[Horsebow] Horse back archery???

Are they looking to rent or buy? I'll keep an eye out!

Just found the article in the Parthian shot on making your own thumb ring, now I want to do that lol!
 

Raven's_Eye

Active member
Ironman
My personal theory on mounted longbowmen is that while such use was not official doctrine and it was not something that a commander would plan to use, at least on the scale of major battles, I have no doubt that it did happen. Give a British soldier a toy and he will play with it. We know that large numbers of archers were mounted, the idea being that they ride to the fight, then dismount for the fighting itself. I am sure that during the course of the raiding that they specialised in inflicting on the French villages, the archers would have shot from horseback, at least occasionally. Equally I suspect that it would have been used for hunting on occasion.
I'll keep a look out for paintings for you. From my understanding similar to yours generally longbowmen which were mounted were a rarity because horses were expensive and archers of the time were commonly low class, so wouldn't have the funds. But an archer that did bring his horse was paid more than an ordinary foot archer. Though generally they would ride to battle and then dismount, they would be used for raiding parties, and also I believe at one point they were used to cover a river crossing. If you've ever seen the program "Weapons that made Britain: Longbow" it does touch on mounted archery, not a great deal but is a starting point for some research.

Thanks for the answer about the use of it though.
 

jime_d

New member
I'll keep a look out for paintings for you. From my understanding similar to yours generally longbowmen which were mounted were a rarity because horses were expensive and archers of the time were commonly low class, so wouldn't have the funds. But an archer that did bring his horse was paid more than an ordinary foot archer. Though generally they would ride to battle and then dismount, they would be used for raiding parties, and also I believe at one point they were used to cover a river crossing. If you've ever seen the program "Weapons that made Britain: Longbow" it does touch on mounted archery, not a great deal but is a starting point for some research.

Thanks for the answer about the use of it though.
Found this video with longbow on horseback.


[video=youtube;gcpHB-flwJQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcpHB-flwJQ[/video]
 
Interesting clip jime d, I think he's a better archer than horseman lol, a bit harsh for me but then I'm a non dominance based natural horsewoman (hippy lol).

I had a great shoot today, I have been trying to speed up my knocking and do it blind, I found that after a bit of practise this actually started to improve my aim. I don't know if it's because my eyes stay on the target all the time, or because it gives me less time to over think and aim, probably a combination of both, but my accuracy and groupings were much better!
 

jime_d

New member
Interesting clip jime d, I think he's a better archer than horseman lol, a bit harsh for me but then I'm a non dominance based natural horsewoman (hippy lol).
Do you mean the bit he is using? I have only ridden a few times so don't know that much about horses, my dad doesn't use a bit though.

I had a great shoot today, I have been trying to speed up my knocking and do it blind, I found that after a bit of practise this actually started to improve my aim. I don't know if it's because my eyes stay on the target all the time, or because it gives me less time to over think and aim, probably a combination of both, but my accuracy and groupings were much better!
That's good, if you can practice more than a couple of times a week you should see massive improvements in your shooting.

I have to admire anyone who can shoot a bow and ride a horse at the same time, i know how much it takes to practice just one of those skills. :mind-blow
 
Not the bit so much, bits don't do any harm on their own lol, it's the hands on the other end that do the damage! I try to ride as invisibly as possible, that is I try to train the horse to respond accurately to the lightest possible aids. Definitely NO kicking, and never pulling the reins so that they open their mouths. I mostly ride bitless to avoid accidental pulling. It's an interesting point really, I would never choose historical accuracy over the welfare of my neddies. I have been really encouraged by all the training stuff in the Parthian shot, very good advice and very much the way I work.

I'm lucky to have the range so close by, and I'm usually the only person there lol! I've been trying to get up 3 or 4 times a week, my archery needs a lot of work ha ha, wish I'd started shooting when I started riding 30 years ago!! Just got my thumb ring so I expect I'll be rubbish again, practising the new draw. Oh we'll, practice, practice, practice :)
 

ChakaZulu

New member
Yup: metal thingy that goes in the horse's mouth and attaches at each end to the reins. See "champing at the bit" and "got the bit between his teeth".
 

i32547

New member
Ah okay I see thanks. I'm learning everything in a language foreign to me you see so I don't really know all the names for different things.

Just interested, how exactly would one gain "control" over the horse without using a bit, reigns to pull, kicks etc. I really don't like kicking the horse, am new to riding, but what else would you do? Someone tried to assure me that the horse will feel the kick less than how I would a poke.
I strongly dislike, more than kicks, is this bit thingy, I really really feel bad with horse having it in his/her mouth, but what is the alternative?
It feels like I may be torturing the horse.
 
Top