Escape, pick up speed, feel the satisfaction of hitting the target. These sensations, Kévin Gussé, 32, knows them well. This riding instructor specialized in TAC 6 years ago. “I did a day of training, I liked it, 15 days later I gave my first lessons to children”. This quasi-autodidact continued to train “on the job”, as he gave lessons. Today, he has his company “Equit’arc”, and he offers several initiation formulas in order to make this equestrian practice known to a wider audience. Days or half-days of training, weekly lessons, this independent equine Robin Hood travels to equestrian centers in the Lot-et-Garonne region as well as to private individuals on request.
A practice accessible to all
Archery on horseback is represented by around 750 riders in France and has been a discipline recognized by the French Equestrian Federation (FFE) since 2014 and since 2020 by the International Federation of Equestrian Tourism (Fité). Because one of the advantages of this activity is that it can be practiced by everyone and from the age of 8, with no maximum age. “I train people of all ages. In 2018, I even took one of my students, who is in his sixties, to a competition in Lamotte-Beuvron, and as a result, he finished on the podium” , remembers Kevin with a smile. And then there are also the “prodigies”, as he calls them, his students who have already reached a good level. Félicien is 15 years old and it’s been 2 years since he started the TAC. He has already scored several victories in this discipline, including 1st place in the French Horseback Archery Championship. What he likes in this sport, “is the exceptional bond that we have with the horse and that we do not find in classic riding”, as he explains. “It’s an activity to absolutely try, which combines the connection with the animal and the sensations of archery”, concludes the young rider.
Archery on horseback is also a sport that has its origins in history. Originally used for hunting, this practice was extended to combat during wars, mainly in Asian territory. “In France, there was only one troop of archers mounted and it was during the Hundred Years War”, says Kévin who knows the history of the TAC better than anyone. “The majority of soldiers descended from horses to fight,” he continues. “In Asia, the cradle of archery on horseback, it is still a common practice. I was even supposed to go to Mongolia this year with students for a big competition, but the war in Ukraine stopped us,” says Kévin. While waiting for the trip to Mongolia, Kévin Gusse is offering an introduction to TAC on Sunday 11 at the stables of La Crinière au vent in the afternoon. Victims of their success, the summer camps are already full!
