IMPROVE THE RIDER.
IMPROVE THE HORSE.
IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE.

I came to Carrie as a first-time horse owner with zero riding experience—let alone any knowledge of cowboy mounted shooting—and the past three years have been nothing short of life-changing. Carrie took me and my horse under her wing and helped us build a strong, trusting partnership from the ground up. Her guidance has given me a solid foundation in horsemanship, always prioritizing safety while also encouraging us to have fun and be competitive. Thanks to her, I’ve gained confidence, and my horse and I have developed into a team I could have only dreamed of. Every session with Carrie has been a joy, and the progress we’ve made together has exceeded all my expectations. She truly has a gift for bringing out the best in both horse and rider. I can't recommend Carrie enough—she's transformed my horsemanship journey, and I’ll always be grateful.

Carrie is an excellent rider, having mastered the disciplines of dressage and jumping, she is able to transfer her skills into the training of horses for any discipline indcluding western, shooting, or roping. She puts a great "handle" on any horse she trains. She also has the unique ability to explain and teach these skills to riders of any level. She has been a frggeat help to our horses and a joy to take lessons from. She has great discernment in matching horses with riders and has found a couple of very nice matches for us. And she's fun to be around!

Learning from Carrie has been a game changer for my horsemanship and shooting skills. From competition mindset, course management, to understanding your horse’s individual style, you will walk away with gold nuggets every time you step a hoof in her arena. Carrie has the ability to challenge you in a fun yet constructive way and nothing feels better than hearing her cheer after a run well done.

The little things she notices make up the big things when it comes to speed, accuracy, and efficiency on a pattern. She knows when to push you and when to let you gain confidence with a maneuver.  Her arena side coaching and pattern strategy at a competition are tailored to you and your horse, and her post run reviews leave you feeling positive about the outcome, even if you left a few balloons standing. 

The community she’s created at “Team H” is second to none and I have felt like family since the first day I met her. Carrie’s passion towards horses and mounted shooting have led her to create a movement inside the sport with a vision to improve the experience for all competitors.

A horsewoman, businesswoman, and friend to so many; Carrie is full of heart and when your path crosses with hers she will give you all she has every time.

I first met Carrie in Arizona at a clinic in 2020 where I was suitably impressed with her knowledge, professionalism, and ability to effectively communicate to all levels of riders. I knew that when I next came down to Arizona I’d find a way to attend clinics and lessons with her. As a less seasoned rider I knew that my area of growth had to be in relearning how to properly and effectively ride.

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When it comes to teaching (in my case reteaching) how to correctly ride, Carrie is hands down at the top. I refer to myself as a work in progress because Carrie has been changing my old ineffective riding skills into new efficient horsemanship habits. She continues to be patient and specific with me. I stalked her at the 2022 Las Vegas shoot and told her I’d be coming to ride with her over the winter. I have been working with her since January 2023 attending as many clinics and lessons as I can fit in when I’m in Arizona. I absolutely love working with this beautiful lady.

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No lesson or clinic is the same. All instructions and information is individualized. She knows when to demand more of you and your horse. Carrie has a knack for creating breakdown drills and progressing them into shooting patterns that can be used at home so they can be fine tuned. I have not only improved with my riding ability but my self confidence in both my shooting sport and overall horsemanship has grown tremendously.

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Carrie will continue to be a clinician that I work with in the future.

When it came time for us to pull young Rey out of the pasture, we did a lot of research into different trainers trying to find one that had the background and knowledge for where we wanted Rey to end up. Then we found Carrie. 

We made the trip from Montana to Arizona to meet her and talk about our plan. Our major worry was the distance and being able to see the progress, but Carrie aleviated all hurdles by regularly sending texts and videos of his progress along the way.

 Carrie took Rey from an untouched 3 year old and brought him to exactly where I needed him for speed, control, and ease of handling. We believe she's so successful due to her extensive background in multiple disciplines and understanding of each individual horse and her drive to be the best. We recommend Carrie to everyone with a horse looking to succeed. She takes pride in what she does, and it shows! Proud member of Team H!

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I took my first lesson from Carrie Hirshberg towards the end of 2022.  I was 52 years old and had been a team roper, barrel racer and casual rider for 35+ years. I thought I knew how to ride but shortly learned I knew how to stay on, not so much ride and there is a difference.  I was feeling stuck as a Level 3 shooter and was not progressing. 

