About Horseback Archery

Modern Day Horseback Archery

  • Sport: Today, horseback archery is practiced both as a competitive sport and as a recreational activity. It has seen a resurgence in recent years, with national and international competitions. It’s a sport that requires precision, timing, and a high degree of coordination between the rider and the horse.

  • Traditional Practice: Many people today practice horseback archery to preserve historical traditions and as a way to connect with past cultures.

Techniques and Equipment:

  • Bow and Arrows: Horseback archery often uses a short, recurved bow that is easier to handle while riding. The arrows used are typically longer than traditional archery arrows due to being lighter poundage bow.

  • Recurve Bows: The bows used in horseback archery are typically smaller and more lightweight. This design allows the archer to shoot more easily while maintaining balance on horseback. Another key difference is that the arrows are shot off the hand not a bow shelf.

  • Grip and Draw: One of the unique aspects of horseback archery is the technique for drawing and shooting the bow. There are many types of draws including mediterranean, Thumb and Slavic

  • Riding Style: The rider must be able to maintain control of the horse while simultaneously shooting. This requires strong horsemanship and the ability to coordinate the horse’s movement with the archery shot.

Getting Started:

  • Lessons: If you're interested in horseback archery, it’s highly recommended to first have a solid foundation in both archery and horsemanship. Many schools and clubs around the world offer lessons for beginners.

  • Horses: Horses used for horseback archery are often trained to be calm and responsive to the movements of the archer. It’s important to work with a horse that is both comfortable with movement and responsive to cues.

  • Safety: As with any sport involving horses and weapons, safety is paramount. Proper training, equipment, and precautions should be taken to avoid injury to both the rider and the horse.

Horseback Archery

Horseback archery is a dynamic and traditional skill that combines the art of archery with the skill of horseback riding. It involves shooting arrows while riding a horse, often at targets during high-speed manoeuvres. Historically, it was a crucial part of warfare, especially in the Mongol Empire, and in various other cultures, including those of the Turks, Koreans, and Hungarians.

Historical Background

  • Ancient Warfare: Horseback archery was a highly effective form of combat in ancient times. The combination of mobility, speed, and the ability to shoot while on the move made mounted archers formidable opponents on the battlefield. The Mongols, for example, were renowned for their use of horseback archers in battle, and it contributed significantly to their success in creating one of the largest empires in history.

  • Cultural Importance: In various cultures, horseback archery was not just a military skill, but also a sport and a way of life. It was often practiced in nomadic cultures, where horses were central to daily life.

Benefits of Horseback Archery

  • Physical Coordination: Practicing horseback archery builds excellent hand-eye coordination, strength, and endurance for both the rider and the horse.

  • Mental Focus: It also requires intense focus and concentration, as the archer must manage the horse, the bow, and the target simultaneously.

  • Connection with Tradition: For many, horseback archery is about connecting with the past, learning about ancient cultures, and preserving a traditional art form.

Worldwide

  • International Organizations: There are international organizations like the International Horseback Archery Alliance (IHAA), and World Federation of Equestrian Archery (WFEA): which work to preserve and promote the sport around the world, and to facilitate competitions.

  • The Governing Body for Britain is the British Horseback Archery Association.