The horses they were using must have been deaf. Try cranking off a .45 Colt round a few inches from the average horse's ear, and see what happens!
Jerry
I've known some horses that were broke to it. I have a couple young ones now that will be in fact. They also sell ear plugs for the ponies too.
I've read the cavalry used to puncture eardrums but I'm not sure if that was for gunfire or artillery or both.
