National Shooting Horse Association
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Hadn’t I Heard about this before?
There are a few reasons — the biggest being that we’ve spent the last several years quietly working through the trademark process and building a foundation before going public.
And truthfully? Because that's not how we do things. There are a lot of conversations in this sport, with a lot of people talking and making claims - but not many people actually following through. That’s not a criticism — it’s just human nature. We’ve taken time to consult a small circle of trusted individuals and focus on developing something real and sustainable before asking others to get involved.
How will NaSHA track earnings?
Most horsemen in the sport recognize this as the single biggest factor holding mounted shooting back from broader recognition. Right now, there's no such thing as a 'proven shooting horse' on paper, with data to back it up. It's almost unbelievable, considering there are horses in this sport with fifty, sixty, even a hundred thousand dollars in winnings, documented only through riders’ personal notes. To be clear, we’re not creating a competing or separate earnings system. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel when proven organizations already specialize in that.
What we are prepared to do is collect and standardize event data from producers, organize it in the format EquiStat requires, and help get mounted shooting horses represented alongside reining, cutting, barrel racing, and other established performance disciplines. NaSHA values privacy and integrity — we do not sell, share, or misuse competitor or event data. Our purpose is to celebrate accomplishment, not collect information.
Why are you focusing on clinics and lessons?
What we’ve identified as the second biggest factor limiting growth in this sport is the barrier to getting started. We’re not here to tell anyone how to teach. We're building a framework and curriculum that make it easier for new clinicians and instructors to create safe, structured learning experiences. The goal is to provide a pathway and a standard, not a rulebook.
We’re seeking current clinician input every step of the way, but that's pretty hard to obtain, for various reasons. Regardless, we're forging ahead because until mounted shooting has a consistent, accessible way to introduce and retain new riders — rather than overwhelm or lose them — the sport will struggle to reach its full potential.
We are the National Shooting Horse Association (NaSHA) —
Here for the horse. Always.