Unleash your inner warrior

They say that Horseback Archery is a Martial Art and form of Meditation. It is true, its a sport that demands that you are in the moment.

Horseback or Mounted Archery isn't just about flying along at a gallop, shooting arrows at targets. It requires accuracy, coordination, consistancy and trust between yourself and your horse. Some tracks require you to be fast and precise and others require a slower more collected pace due to time restrictions. Tracks can be done at a trot, canter or gallop. A typical competition track is 1.5-3 metre wide and between 90-150 metre long with various targets. There are competitions all over nationally and internationally where you can compete on hired horses. Within the BHAA (British Horseback Archery Association) there are qualifications which can be gained that are a combination of theory and practical that will help you gain more knowledge of the sport

A little bit about me. My name is Lauran. I'm a BHAA Approved Coach and I've been doing Horseback Archery for three years now. I've been coaching for just over a year through Valkyrie Mounted Archery. I am fully insured, have safeguarding in place for children and vulnerable people and First Aid certified. I've been working with horses my whole life. I have a mare called Tovey aka 'Winter Warrior', who I plan to compete after I've finished starting her to her ridden career.

Your first session will be 2hrs. It is mainly focused on training your horse using a CAT-H like approach where we introduce them to the equipment and sounds first from the ground and then in the saddle. During this session you will have a Ground Archery lesson where we will go over some safety precautions and then you will be shown the different positions required in Horseback Archery. At this point you will both be ready for Horseback Archery! 

Don't be disheartened if your horse doesn't take to it straight away. This training is horse lead and can take more sensitive horses a few sessions to really grasp what HBA is about. 

At Valkyrie Mounted Archery, our Mission is to provide an exceptional coaching service, tailored for you and your horse.

Hilda will be used in classroom Demonstrations where clients can get a feel for horseback Archery without being on a horse. During the session we will be working on different types of shots and how this effects your position in the saddle. We will also be looking at your form, technique and balance. Foam tipped arrows will be used due to the enclosed environment and clients must wear a riding helmet. This session can be modified to suit adults and children.