Trainers
Heather Gastelum
Background:
Heather Gastelum’s journey with firearms didn’t begin in a classroom—it began at the range and in the arena.
Over 20 years ago, she entered the world of Cowboy Mounted Shooting, where speed, precision, and control are tested. She went on to serve as President and Match Director for the Western Washington Mounted Shooting Association, hosting a landmark State Shoot—the first horse event ever held at the Cle Elum Horse Park and the September 11th memorial shoot honoring our mounted shooting veterans. Along the way, she led dozens of clinics across the Northwest, helping riders safely desensitize their horses to gunfire—with a 100% success rate—and introducing countless women to firearms for the very first time.
Unlike many in the industry, Heather didn’t grow up around firearms. Her formal training journey began later in life after surprising her daughter with a trap shooting lesson—an experience that ignited a passion for learning, discipline, and skill development.
Since then, Heather has completed 150+ hours of professional firearms training.
She has trained with some of the most respected instructors in the country through Gunsite Academy, Babes with Bullets, Women’s Outdoor Media Association (WOMA), and private instruction. At Gunsite, she earned a Marksman rating in the intensive 250 Defensive Pistol course two years ago. She has also trained with Team Beretta’s Fabio Spinella and world-class shotgun instructor Nora Martin Ross.
Heather believes deeply that you never “arrive” as a shooter—you commit to continuous learning. She encourages her students to step outside their comfort zone, stay coachable, and train with humility. Growth happens when you’re willing to be pushed.
Today, Heather is a:
USCCA Certified Instructor (Concealed Carry & Home Defense Fundamentals, Women’s Handgun & Self-Defense Fundamentals)
NRA Pistol Instructor, Range Safety Officer and a Refuse to Be a Victim® Instructor
Teaching Philosophy
Heather’s teaching style is fun, direct, and grounded in real-world responsibility.
Known for her quick wit and Cowgirl Capable edge, she creates an environment where women feel both supported and challenged. Her background investigating workplace injuries and fatalities in the construction industry shaped her unwavering commitment to safety—because when it comes to firearms, there is no room for shortcuts.
But make no mistake—this is also where confidence is built.
Heather has spent decades mentoring and developing others—from young riders and competitive mounted shooters to women in construction and corporate leadership. Whether she’s handing someone their first pistol or helping them refresh their skills, her goal is always the same:
To help women walk away stronger, more capable, and confident in their ability to protect themselves and those they love.
Firearms, she believes, are more than tools—they are confidence builders, equalizers, and a pathway to personal responsibility.
And yes… they can be serious fun.
Beyond the Range
Heather is the founder of Cowgirl Capable, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on empowering women and youth through confidence, situational awareness, and hands-on training.
She is also the author of the Power Tools & Pony Tails™ children’s book series under her Hard Hat Girls brand—introducing the next generation to skilled trades, construction safety, and strong female role models.
Cowboy Mounted Shooting Highlights
2006 CMSA Ladies 1 Western National Champion
2006 CMSA Ladies 2 World Champion
2008 Washington State Ladies 2 Champion
2009 CMSA Western Regional L3 Reserve Champion
2010 CMSA NW Shootout Ladies 3 Champion
2011 CMSA High Point WA State Champion Cowgirl
2011 NW Regional Ladies 3 Champion
2012 CMSA WWMS Top 5 Sharpshooter
2012 CMSA NW Regional Ladies 3 Champion
Taylor Little
Taylor serves as the Operations Manager and Instructor at Sharp Shooting Indoor Range and Gun Shop in Spokane, WA, her hometown. She is a certified instructor with the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC), where she specializes in qualifying retired law enforcement officers and certifying armed security personnel. Recently, she was certified as a CJTC firearms contractor with the Spokane Police Academy, where she will be training incoming cadets. Notably, she is the only female instructor currently serving with the Academy.
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Although firearms were not a part of her upbringing, like so many of us, she was introduced to the world of shooting over a decade ago when her stepfather invited her to learn how to shoot at her future employer, Sharp Shooting in Spokane.
This experience ignited a passion within her that led her to regularly participate in their United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) shoots.
Subsequently, she joined their Sharp Shooting team, which initiated her professional journey in the firearms industry. Shortly after entering the industry, she regularly participated in USPSA-style handgun matches. Over the past six years, she has competed in various divisions, with Carry Optics and Open Classes standing out as her preferred categories. Competition shooting not only encourages continual learning and improvement but also provides networking opportunities.
Outside competitions, Taylor cherishes spending quality time with her family and indulging in outdoor pursuits like hunting and fishing.
Taylor began her firearm instructor path three years ago after earning her National Rifle Association instructor certification which simply marked the beginning of her instructor journey teaching roughly 100 classes annually: Women & Guns, Women Conceal Carry, Basic Handgun Safety, Marksmanship, and Private Lessons as well as her Certified Firearms Instructor for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) where she re-certifies retired Law Enforcement Officers to Carry Concealed as part of the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (LEOSA). Additionally, as part of her CJTC role, she certifies armed guards to be able to carry their firearms on the job. She is also a Certified Range Officer with the U.S. Practical Shooter Association.
