There are few things more exciting in a horseperson’s life than the arrival of a new horse. Country superstar and experienced horsewoman Miranda Lambert took to Instagram to announce the arrival of her latest family member, a gorgeous chestnut paint gelding with wide white blaze named Cool.
Lambert wrote on her account: “Y’all please welcome the newest member of our farmily [sic]. This is “Cool”. He is one of the sweetest horses I’ve ever met. He does it all with grace and patience and has already taught me so much.”
The avid rider and animal lover (she’s rescued countless dogs, cats, and horses) also revealed she’s taken up a new equestrian sport – cowboy mounted sharp shooting. “In the last few months I’ve picked up the hobby of mounted shooting and in the process I’ve made some amazing new friends including this handsome fella.”
According to the American Quarter Horse Association, the event is timed and uses balloons attached to stands or poles that are set up in one of 50 patterns. Riders shoot with .45 caliber, single-action revolvers that are loaded with five rounds of black-powder blanks which have an effective range of 10-15 feet. The rider must cock his or her gun between shots and must holster the first gun before unholstering the second, all while galloping! If you miss a balloon, you get penalized. To show your versatility, riders can opt to compete in a rifle class, where they must do five rounds with the pistol, then five with the rifle.
Lambert posted video of her and Cool running through their paces and you can practically feel her excitement. “He came at the perfect time in my life when I needed a challenge and to try something new. I turned 40 in November and I’m ready for a decade of pushing myself to be better and bolder both personally and professionally. This feels like the perfect beginning to that journey.”
Lambert concludes by thanking professional horse trainer and shooting coach, Arizona-based Kenda Lenseigne, who has Overall World Championship and Overall National Championship titles.
If you’d like to learn more about the sport, visit the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association website. It’s a great resource to find a trainer, watch videos, and keep track of rankings.
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