Horses and Guns

[MadWoman]

Strange question, but I do re-enactment with my horse and am currently training him to gunfire. I know the classic method is to fire while horses are being fed, but with Archie at full livery I don't have the opportunity to do that. Following advice from others in my regiment, I therefore just 'went for it' with him and fired two shots off him from my black powder carbine last Saturday which he took very well - the second shot we only cantered a couple of strides and he seemed reasonably happy. Thinking that he was doing really well, and wanting to get him as used to it as possible, I decided to fire off him again on Sunday. He was absolutely happy with me waving the gun around on him, but when I came to flash the pan before firing he freaked: he went one way and I went the other (and I'm still hobbling now).
I am understandably slightly wary of firing off him again straight away, as I don't think my hip is up to being fallen on yet again. Does anyone out there have any ideas of how to get him used to the sound without making him frightened of the gun? He is quite intelligent, and after he saw muskets being fired last year wouldn't go within 10ft of one lying on the ground, but he has never been frightened by the appearance of my carbine and I want to keep it that way.
HELP!

[Wally]

If you get in touch with the BBC they will give you the address of Gerrard Naprous, he is a stunt rider and horse trainer who is widely used in film and TV.

I saw him do a display where he entered the BEC firing two shot guns, he made his horse lie down while he lay behind it's belly firing over the top, the horse never flinched!

All this while several others galloped in circles firing hand guns.

[Dizzy]

Hi Madwoman, I'm afraid I have no advise to offer you, but I have seen a small documentary on the TV about the man Wally mentioned, the horses he has trained are amazing. If you do contact him, let us know the outcome.

You could also contact the horse handlers/trainers in the forces or even the police, I'm sure they'll also beable to help.

Lesley

[MadWoman]

Thanks everyone. Dizzy, having ridden with the Household Cavalry they are definitely NOT an authority on producing bomb-proof horses! Certanly the ones I rode were froghtened of both landrovers and marching squads, which is a bit concerning for army horses!
Wally/Dizzy: I've seen one of Gerard Naprous' displays and spoken with some of his riders, but didn't realise that they used guns - I saw a mediaeval display. Thanks for the tip, I will see if I can get in touch, and in the meantime I think I'll Try him on a lunge rein with someone firing nearby and give him a carrot as soon as he calms down after each shot.