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Old 14-04-24, 10:51   #1
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Movies Horseback Archery Draws New Riders Across Australia

Horseback Archery Draws New Riders Across Australia -A Modern Day Warrior: Mastering Mounted Archery

Enthusiasts say the sport is more inclusive and less snobby than other equestrian pursuits, making beginners feel more welcome.. ‘You can ride on any horse with any gear’


The Guardian Australia 14 APR 2024




Horse archery competitor Kimberley Robertson aiming her bow at her farm in Hirstglen, Queensland

As her horse gains pace, Kimberley Robertson draws a 30-pound recurve bow and stands high in her saddle. A moment later a 70cm carbon-fibre arrow fletched with pink-dyed turkey feathers thumps into a foam target.


Surrounded by a paddock of cattle at dusk on her family property two hours west of Brisbane, the 25-year-old Robertson is training for the national horse archery championships.

“I’ve done archery since I was 13 and I’ve always ridden horses, so combining the two, well, that seemed cool,” she says, rounding the arena for another run at the target.

Six years ago Robertson and a few friends founded the local Lockyer Valley horse archery club. In a few days Robertson and her horse, Chiko, will travel more than 1,000km to a property in north-east Victoria to make their debut on the national stage.

“I’m nervous for sure,” Robertson says. “Some people have heard of it, they’ve seen it in TV shows, but they don’t realise it’s actually a sport in Australia.”

Competing against 10 other riders across three events at the canter, Robertson will be judged by the accuracy of her shots and pace of her horse.

One event requires competitors to ride along a 90-metre raid track and hit three ground targets while going as fast as possible. The tower track works the same but riders must instead land three arrows on a target, which is set 2 metres above ground. The last course is the hunt track of up to 20 targets at all angles over cross-country terrain.





“The true origin of the sport comes from countries that had a lot of cavalry in their history and is very much based in war, martial skill and hunting,” says Liberty Deaman, the Australian representative of the International Horseback Archery Alliance.








Women Horseback Archers Compete in Yabusame Japan




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