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Georgia
International
Horseback Archery
Tournament
By Kimberly Butler
Photography by Jill Monroe
Horseback archery – it’s not just a big screen stunt that you may have seen on Game of Thrones or in the Robin Hood movie – it’s for real! Horseback archery dates back more than 2500 years. This discipline combines both archery and horsemanship and has been used as the primary method for hunting and warfare for hundreds of years, until around 1890 when gunpowder was introduced. Horseback archery is a part of the cultural heritage in just about every European country; think about the Mongolians, Attila the Hun, and Genghis Khan!
The mission statement for the national organization Horse Archery USA, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, says it all:
“Our mission is to promote and popularize the sport, the art, and the culture of horse archery in the United States. Our goal is to foster local and national competitions, offer participation opportunities at a recreational level, operate with high ethical and moral standards, and always provide a sense of community, sportsmanship, safety, and good horsemanship.”
Georgia
International
Horseback Archery
Tournament