Can Any Horse Be Trained for Mounted Archery?

annijauhiainen
Apr 18
2 min read

Short answer:Almost any horse can be trained for mounted archery.

But not every horse should be trained the same way.

Mounted archery is less about the horse’s breed or background — and more about its temperament, training, and how the process is handled.

A calm, trainable horse with a good basic education will always be a better starting point than a naturally “brave” but tense or reactive one.

What Actually Matters

The most important qualities are:

a stable temperament
willingness to relax
basic rideability
ability to learn step by step

The horse does not need to be special.

It needs to be understood.

What Does NOT Matter (As Much As People Think)

Many riders assume they need:

a specific breed
a “naturally fearless” horse
or previous exposure to unusual situations

In reality, these are secondary.

A horse that is trained systematically will become confident over time.

A horse that is rushed will often become tense — regardless of breed or talent.

Common Challenges

Different horses will present different starting points.

Some may:

react to movement
be sensitive to sound
become tense when reins are released

Others may be:

slow to respond
less reactive
or simply inexperienced

None of these are problems by themselves.

They are just starting points.

The Key Is the Process

Mounted archery training is not about forcing the horse to accept something new.

It is about introducing each element in a way the horse understands.

This includes:

building independence from rein contact
introducing equipment gradually
repeating each step until it feels normal
progressing only when the horse stays relaxed

When done correctly, most horses become calm and confident in the work.

What Makes a Horse “Unsuitable”?

Very few horses are truly unsuitable.

But training becomes more difficult if the horse:

is highly reactive and easily stressed
has unresolved issues in basic riding
cannot relax in new situations

Even then, the solution is usually not exclusion — but a slower, more careful approach.

The Goal

A well-trained mounted archery horse is not:

the bravest
the fastest
or the most experienced

It is the one that:

stays relaxed
understands the work
and remains consistent

Want to Train Your Own Horse?

The full process is covered in the course“Archery Horse Training: From Basics to Performance.”

It shows:

over 10 different horses
different temperaments and starting points
real reactions and progression
and how each horse is trained step by step

👉 View the course:https://www.northarrow.fi/online-courses

👉 Access via the app:https://wix.app/mobile.apps/Ion3xMI?ref=cl