News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
While the cowboys and cowgirls were competing in the Sisters Rodeo, a small group of dedicated riders practiced skills that go back thousands of years to ancient warriors of Hungary and Mongolia: the art of mounted archery.
Participants brought their trained mounts or used horses provided by trainer Katie Stearns and ranch-owner Holm Neumann. Stearns and Neumann are passionate about the sport, and both teach clinics around the country and often outside of the U.S.
Both Stearns and Neumann are gold medalists in the International Horseback Archery Competition held annually in South Korea.
Neumann's ranch is home to the Cascade Mounted Archery Center, off of Plainview Road just outside Sisters.
The Cascade Mounted Archery Center was established by Neumann about five years ago. The training center offers schooling for recreational and competitive mounted archery, from international medal-winning mounted archers.
"We have the largest string of trained mounted archery horses in the USA," said Neumann.
They offer a variety of creative ground archery cross-training exercises.
Part of Neumann's string of archery horses is a Brazilian breed called Mangalarga Marchador. Descending from Andalusians, the horses are known for their endurance, smooth canter and trainability.
Taking the long, unpaved road back to the ranch feels like a time capsule is transporting participants and observers into a world where the power of a horse and rider could mean the difference between life and death. Some riders wear period-inspired clothing and use bows reminiscent of ancient Hungarian or Mongolian design. Just about any saddle will do; whatever's comfortable and easy for a rider who must ride a galloping horse while shooting a bow at a stationary target.
People get into mounted archery for a variety of reasons. For some it's something new to do with their horse; others have a background in target shooting, bow hunting, renaissance re-enactments or martial arts. There's something alluring about the combination of a controlled, fast-moving horse and the ability to focus, aim, and connect with a target.
The martial arts tradition was developed among pastoral nomadic cultures of Central Asia several hundred years B.C.
This way of life reached its peak during the reign of Genghis Khan, whose mounted archers conquered half of the known world of the 13th and 14th centuries A.D.
The first international mounted archery competition in the USA, called the Horseback Archery Challenge, will be held in Central Oregon October 2-3 (venue to be determined). Representatives from many countries including South Korea, Japan, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Malaysia will be competing with the best of our American mounted archers. The competition is sanctioned by the World Horse Archery Federation and the Mounted Archery Association of the Americas.
"We are honored by the caliber of martial artists participating in this competition and their offer of demonstrations of other horseback martial arts," said Neumann.
The South Korean international team of the Korean Traditional Equestrian Martial Arts and Gyuk-Gu Association, Dameon Willich's Seattle Knights, and Pat Stafford, a performer with the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show will wield spears, swords and axes between events.
This international competition has attracted competitors from around the world. So far, 25 of the top athletes in mounted archery will make the trip to Central Oregon to compete. Neumann and Stearns will provide a trained horse for each person.
The combination of the demonstrations and the competition make this an event not to be missed. Neumann plans to have bleachers erected and other amenities to make the location comfortable and accessible.
Last weekend's activities were part of the preparation for the October competition. Horses were timed running down the archery track to help organizers assign the right horse to each competitor. Dameon Willich's role as one of demonstrators is an important one. He came for the weekend to show his support and help Neumann and Stearns with planning.
Neumann is seeking sponsors for the event. Home-stays for the competitors have been arranged, and awards have been donated. Sponsorship opportunities for specific events are available. Neumann has taken on a big task to host the event and would greatly appreciate in-kind or cash sponsorships.
For a complete list of sponsorship levels and benefits or to learn more about the event, contact Stearns at [email protected] or visit http://www.mountedarchery.net.
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