From Ground to Saddle: How to Teach Your Horse the Art of Self-Management

When you watch a mounted archer fly down the track, it looks like pure magic. The rider drops the reins, guides their mount entirely through seat and leg cues, and releases an arrow that thuds cleanly into the gold.

Photographer- Horseback Artchery

It looks effortless. However, anyone who works with horses knows that they are prey animals. Their natural instinct when a bowstring cracks or an arrow flies is flight.

At Valkyrie Archery, our training philosophy since 2024 has always been "Horse First." We don't coach using a herd of our own school horses; instead, our passion is working directly with you and your horse. We partner with everyday riders to take their own equine companions on this incredible journey from the ground to the saddle.

Before you can safely shoot on the track, your horse must undergo an intensive training saga of their own. We don't just train them to tolerate a bow—we show you how to give your horse the tools to process stress and manage their own emotional states.

Here is an inside look at the exact steps we will guide you and your horse through to build the ultimate modern warrior partnership.

1. Desensitisation: Pressure, Release, and Teaching Self-Management

We don't start with arrows. We start on the ground or in-hand, focusing entirely on how your horse processes new objects and situations. This foundational self-management is a strict prerequisite before your horse ever steps onto the track.

We introduce the bow as a form of "pressure." When holding the bow near your horse, we aren't looking for a frozen, stone-still response—which is often a sign of psychological shutdown. Instead, we teach you to look for small, inquisitive cues that prove your horse is actively thinking and processing:

* A gentle flick of the ear toward the bow.

* A soft blink of the eye, yawning, chewing, indicating a release of tension.

* A curious movement of the head toward the object to investigate.

Sometimes its takes a little bit of patience to wait for that subtle cue if they have gone intoa freeze response.

The moment your horse offers one of these relaxed, curious micro-signals, the pressure is immediately removed. Horses that are already well-adjusted and possess strong self-management skills will quickly look sleepy, calm, and physically relaxed. These partnerships naturally excel and progress through our clinics much faster.

Handling Bigger Reactions

Sometimes, a horse will have a larger reaction and attempt to move its body away from the bow. In these moments, it is vital to maintain the same level of pressure by keeping your distance consistent, or slightly reducing the pressure if their energy begins to spike. Crucially, never remove the pressure entirely until the horse chooses to stand still.

Once they stop, remove the bow immediately and reward them. This perfectly timed release rewards their internal thought process. It teaches your horse that looking at a novel object calmly and standing their ground makes the threat disappear. By giving them a moment to digest the stimulus, we turn a potential flight reflex into a calm, conscious conversation which creates confidence within their own abilities and body.

Once your horse is entirely comfortable with the bow approaching them, being stroked all over their body, and being waved on both sides and over the saddle area (so it can be seen by both eyes), we introduce the arrows.

2. The Sounds of Mounted Archery

We repeat our entire desensitisation process with the arrows, ensuring the pointed ends are always safely directed away from the horse's face. Once your horse accepts the arrows being stroked along their body and waved over the saddle area, we begin introducing the auditory landscape of the sport.

We start by tapping the arrows together slowly, gradually increasing the speed and volume as your horse indicates they are ready. We then repeat this process by scraping the arrows together to mimic the sounds of drawing from a quiver.

Introducing the Target Impact

The next step moves to proximity training. Handlers stand with their horses roughly 20 feet away while the coach begins shooting at a target. We start softly at a half-draw, progressing to a full-draw only when your horse remains entirely calm.

Once your horse is settled at this distance, you move closer in small increments until you are standing directly next to the coach, with the shooting position perfectly in line with your horse's saddle area.

During this phase, it is incredibly important to engage with your horse. We allow them to be inquisitive and watch the shot happen, but we maintain strict safety boundaries—never releasing an arrow if they are actively sniffing the equipment.

Your horse may flinch or "jump" at the sudden thwack of the arrow hitting the target, we use positive reinforcement through targeted scratches, withered massages, and high-value treats, your horse quickly learns to associate the sound of a releasing arrow with calm, positive experiences.

Once this is mastered on the ground, the entire sequence is repeated with you in the saddle.

3. The Ground-to-Saddle Transition

With you now in the saddle of your own horse, we transition from shooting beside your mount to placing the bow directly into your hands.

Photographer- Lanie's Lens Photography

To prepare your horse for the physical sensation of a shot, I will rest my elbow on their side while shooting (being careful not to abruptly elbow them), allowing the vibration of the bowstring/shot to travel subtly into the horse's body. You then take the Bow and Arrow and progress by shooting from a very short draw length up to a full, powerful draw at a standstill.

Once your horse is completely unfazed at the halt, we progress to the walk while your horse is led by a handler. We heavily reinforce every single shot with scratches and rewards, cementing their confidence with every arrow released.

Photographer- Lanie's Lens Photography

4. True Wayfinding: Riding Without Reins

Ultimately, true mounted archery is about far more than just shooting at a canter. Because an archer needs both hands to operate the bow, you and your horse must learn to communicate completely without reins.

We teach you how to steer your horse seamlessly by adjusting your core body weight and using precise leg aids. Your horse will learn to change gaits, alter their speed, and come to a dead halt purely from your seat cues and vocal commands. They become highly perceptive, adjusting their stride and speed automatically depending on the specific track they are navigating.

When you build a partnership based on processing rather than panic, you don't just get a horse that tolerates the sport—you unlock an entirely new level of trust and communication with your own horse, creating a proud warrior partner who loves the game as much as you do.

Bring Your Horse to the Line

Ready to experience this level of connection with your horse? Whether you are a beginner looking to take your first steps from the ground to the saddle, or an experienced rider looking to introduce your horse to the track, we have a clinic for you.

🐎 The Beginner’s Guide to Horseback Archery: Want to study the steps before your clinic? Our official training handbook is now live in our online shop!

🛡️ Valkyrie Gear: Grab our newly launched Valkyrie's Nest & Mounted Archery hoodies

online to stay warm during your ground sessions.

Visit our Online Shop to explore our new guides and apparel, or message us directly to book your slot at our next clinic or bring us out to your yard.