Coach's Notebook: Common Beginner Mistakes (and how to fix them!)

The Horseback Archery Journal is a collection of insights, stories and conversations from the world of Horseback Archery, written by international coach and competitor, Emily Massey. Here you'll find training ideas, informational posts, competition reflections, and discussions with riders and coaches from across the sport.

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Starting out in a new discipline can be tricky, and Horseback Archery is no different. There is lots of information out there if you know where to look, but it can often be conflicting, too technical, or just downright confusing - not ideal when you’re keen to get going!

Over the years, I’ve helped hundreds of riders progress from shooting their first arrows, to entering their first postal matches, taking their first gradings, and eventually competing at National & International level. Whilst everybody’s journey is different, there are some common mistakes that I see crop up time and time again. So here's your leg up to learn what mistakes you can easily avoid!

Mistake 1: Buying Equipment Without Consulting Your Coach

This is hands down the most common (and costly!) mistake that I see - and it’s so easily done. I get it (honestly, I do!). You’ve had your first few lessons, things are going great, and you’re excited to get your own kit so you can practise at home between sessions.

So you head to your local archery shop and come home with:

• a new bow

• arrows

• and a beautiful hand-crafted quiver with an intricate pattern stamped into it

  
  

…only to be told a week later by your coach that:

• the bow is too heavy

• the arrows aren’t ideal

• and the quiver won’t work from horseback

  
  

A frustrating, and expensive, problem.

The Fix

The best thing you can do as a novice horseback archer is simple:

Speak to your coach before you buy anything.

And if you don’t have a coach, don’t worry, so many of us are happy to advise. Just drop a message before you spend your money.

Quick Equipment Tips

Bows

• Avoid being overbowed. As a beginner, you’re likely looking for 20# (maybe 25# if you’re particularly strong), but no heavier!

• Don’t buy a heavier bow just because it’s in stock

• Being overbowed is one of the biggest causes of injury in archery

• Just because you can draw it a few times in the shop doesn’t mean you can train with it safely

• Make sure the bow is safe for your draw length (ask your coach to measure this)

  
  

Arrows

• You will need arrows with feather fletchings (not plastic vanes)

• Carbon or aluminium are usually best (wood is heavier and less forgiving)

• If you're getting arrows made, ask for the fletchings to be set slightly lower to give more room for your fingers when loading

  
  

Quivers

Most quivers sold in UK archery shops are not suitable for mounted archery.

• They tend to be flappy, noisy, and don’t separate arrows well

• This makes them awkward to use - and potentially unsafe

  
  

Save your money and ask your coach for recommendations.

In the meantime, learning to hold arrows in your bow hand is a great skill.

Mistake 2: Gold Obsession

Everybody knows the gold scores more points.

But it’s very easy to become obsessed with hitting the gold while you’re learning - and this can actually slow your progress down.

Here’s the problem:

You can become accurate with poor form.

But later on, those form issues will start to cost you:

• in your scores

• and potentially through an injury

  
  

The Fix

Instead of focusing on the gold, get obsessed with:

• consistent technique

• good posture

• repeatable shot execution

You should be aiming to develop:

• a consistent fix point (anchor)

• a consistent draw length

• correct muscle use

• safe and efficient loading

• a clean release

  
  

Once those are in place, then you can start worrying about aiming.

Mistake 3: Neglecting Ground Archery Once You Start Shooting from Horseback

Once riders get their first taste of shooting from horseback, something interesting often happens…

They don’t want to go back to the ground.

And honestly, that’s completely understandable - shooting from a moving horse is exciting, challenging, and far more fun than standing in a field shooting at a target.

But this is where a lot of athletes start to plateau.

Why This Becomes a Problem

When you only train on horseback, it becomes very difficult to:

• isolate and improve your shooting technique

• build strength and control

• make consistent technical changes

  
  

On the horse, there are a lot of variables:

• movement

• balance

• speed

• horse behaviour

Which means it’s much harder to identify why a shot went wrong.

Ground archery removes those variables, giving you the space to focus purely on:

• your form

• your draw

• your release

• your consistency

Without this, riders often end up reinforcing poor habits without realising it.

The Fix

Keep ground archery as a regular part of your training, even once you’re riding.

This doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming. Even short, focused sessions can make a big difference.

You can use ground work to:

• refine your technique

• build strength safely

• work on consistency and repetition

• make technical changes more effectively

  
  

Then take those improvements back onto the horse.

A Good Balance

Think of it like this:

• Ground archery builds your technique

• Horseback archery applies it under pressure

  
  

Both are essential, and they work best when trained together.

Horseback archery is a complex and rewarding sport, and like any discipline, the foundations you build early on matter. Avoiding these common mistakes will set you up for safer, more effective, and more enjoyable progress as you develop your skills.