Carrie immediately started critiquing my riding style from my toes to my head, quite literally!  What I didn't realize at first was that by her correcting my riding she was also correcting my struggles with missed shots, my horse dropping his shoulder and blowing out of turns, losing time in my holster changes, the list goes on.  She critiqued my tack and my equipment which also created big changes in my riding and my horse's movements.  I began to see my times decrease and started winning literally after just a handful of lessons. In 2023, just a few months after my 1st lesson, I won a total of 8 buckles with 2 of them being majors and 1  being a Overall Senior Buckle.  I am now 1 win away from being a SL5 and am running SL6 times! 

I noticed that during my runs instead of me feeling like I was desperately giving everything I had to stay in the saddle and feeling terrified, I began feeling confident and riding a fast horse became easy for me!   So, if you have been riding forever and feel some horsemanship lessons would not benefit you, think again.  I guarantee Carrie will be able to correct something, no matter what level shooter you are or what level of a rider you think you might be.

What I love about Carrie, is she was willing to find time around my work schedule to get me in for clinics and private lessons.  Her clinics have a perfect balance of horsemanship, shooting, and fun!  She is honest and tells it like it is which is what I needed.  She corrects things from the very first lesson and does it in a manner in which you see results almost immediately.  Whenever I feel stuck with myself or my horse she is always willing to answer my texts and/or phone calls to help me out. 

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Carrie is an outstanding coach who has significantly improved my riding abilities! Since working with her, I have begun to communicate more accurately with my horses, and they respond more efficiently making us a more competitive team! Her ability to break down techniques and tailor her approach to each horse and rider has made a meaningful difference in my confidence and skill! 

 What sets Carrie apart is her ability to teach. She has deep equestrian knowledge and expertise gained from years immersed in the profession, but she communicates it all in such a clear and understandable way!! She brings her wealth of experience to every lesson, offering insights and solutions that only come from a true passion for the craft. 

 Carrie is also a source of invaluable advice on horse health, including nutrition. My horses had difficulty keeping weight on. Carrie proactively reached out to me and quickly identified solutions that have made a world of difference. 

 Carrie’s facility is another huge plus. It’s well laid out, safe, and easy to use, making it a pleasure to train in such a welcoming environment. Carrie takes the time to ensure the arena is well groomed and equipment is in good working condition, ready to go. This level of professionalism not only helps me focus on riding, but also ensures a productive and smooth session every time. 

 Her attention to detail is remarkable. Every lesson is thoughtfully prepared. I can’t recommend Carrie enough for anyone looking to improve their horsemanship in a supportive and expertly managed setting!

In just a couple years, Carrie has transformed me from a beginner rider into a confident and competitive mounted shooter. She introduced me to the sport of mounted shooting, prepared and guided me through my very first shoot, let me borrow all the tack and equipment I needed to get started before buying my own, and continues to coach me at events.

Not only did she facilitate the successful sale of my non-shooting horse, but she also found me and my husband our dream shooting horses. I bought a 3-year-old from Carrie’s training program as a solid and finished shooting partner, ready to compete and have fun!

I attend Carrie’s clinics every Saturday - they are always jam packed with information, from stretches, two point and shooting positions, to drills and running patterns, there’s so many “a-ha” lightbulb moments to walk away with! Her experience and passion for teaching sets each individual team up for success no matter what level they are at. I look forward to each clinic to keep learning new skills and building my relationship with my horse. 

The Hirshberg’s genuinely care about every single person and horse they encounter and have been an impactful part of my horsemanship journey. Their combined knowledge and endless support is invaluable, and I’m grateful to be part of this amazing team!

I am thrilled to share my experience with Carrie at Hirshberg Performance Horsemanship. As someone with no prior experience in horsemanship, I set out with a goal to participate in cowboy mounted shooting. My journey began with a stroke of luck when I found Carrie, who has proven to be an exceptional instructor.

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Carrie’s expertise and dedication have been instrumental in my progress. Thanks to her patient and insightful teaching, I’ve successfully advanced through the ranks in cowboy mounted shooting. It’s clear that Carrie’s impact extends beyond just my own experience—her clinics are renowned for significantly improving the skills of all riders. Advanced riders frequently join her sessions for a "tune up", and they always leave with noticeable enhancements in their abilities.

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If you’re looking for top-notch instruction and a transformative learning experience in equestrian sports at a really nice facility, I highly recommend Carrie and Hirshberg Performance Horsemanship. She truly stands out as the best in the field!