The natives of large grassland areas used horse archery for hunting, for protecting their herds, and for war. Since using a bow requires the rider to let go of the reins with both hands, horse archers need superb equestrian skills if they are to shoot on the move. Signed (lower right) Muhammad ibn Mahmudshah al-Khayyam Iran, early 15th century. Basic features Ī Timurid drawing of an Ilkhanid horse archer. Horse archery developed separately among the people of the South American pampas and the North American prairies following the introduction of domesticated horses to the continent the Comanches were especially skilled. Another term, 'horseback archery', has crept into modern use. ' Horse archer' is the term used more specifically to describe a warrior who shoots from the saddle at the gallop. The term mounted archer occurs in medieval English sources to describe a soldier who rode to battle but who dismounted to shoot. In East Asia, horse archery came to be particularly honored in the samurai tradition of Japan, where horse archery is called Yabusame. It was a defining characteristic of the Eurasian nomads during antiquity and the medieval period, as well as the Iranian peoples, ( Alans, Scythians, Sarmatians, Parthians, Sassanid Persians) and Indians in antiquity, and by the Hungarians, Mongols, Chinese, and the Turkic peoples during the Middle Ages.īy the expansion of these peoples, the practice also spread to Eastern Europe (via the Sarmatians and the Huns), Mesopotamia, and East Asia. In large open areas, it was a highly successful technique for hunting, for protecting the herds, and for war. Archery has occasionally been used from the backs of other riding animals. Japanese mounted archers in the Gosannen War, 14th century painting by Hidanokami KorehisaĪ horse archer is a cavalryman armed with a bow and able to shoot while riding from horseback.
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