Submitted by worldtravelstephanie t3_107ro84 in IAmA
worldtravelstephanie OP t1_j3pu59a wrote
Reply to comment by Entropy- in I am Stephanie, and I spent time amongst arctic/Siberian nomads. AMA! by worldtravelstephanie
The Kazakhs are amazing archers! I was severely teased at my lack of skill. It is done from horseback often, the horses are still considered wild even though the nomads wrangle them, and as such they have a lot of free will and almost completely control your direction while you are shooting. You control the speed. I did get to practice (with kids only 10 or 12) but it is a skill mostly used for hunting in autumn, or ceremonially in summer at festivals. That’s when you see the tricks. Those are practiced when you have long days on horseback just herding the goats around. Groups of three or four herders will spend afternoons teasing, competing, and practicing while watching the goats. The most amazing trick I saw was when some young girls got really good at leaning back and spinning upside down, kinda leaning backward off the horse just being hooked on with one leg and shooting completely up-side-down. I did not try that, hah!
Entropy- t1_j3putv9 wrote
Thank you very much for this summary! 😊🙏🏻 I do horse archery too, was really curious lol.
worldtravelstephanie OP t1_j3pzr5c wrote
Wow! How cool, hope you were able to understand my descriptions then! Maybe I’ll see you on the steppe on a Kazakh horse one day ;)
Entropy- t1_j3tgx61 wrote
Yep, very clear! I get pamphlets for overseas riding tours in which I look at longingly. I’m not skilled enough in vaulting or trick riding that I could do a one-legged upside down shot. Just taking in the experience and learning is what I’m really after though. :)
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