Chat with a Champ

Today at the shop I received a phone call from one of my favorite Cowboy Mounted Shooters, Andra Olsen. Andra is one of the top Mounted Shooters in the world (currently ranked #2) and she actually "gives me the time of day", which isn't all too uncommon in this industry as there aren't too many of us. The difference with Andra is she doesn't come across at all as being above others, and believe me, she can out ride most with one arm tied behind her back. I believe she actually likes talking to me just as much as I enjoy talking to her. She is approachable which is very important to any professional who promotes themselves and has a business based on who they are. My store carries the Cowboy Mounted Shooting training DVD's that Andra & her business partner, Mounted Shooter Jim Hanson made. There is a series of 4 tapes available and I sell quite a few of them. We had a wonderful conversation and I can't wait to meet her someday soon, I hope. For now, I'll continue to enjoy chatting with her.


I really enjoy promoting my sport. Mounted Shooting is the fastest growing equestrian sport in the country and BOY IS IT FUN!!! My husband, who hadn't really ridden a horse until we purchased our small family farm 4 years ago, took a liking to it when he watched it on TV right after we got his horse. You see, my husband is quite competitive and there's nothing he won't try. I'll never forget the night he called me into our living room to see Mounted Shooting on TV for the first time. He pointed to the TV and said "honey, that's what I want to do". I chuckled. "Yeah, right, "Learn how to ride first, then we'll talk" as I strutted out of the room, the experienced horse person that I am. Well, as with everything my husband does, he threw himself into it 200% and the following Spring he was a Cowboy Mounted Shooter. The following year he won the Massachusetts State Championship in his division and I couldn't have been prouder. Next thing I knew my husband was strutting around the house wearing his big belt buckle. The year after that, well, he put me in my place and won the Page Family point race, beating me in most shoots that year. Now don't get me wrong, I still did well in the ladies division and I did warm up his horse for him and I did...... actually, he was doing great!


This year I've made my comeback, kickin butt in the arena and savin face in the Page Family point race. We'll see what the end of the year brings, but I don't see how he'll ever catch up with me!!! So I'll try to be an approachable champ. I don't want the kids to feel they can't come to me just because I'm beating daddy. I want to have the grace of Andra Olsen, and her riding/shooting skills wouldn't be too bad either!




My husband, Patrick at the Massachusetts State Championship, winning his division!