영국의 기사

No-one can say with any certainty when archers started shooting from horseback. They cannot even say when the bow was first developed.

As you can imagine it would have been a steady progression, once it was realised that it gave an advantage , not only in hunting because animals are less wary when the hunter is on horseback, but also in manoevrability in battle -the Horseback Archer’s of Genghis Khan were infamous for playing such an important part in his victories throughout Europe.

Certainly there are sculptures, plaques and paintings depicting Horseback Archery in the ancient kingdoms of Syria, Egypt and Mesopotamia.

In England, longbow archers travelled on horseback, and one reference refers to shortening one stirrup to aid shooting of this bow when mounted, obviously an advantage if ambushed, if not in actual battle.

Image to the right is a 15th Century painting depicting longbow archers shooting from horseback on their was to Agincourt.

Early UK pioneers in the reintroduction of Horseback Archery include UK bowyer Edward McEwan, who specialised in making horn and sinew composites from the 1970’s, and shot them from horseback. While his style was often criticised, this was usually from the ground by those who never intended to put foot to stirrup!

Early experiments included a group of Horseback Archer’s recruited from foresters in Hungary by archer-historian Dr Fabian, for a TV programme in the 1960’s, based on Dr Fabians research and reproductions of bows found in Hungarian graves.  Videos exist of women rangers in the US in the 1930s shooting bows from horseback.  We are sure there is more to be found!

In Europe, a form of training developed by Lajos  Kassai in Hungary was perfectly timed to accord with a renewed worldwide interest in HBA; his skills and those of his pupils are astonishing, and his form of competition allows for archers (and horses) of all abilities to achieve reasonable scores and progress logically. In 1994 archer Mike Ashington invited fellow archers Martin Knight to visite Kassai’s valley to take part in competition; they were accompanied by SPTA founder Hilary Greenland, who learnt a great deal there, and after being inspired by English yabusamé Terence Woolley, has been supporting efforts to get sporting Horseback Archery started in the UK ever since.

The yabusamé of Japan are unique, having continued their formalised horseback shooting at Shinto shrines for 100’s of years.

Nowadays there are Horseback Archers from all cultures and countries taking part and showing their skills, many rediscovering their Horseback Archery heritage. There are as many different styles of competition as there are bows used in the sport.

There is room for everyone -whether you wish to compete internationally, or enjoy practice at home, and whatever style you wish to pursue.