In the rolling hills outside Rome, where olive groves meet sun-baked trails, a quiet revival is underway. Riders on horseback draw bows with practiced ease, arrows flying true toward distant targets — not as reenactors, but as athletes in a sport with roots stretching back millennia. Horseback archery, known in Italian as tiro con l’arco a cavallo, is gaining renewed attention across Europe and beyond, blending equestrian skill with precision marksmanship in a discipline that demands extraordinary harmony between human, horse, and bow.
Though often associated with Mongol warriors or Japanese samurai, mounted archery has deep historical roots in the Italian peninsula as well. Ancient Roman cavalry units, particularly auxiliary forces from the East, employed similar tactics, and medieval Italian condottieri occasionally trained in mounted archery for border skirmishes. Today, the modern incarnation of the sport is governed by the International Horseback Archery Alliance (IHAA), which standardized rules in the early 2000s to enable global competition.
“It’s not about speed alone, nor just accuracy — it’s the connection,” says Luca Moretti, a Roman-based instructor and competitor who has represented Italy in three IHAA World Championships. “You’re managing a 500-kilogram animal moving at gait, although controlling your breath, your draw, your release. One tense muscle in the horse, one flinch in the rider, and the arrow flies wide.”
Modern competition typically follows one of several established tracks. The Korean-style mogu course features a 90-meter straight track with three targets placed at 30, 60, and 90 meters, where riders shoot forward while galloping. The Hungarian szabadtéri course uses a polygonal path with multiple targets at varying angles, demanding constant reorientation. There’s also the Polish torbowa style, involving a curved track and backward shooting — considered among the most technically demanding.
According to verified IHAA records, Italy fielded a team of six riders at the 2023 World Championships in South Korea, marking its first full national team appearance since 2019. While the squad did not medal, individual riders placed in the top 20 in the novice and intermediate divisions — a sign of growing depth. The Italian Horseback Archery Association (Associazione Italiana Tiro con l’Arco a Cavallo, or AITAC), founded in 2016, now counts over 120 active members across regional clubs from Lombardy to Sicily.
Training requires specialized equipment distinct from both traditional archery and Western riding. Bows are typically shorter recurves or horsebows, ranging from 48 to 58 inches in length, with draw weights between 30 and 50 pounds — lighter than Olympic recurves to allow for shooting from horseback without excessive strain. Arrows are often wooden or bamboo with feather fletching for stability, though carbon shafts are increasingly used in higher divisions for consistency. Saddles are usually flat or mildly contoured to allow free leg movement, with no horn to interfere with the bow arm.
Safety protocols are rigorously enforced at sanctioned events. Ground crews line the tracks, and riders must pass a pre-competition assessment demonstrating control at walk, trot, and canter before being allowed to shoot. Horses are vetted for temperament — spooking at the sound of a release or the sight of an arrow in flight is grounds for disqualification. “We’ve had horses that were perfect dressage mounts panic at the twang of a bowstring,” Moretti notes. “It takes months of desensitization, starting with blank firings on the ground, then progressing to mounted walk-ups.”
The sport’s appeal lies in its accessibility across ages and backgrounds. While elite competition demands years of dual training in riding and archery, introductory clinics often welcome beginners with little experience in either discipline. Instructors emphasize balance and timing over strength, making it viable for riders who may not pursue jumping or dressage. “I’ve seen teenagers and retirees shoot side by side,” says Elena Rossi, a Lombardy-based coach. “What unites them isn’t athleticism alone — it’s the pursuit of that fleeting moment when horse, rider, and arrow become one.”
Internationally, the IHAA World Championships rotate among member nations, with recent editions held in South Korea (2023), Germany (2022), and the United States (2021). The next championship is scheduled for 2025 in Austria, pending final venue confirmation. Continental circuits, including the European Horseback Archery Cup, provide annual qualification pathways, with Italy hosting a regional event in Tuscany each spring.
For global audiences unfamiliar with the discipline, horseback archery offers a compelling blend of athleticism, tradition, and mindfulness. Unlike timed racing or judged subjective sports, success is measured in concrete terms: hits on target, scored by zone value, much like traditional archery. Yet the moving platform adds a layer of unpredictability that keeps even seasoned competitors humble.
As interest grows, so does scrutiny over animal welfare. Leading organizations, including the IHAA and national affiliates, mandate that horses receive regular veterinary checks, proper warm-up and cool-down routines, and are never forced to compete if showing signs of stress or lameness. Many clubs partner with equine ethologists to refine training methods that prioritize the horse’s psychological well-being alongside performance goals.
Back in the Roman countryside, as the afternoon light slants across the training field, Moretti loosens his grip on the reins and lets his horse walk slowly toward the barn. Another arrow rests in his quiver, feathers slightly askew from the last shot. “We’re not trying to recreate history,” he says, wiping sweat from his brow with a gloved hand. “We’re using what worked then to build something true now — a sport that asks us to be present, balanced, and quietly courageous.”
The next confirmed checkpoint for Italian horseback archery is the AITAC National Clinic and Regional Qualifier, scheduled for May 18–19, 2024, at the Centro Equestre La Caccia in Viterbo, Lazio. The event will serve as a selection trial for athletes aiming to represent Italy at international competitions later in the year, including the European Cup in Hungary this September.
For those intrigued by the blend of horsemanship and marksmanship, horseback archery offers a rare opportunity to engage with a living tradition — one where the past isn’t performed, but practiced. As the sport continues to grow, its quiet insistence on harmony between rider, horse, and bow may offer lessons that extend far beyond the archery range.
Have you witnessed or participated in horseback archery? Share your experience in the comments below, and help others discover this unique discipline. If you found this overview informative, consider sharing it with fellow equestrians or archery enthusiasts who might appreciate the journey.
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