The National Horseback Archery Association (www.horsearchery.us) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Texas. The vision of the NHAA is to promote and popularize the sport of horse archery within the United States. At this time, some of the objectives for achieving those goals include developing standardize safety and training certification and a horse archery standard of proficiency system that is in keeping with American horse archery goals; support the growth of schools by being a resource to help promote them through social media and providing fund raising support; and support a national championship series and local competitions.
The growth of clubs and schools all over the United States has been explosive. For example, the MagnaForce Mounted Archery School in Buchanan, GA was started in February, 2015. By April, 2016, archers who started with MagnaForce have established two clubs in Georgia. A school has invested in creating the
tracks for competition, bought the correct archery equipment for use in competition and teaching, and provides trained mounted archery horses to students. Hopefully, there will be a certified NHAA instructor who not only knows how to teach horseback archery, but can also teach the horsemanship skills required to ride balanced seat.
On the barrier courses, the horse is psychologically constrained by the rope and post or dirt curb. If the horse is going to do field archery, it is necessary that the horse respond well to seat and leg, as well as
be in partnership with the rider. The archer is going to spend more time trying to control the horse than shooting in the time allotted for that course if the horse is cantering or galloping all over the open field. The same is true for the cross country courses.
well as be in partnership with the rider. The archer is going to spend more time trying to control the horse than shooting in the time allotted for that course if the horse is cantering or galloping all over the open field. The same is true for the cross country courses.
There are four seat positions that can be used for horseback archery. Trey Schlichting of A Company Mounted Archery has a YouTube video
Mounted Archery has a YouTube video on the subject that discusses each one. Trey is the National Horseback Archery Association's (NHAA) head instructor who certifies instructors to teach mounted archery out of Texas. Learning how to use the four seat positions can mean the difference between staying on the horse or hitting the ground, controlling the horse's speed, as well as making a difference in the accuracy of an archer's shooting.
tracks for competition, bought the correct archery equipment for use in competition and teaching, and provides trained mounted archery horses to students. Hopefully, there will be a certified NHAA instructor who not only knows how to teach horseback archery, but can also teach the horsemanship skills required to ride balanced seat.
A club may or may not have a certified
instructor or a mounted archery facility to hold practices, clinics or competitions or provide archery equipment or trained horses. Participants in clubs are required to have their own horse and archery equipment and be willing to travel to various locations, similar to a saddle club. The NHAA website has a list of schools and clubs currently available at www.horsearchery.us. The website also includes a list of clinics, practices, and competitions taking place all over the U.S.
Photo by Bianca Stawiarski