STRIVE TO THRIVE

Resource & Service Fair

Tuesday, July 25 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 Grace Blvd. in Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

Douglas County families who are struggling financially can receive backto-school items for the kids, a hot meal and access resources from more than 20 different organizations. Attendees in need of school supplies must preregister at https://tinyurl.com/4jafend For more information, visit douglas.co.us and search for Strive to Thrive

What’s happening with your County government?

Our commitment to open and transparent government includes online posting of information about public meetings at which the business of government is conducted. To view public meeting agendas, participate in-person or remotely, or watch select meetings, visit douglas.co.us and search for Business Meetings.

SHOOTING him but that’s not even the coolest part. He was only 2 years old at the time. I recall making the joke to one of my fellow shooters that while I was new at shooting, my horse was new at life. So, there I was in my rookie season of mounted shooting with a 2-year-old, grade, paint colt that I had owned for less than six months. In October of 2020, Flynn and I were on the board for the CMSA Rookie of the Year Standings. While we only stayed in the top 10 for a few months, just to be among some of the best of the rookies was an accomplishment and an honor. In January of 2021 Flynn and I got our rst class win in the Ladies Level 1. At the Colorado State Championship in May of 2021, less than a year from my start, Flynn and I were the reserve champions for the Ladies Division A. e next year, in January of 2022, we leveled up to Level 2 and once again went to the State Championship and came home as reserve champions for the Ladies Division A. Since then, we’ve been working our way up to the Level 2 class wins and can’t wait to compete at the 2023 State Championship in Estes Park at the end of August.

What makes a good mounted shooter?

Good horsemanship. is may seem like a simple answer, but it is showing, ranch riding, speed events, gymkhana, trail, roping — but none of it has pushed me as much as mounted shooting does. Mounted shooting requires consistent, highlevel horsemanship at all times. One thing I loved about mounted shooting from the very beginning is that I felt that I was suddenly surrounded by a group of highly talented horsemen and women, more so than in other equestrian sports I had done. A good mounted shooter is someone who is patient, who trains hard, and who understands the values of basic horsemanship and holds themself to a high standard of what good horsemanship is. Something I always tell people about mounted shooting is that we can teach anyone to hold a gun and point it and pull the trigger, that’s easy, but the riding ability you must have and the level of talent these horses have to have is what makes this sport so challenging but also so rewarding once you commit to it. e competitive shooting community is incredible. ese riders genuinely want each other to do the best they can, even if it means your biggest competition is someone you are rooting for. As I said earlier, Lea Anne showed me the ropes of mounted shooting and truly wanted me to have the chance at this sport. She did not have to go out of her way to lend me equipment and coach me through my rst shoot, but she did, and I am so thankful for that type of mentality. It’s a breath of fresh air to feel the camaraderie that mounted shooters have with each other, and when I was a new shooter, a ton of the other shooters were coming to me asking if I needed anything or if I had questions and were always cheering me on when I went into the arena. Many of them lent me guns, holsters, earplugs, and other tack before I had my own equipment. at is not something that happens all the time in other riding clubs and other equestrian sports. One thing I love about mounted shooting is that the competitors take care of each other like family, and you always know that someone has your back no matter what it is. When you win, everyone is happy for you and proud to cheer on their fellow shooters. to you also which yourself ing it from shooters to people questions. before.

What is the competitive mounted shooting community like?

Are there opportunities for kids/teens to get involved with the sport?

When I say mounted shooting is a family sport, I mean literally a family sport. Kids and teens are 100% welcome and supported in this sport. For our kiddos under 12 years old we have our Wrangler Open and Wrangler Limited divisions. Essentially, kids ride the same pattern as the adult shooters, but they aren’t shooting the actual ammunition yet. ey carry the guns and practice the motions of shooting to learn how to handle rearms on their horse. Some of them shoot cap guns for fun and practice. ey are still timed and ranked based on who is the fastest and can win awards for their class. Since the Wranglers don’t shoot on horseback, they have the option to participate in ground shooting at the beginning of each shoot (shooting live rounds at targets while they are stationary and on foot) with the supervision of our advanced adult shooters. is way they learn how to use and be safe with rearms and get to ride their horses and let me tell you, some of these kids are quick. It’s always fun to see our Wranglers nally get to do their rst real shoot when they turn 12 because they usually come out and beat all us old folks. So for any tween/teen ages 12 and up, they compete in the same divisions I described above and can level up just the same as the adults.

What advice do you have for people who would like to get involved in the sport of mounted shooting?