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The horseback archer is a traditional technique used for hunting around the world. It involves a trained rider capable of accurately shooting an arrow from a bow while riding on a horse.

Some of the first peoples to use mounted archers include most of Eurasian nomads during the medieval period. Over time, the practise spread into Eastern Europe, to Mesopotamia and eventually to the far reaches of East Asia.

One country in particular that became renowned for its horseback archery were the samurai warriors of Japan and they called it Yabusame.

As a sport, the objective is for a rider to run reinless along a 90m course while shooting arrows at targets at varying distances. Mounted archery is increasing in popularity in the United States with many riding clubs offering members a chance to learn the sport.

Countries like Mongolia, which once depended on mounted archery for both survival and protection, has ushered a revival of the skills of horseback archery since its independence in 1921. However, the sport itself is only on display during festivals and often with competitors standing and releasing arrows, not on horseback.

Interesting Fact: A rider must be the master of both the horse and bow. Loosing an arrow requires both hands to be on the bow while leaving the reins free. This leaves the horse being guided solely by the rider’s skill.

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Similar Sports

• Cowboy Mounted Shooting — involves shooting at targets while riding a horse.
• Equestrian Fencing — sword fighting on horseback (no longer held)
• 3D Archery — a form of archery in which the goal is to strike targets in the shape of animals at unknown distances.
• Field Archery — a form of Archery that involves shooting at targets of varying distance, often in rough terrain.
• Target Archery — competitions held indoors or outdoors between 18 m and  90 m from the target.
• Hunting — an activity that involves tracking and killing animals with various weapons.
• Jousting — competitors on horsebacks with long lances try to knock down each other (extinct sport)
• Horseback Boxing — competitors fight each other while riding on the back of a horse. (unusual historical sport)

Related Pages

• About Archery Sports
• List of all sports involving horses
• Complete list of sports
• The Encyclopedia of Sports