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National Shooting Horse Association 

Standards and Safety Framework

A Clear Standard for the Shooting Horse Discipline, Issued by the National Shooting Horse Association

The NaSHA mark (NATIONAL SHOOTING HORSE ASSOCIATION™) is used in commerce in connection with the development, publication, and application of safety and horsemanship standards, guidelines, and frameworks for shooting horse educational services. The National Shooting Horse Association (NaSHA) develops and maintains standards and frameworks related to shooting horse education, clinic instruction, horse welfare, safety protocols, and skill progression.

These standards are used in NaSHA clinics, schools, educational programs, and instructor-guided environments to promote safe, ethical, and effective horsemanship.

NaSHA standards are designed to support consistent instruction, horse-first decision-making, and responsible development of shooting horses, and may evolve as the discipline grows.

Ongoing Development of Standards

NaSHA standards are living documents and may be refined as the discipline evolves, research advances, and best practices develop.

All standards and frameworks are issued under the authority of the National Shooting Horse Association and are intended to support education, safety, and responsible growth of the shooting horse discipline. These standards are publicly available on this website and are actively used in connection with NaSHA-affiliated educational services.

Interested in learning more about our standards?
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National Shooting Horse Association

NaSHA Clinic Safety Standards

Getting Started

NaSHA Clinic Safety Standards establish baseline expectations for environments in which shooting horse education occurs.

These standards include, but are not limited to:

  • Safe firearm handling protocols appropriate to educational settings

  • Clear separation of mounted and unmounted activities

  • Instructor oversight during all mounted exercises involving firearms

  • Range and arena layout considerations to minimize risk to horses and participants

  • Emergency preparedness and response planning

All NaSHA-affiliated clinics and educational programs are expected to follow these safety standards to promote responsible instruction and risk awareness.

National Shooting Horse Association

Horse Welfare Guidelines

NaSHA Horse Welfare Guidelines prioritize the physical and mental well-being of the horse throughout all stages of shooting horse education.

These guidelines emphasize:

  • Progressive exposure to firearms and stimuli

  • Respect for individual horse temperament and readiness

  • Avoidance of coercive or force-based training methods

  • Appropriate rest, recovery, and workload management

  • Humane handling and ethical horsemanship practices

NaSHA promotes a horse-first approach in which training decisions are guided by welfare, soundness, and long-term sustainability.
National Shooting Horse Association

Skill Progression Framework

The NaSHA Skill Progression Framework provides a structured approach to developing shooting horse skills in educational and clinic environments.

This framework supports:

  • Logical progression from foundational horsemanship to firearm integration

  • Instructor assessment of readiness before advancement

  • Emphasis on consistency, control, and calmness over speed or performance outcomes

  • Adaptability to different learning environments and experience levels

This framework is intended to promote thoughtful development rather than uniform timelines.

National Shooting Horse Association

Instructor and Participant Expectations

NaSHA standards include shared expectations for instructors and participants engaged in NaSHA-affiliated educational programs.

These expectations include:

  • Adherence to published NaSHA safety and welfare standards

  • Respectful conduct toward horses, participants, and instructors

  • Commitment to ethical instruction and responsible learning practices

  • Willingness to prioritize safety and welfare over individual goals

These expectations support a professional, respectful learning environment aligned with NaSHA’s mission.