Fast forward, and she currently has the privilege of leading their specialized Women-only classes at Sharp Shooting Spokane, a role with responsibility she holds near and dear to her heart. She has witnessed firsthand the empowerment gained by the women she has had the honor to work with, helping them gain proficiency in their ability to defend themselves, which, as you can imagine, brings her immense satisfaction.
Taylor has also served as the Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission (WA CJTC) Instructor since the beginning of 2023. This experience of working with and re-certifying former law enforcement officers to carry throughout the country has further enhanced her commitment to firearms education and safety.
Taylor’s dedication to continued learning, passing on her knowledge to her students, and helping them grow continues to be a focus, in addition to growing her competition resume.
Some of Taylor’s Wins:
- 2023 5th place Overall at Rugar’s Lightweight Compact Pistol (LCP) Competition
- 2023 2nd Place Limited C Class Inland Empire Sectionals
- 2022 Top Female Shooter at The Jägermeister
- 2022 2nd place Limited C class Inland Empire sectionals
Megan Hughes
Megan has been an active United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) member since 2020. She has shot in the limited, carry optics, PCC, and now open divisions.
Until she met her husband, most of Megan’s experience around firearms included stand and shoot practice with revolvers and lever action rifles. Now, she travels around the country, shooting in as many matches as she can. Starting from soda cans to participating in competitions, she’s traveled all the way to Talladega for USPSA Nationals and consistently works as an RO for most local and major matches in the area. She is also an active member of the Glock Sport Shooting Foundation. She reloads her own ammunition for her competition open gun and enjoys learning more about the sport every day.
Megan loves instructing others in many forms, as a personal trainer, and with firearms.
“My goal in life is to help people (women in particular) feel empowered and more at home in their bodies. We are so often encouraged to take up less space. My approach involves reclaiming our space and our confidence. Whether it be through lifting weights or becoming more familiar with firearms, education is the map, and I want to help you navigate it.”
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In her free time, Megan jokes that she’s either at home, at the gym, or on the range. She loves spending time with her husband and her two dogs.
Megan’s Wins:
2024
- Area 1: 5th Overall Open Lady, 3rd C Class Open Lady, 8th Overall C Class Open
- Area 1: 6th Lady PCC
2023
- Nationals: 7th Lady B Class PCC
- Idaho Sectional: 5th Overall Lady, 10th Overall PCC, 3rd B Class PCC
- Inland Empire Sectional: 7th Overall Lady, 10th Overall PCC, 3rd B Class PCC
2022
- Area 1: 5th Overall Lady PCC, 1st C Class PCC
- Inland Empire Sectional: 7th Overall Lady, 9th Overall PCC, 1st C Class PCC
2021
- Port Townsend Sectional: 4th Overall Lady Limited
Lynn Breakey Clark
Our Dutch Oven Demo Cowgirl | Lifelong Adventurer | Mountain Cook Extraordinaire
Let me introduce you to one hell of a woman—Lynn Breakey Clark. She grew up on a small farm in Whatcom County with a fearless spirit and a father who always told her, “You can be and do anything you want.” She took that to heart and has lived her life with grit, grace, and a wild streak of adventure.
Her first solo journey? As a teenager, she saddled up two horses, brought her ¾-wolf dog, and rode for four days over Whatcom and Hannegan Passes, down the Little Beaver Trail to Ross Lake, and back toward Mount Baker. That set the tone for a lifetime of bold choices.
At 18, Lynn was crew on a racing sailboat and was invited on an all-women’s sailing trip to Samoa. She turned it down to stay in school—and instantly regretted it. From that moment on, she made a vow to never pass up another opportunity. And she hasn’t.
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She’s sailed, skydived, hang-glided, scuba-dived, lived in Europe for five years, driven long-haul semis, and spent decades riding and packing horses through the backcountry. For over 26 years, she cooked on the Ride to Rendezvous and still lends her talents to special events when she feels like it. These days, she mostly cooks and rides for her own trips into the mountains with her family—but she’s making a special appearance at Cowgirl Capable this year to share her Dutch oven magic.
Lynn also taught school for 46 years, started a small business that still operates today, and is a firm believer in self-reliance. She’s an NRA supporter, holds a concealed carry permit, and has handled a firearm when needed—whether to feed her babies or end the suffering of an injured horse in the wilderness.
One of my favorite stories she shared? After her divorce, with two small kids, a $700/month paycheck, and her back against the wall, she saw a yearling elk grazing with the cattle. She shot it, hauled it home with her horse, butchered it on the kitchen counter using a Betty Crocker cookbook as a guide, and tanned the hide herself. That hide still hangs in her bunkhouse.
Lynn is living proof that age doesn’t dull courage, and that capable women only get bolder with time. We’re honored to have her join us for a special Dutch oven cooking demo this year—you’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you might just walk away with a new hero.
It ain’t the clothes that make the cowgirl, it’s the attitude and the heart.
