Mounted Archery Class

In 2013, I taught a class on Mounted Archery at the Hornwood Archery event in June and at the Pennsic War. This introductory class covered the basics of mounted archery, including what is involved, equipment used and how people can get involved. Equestrian authorization requirements were also discussed.  This class was intended to introduce participants to Mounted Archery and prepare them to get involved in this exciting, fun sport.

                Introduction: 

Mounted archery traces its origins back into ancient times -  as seen in Assyrian bas reliefs. When mounted archers are mentioned, most people think of the Mongol warriors and Japanese Samurai. The Mongols were thought to have been able to conquer so many lands through the use of their superior mounted archery skills. The Samurai were originally trained in bow and horse before known for their swords. The Hungarian horse archer was also very formidable. 

Part 1-----Mounted archery as practiced in the world

Mounted archery is practiced throughout the World, by re-creation and living history groups as well as sports organizations like those in Europe which hold International Competitions. One of the most well-known mounted archers is Lagos Kassai who won the European Archery Competition. He trains mounted archers, makes bows and teaches. Hungarian style horse archery is often practiced in an open field sometimes utilizing a ditch or lane to guide the horse. They shoot at a variety of targets.  

Yabusame Japanese horse archery

As noted, the Samurai were well known for their skill with the bow while mounted.  Their  asymmetrical bows are specially designed for shooting from horseback. As with other Japanese martial styles, mounted archery became formalized as a sport, which is known as Yabusame. This is the form that we use in the SCA. The horse is guided into a lane, so that the rider releases the reins (laying them on the horse's neck within reach for retrieval) and shoots at targets to the side of the lane at various gaits. In the SCA, we also recreate aspects of archery as practiced in Persia and the Middle East.  This includes replicating skills used in hunting, and shooting at targets on top of poles which is highly documentable from history.

Part 2-- Mounted archery in the SCA

Mounted archery has been practiced in the SCA for nearly a decade. In Æthelmearc we have been doing it for about 7 years. This is one of the fastest growing areas of equestrian. For the last two years, the Inter-Kingdom Equestrian Competition (similar to the Inter-Kingdom Archery Competition in that it has standardized procedures and scores are collected throughout the Known World) has been based solely on mounted archery. Prior to that, it was based on the equestrian skill tests such as beheading the enemy, tilting the rings and reeds,.  Mounted archery was an additional area where scores were recorded but did not count for the competition.  That was changed to reflect the greater interest and emphasis on mounted archery. As noted above, we practice in the Japanese style.
 

Part 3---  Mounted archery vs target archery

Mounted archery differs from target archery obviously by the use a horse.  But there are things that are less obvious. We don't stand at a line and shoot together.  Instead, riders compete one at a time and the horse runs down the lane as the other mounted archers wait to the side. The backdrop is altered as we shoot down towards the ground, so the range requirements differ. Because we are in motion, which could result in accidental triggering, cross bows are not permitted. 

The horse as a factor must be considered. The addition of a living, thinking creature must be considered in this equation. Therefore equestrian marshals exclusively monitor and supervise this activity. Horses react to stimuli and must be specially trained for this activity. The rider has to control themselves and their bow - but also the horse- --its direction, speed and gait. To maintain a good steady pace ensures a stable platform for the mounted archer.

Part 4---  Mounted archery equipment

Mounted archery uses the same equipment standards as target archery.  Pre 17th C. type equipment is used as much as possible. Period materials for the bow are encouraged but fiberglass bows

are allowed as they are in Target Archery. No crossbows are allowed as noted earlier. Bow poundage at this time is still limited to 35 and less but this is set to change.  Generally, most riders use lighter poundage bows on horseback and many utilize Mongolian or Hungarian style horse bows. Wooden arrows with feather fletching are used but combat arrows are also allowed.  In some kingdoms they are experimenting with combat archery from horseback.

THL Meadhbh on the mighty war mare Mouse

Part 5  --How to get involved
If you have horses and ride, attend local equestrian practices in order to train. Like most kingdoms, Æthelmearc requires a separate authorization for mounted archery.You can get authorized at these official practices. (You can also get authorized at an official equestrian event if authorizations are being conducted. Check with the Equestrian Marshal in Charge first.)  If you have a friend that is involved in the SCA equestrian program, you might be able to borrow their horse. Sometimes horse owners will allow other people to ride their horses, but you should get to know them first, volunteering to help with chores and at events, before asking.  Give owners a chance to get to know you before asking to ride their treasured friends. If you do not have any riding experience, you should contact a local stable to takes lessons. 

Conclusion--

Mounted archery is a challenging sport that combines equestrian skill with the skill of the bowman.  It is very rewarding as you learn to work with an animal to accomplish the goal but also to experience

the thrill of the activity as it has been practiced for centuries.

Bibliography:

Alexander, David , ed.  Furusiyya: The Horse in Art in the Near East.  Vol. I and II.  Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz Public Library,  2010.
Ayton,  Andrew. Knights and Warhorses: Military Service and the English Aristocracy under Edward III. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 1994.
Barber , Richard & Juliet Barker.  Tournaments: Jousts, Chivalry and Pageants in the Middle Ages, Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 2000.
Clark,  John ed. The Medieval Horse and its Equipment, c. 1150 c.1450. NY:Woodbridge: Museum of London, 1995.
Davis, R.H.C.  The Medieval Warhorse: Origin, Development and Redevelopment.  NY: Thames and Hudson,1989.
Dent,  Anthony Austen. The Horse Through Fifty Centuries of Civilization. NY: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1974.
Horsebackarchery.net  -  Kassai-Reiterbogenschule Osterreich,  May 2013, <http://www.kassai.at/>
Hyland, Ann.  The Medieval Warhorse: From Byzantium to the Crusades.   London: Grange Books, 1994.
Hyland, Ann.  The Warhorse: 1250-1600.  Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing Ltd, 1998.
Mounted Archery Resources collected by Donwenna la Mareschale (aka Donna DeBonis, DVM),   May 2013, http://donwenna.homestead.com/Horse_Archery.html

Suggested Reading for further research:
Ibn Hodeil ( Aly ben Abderrahman ben Hodeil el Andalusy), _La Parure des Cavaliers et L'Insigne des Prex_, tr. L. Mercier, Librairie Orientaliste, Paris, 1924.
Maurice, _Maurice's Strategikon_, tr. G.T. Dennis, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1984.
Paris, Matthew, _The Illustrated Chronicles of Matthew Paris_, tr. Richard Vaughn, Allan Sutton Publishing, Cambridge, 1993.
Pluvinel, Antoine de, _The Maneige Royal_ tr. by Hilda Nelson, J.A. Allen and Co. Ltd., London, 1989.
Prevot,Briggitte and  Ribemont,Bernard, _Le Cheval en France au Moyen Age_.
Rabie, H., 'The Training of the Mamluk Faris' in _War, Technology and Society in the Middle East_ , ed.  V.J. Parry and M.E.Yapp, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1986 .
Smith, G. Rex, _Medieval Muslim Horsemanship: A Fourteenth Century Arabic Cavalry Manual_, The British Library, London, 1979.
Usamah ibn Munqidh, _An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior in the Period of the Crusades: Memoirs of Usamah ibn Munqidh _, tr. Philip K. Hitti, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 1987.