!!   
 
Whatever the horse's temperment, I darn sure wouldn't start with shooting from his/her back though.  I'd (slowly) work up to it (noise and distance wise) to where I could shoot while standing in front of the horse holding the rains.   

[Dee]

I've got a Tennessee Walking mare that I'd love to train to shoot off of.  Any advise appreciated.

I used to hunt duck and geese off my horses when I was a kid. You could walk right up on them when close to the bank. Then I found out the game warden didn't like my idea.
I started them (the horses) with a 22 pistol my grandma had, from the ground. I would shoot into the ground when the horse wasn't lookin several times to see what kind of a reaction I got. If that went well, I would be in a safe area riding, and would fire a round of "unexpectedly" and see how that went. I usually picked a plowed (unplanted) field for that. It was a little progression, but usually you'll get a pretty good idea of how it will go if you know your horse.

[AtlLaw]

I usually picked a plowed (unplanted) field for that.