Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Bow-proof Reply to topic
This is a standard topic Go to page 1, 2  Next 
Author Message
Peter Bosman




Location: Andalucia
Joined: 22 May 2006

Posts: 598

PostPosted: Tue 06 Mar, 2007 6:11 am    Post subject: Bow-proof         Reply with quote

Horses tend to be weary of the sound both the bow and arrow make.
Before we start shooting after a pauze I will accustom to the sounds again.

Picture one is me grooming whilst of my son and a friend playing and thus not drawing any focus to the bow and shooting.



The following fotos are an impression of the rest of the 'procedure'.






Peter
View user's profile
Randall Moffett




Location: Northern Utah
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Reading list: 5 books

Posts: 2,121

PostPosted: Tue 06 Mar, 2007 8:02 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Peter,

Interesting process. I had never heard that before. Looks like you live in a very nice area as well!


RPM
View user's profile Send private message
Jonathan Blair




Location: Hanover, PA
Joined: 15 Aug 2005
Likes: 9 pages
Reading list: 2 books

Posts: 496

PostPosted: Tue 06 Mar, 2007 8:48 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Looks similar to how you get horses used to gunfire.
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." - The Lord Jesus Christ, from The Gospel According to Saint Matthew, chapter x, verse 34, Authorized Version of 1611
View user's profile Send private message
Peter Bosman




Location: Andalucia
Joined: 22 May 2006

Posts: 598

PostPosted: Tue 06 Mar, 2007 9:08 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Sure it is very like gun-training. The complication is that this sound is not one simple if loud bang.
Shooting an arrow goes like

'tsjoeng'.....'whoosh' ...... 'splátt!'

which translates to

'alert'..... '¿what-what-what-what¿?'.....'¡JÚMP!'

I know most riders do not, but we ride unbridled so not only wánt to give them the opportunity but need to too² Laughing Out Loud


Next step.








Peter
View user's profile
Gordon Frye




Location: Kingston, Washington
Joined: 20 Apr 2004
Reading list: 15 books

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 1,191

PostPosted: Tue 06 Mar, 2007 10:43 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Peter;

Those are cute pictures of your son shooting the bow off your horse's back! Great fun!

Indeed, the process you're using is just what I'm doing with my horses with guns. They "somehow" (being pretty smart) managed to associate my cocking a pistol with the "BOOM!" that comes after, so I've had to desensitize them to that first. I've been cocking one of my old one's down in the barn while they're feeding. At first they jerked their heads up when I'd cock and snap it, now they ignore it completely. Now to move on to "The Smoke Monster" which issues forth from the pan... Eek!

I've also done the bit of leaving a pistol or carbine in the stall, next to their hay while they eat. I used a play cap-gun first, but after it was destroyed by being stepped on... well, back to the real ones. I just don't leave them in there overnight!

I did some horse-archery last Summer too, and yup, that "Whoosh-THUNK!" is just as scary for some horses as the "Snap-BANG" of a pistol. Well, almost. We got them used to it fairly quickly though, and I was managing to do some fun runs down my tilt shooting the bow at a sheild we hung up on the quintain. I never did get that third shot off, though... Not enough time! Big Grin

Anyway, thanks for posting those pictures, Peter. Andalusia looks lovely in the Spring!

Cheers!

Gordon

"After God, we owe our victory to our Horses"
Gonsalo Jimenez de Quesada
http://www.renaissancesoldier.com/
http://historypundit.blogspot.com/
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Yahoo Messenger
Lafayette C Curtis




Location: Indonesia
Joined: 29 Nov 2006
Reading list: 7 books

Posts: 2,698

PostPosted: Wed 07 Mar, 2007 4:45 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Well, Gordon, horses sometimes "jump the gun" when hearing the sounds of a bow as well. I've been in a ranch where the horse-archers had a great deal of trouble wit ha particularly skittish gelding who bolted as soon as it heard the sound of an arrow scraping the side of a bow at the beginning of the draw. I don't know how much worse it would have been if they had used a modern bow with a clicker instead of an ordinary traditional bow, which made a great deal less noise than any modern competition bow I've ever seen or used.

(That's me still reeling from the burden of yesterday's archery competition.)
View user's profile Send private message
Peter Bosman




Location: Andalucia
Joined: 22 May 2006

Posts: 598

PostPosted: Wed 07 Mar, 2007 5:03 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

As horses have a VERY keer hearing and this is hardwired to an alerting fright-reaction, soft 'stealthy' swishing sounds are a lot worse than a simple loud bang and over.
Like I wrote the problem with the bow-shooting is that the 'frightening' sound happens áfter the horse has had time to go in alert mode. Horses will learn ths sequence of events VERY quikly and indeed the rustling of the fearther will be quite enough for a horse to know it might just as well take of at that moment and avoid the arrow hitting home.
Only one experience with a rider delaying the shot because of the horse moving is enough to learn the horse that an alert jump equals no noise from the target. Once a 'succes'-experience like this has become learned it is impossible to 'cure'. A very good rider might improve the reaction but it will always be there and pop up under a different rider.

HC
View user's profile
Jean Thibodeau




Location: Montreal,Quebec,Canada
Joined: 15 Mar 2004
Likes: 50 pages
Reading list: 1 book

Spotlight topics: 5
Posts: 8,310

PostPosted: Wed 07 Mar, 2007 6:41 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Makes one wonder how horses reacted to an arrow storm in a battle between a bow or horsebow culture, that might have horses trained to ignore the sound of arrows, and another culture were the bow was little used and the horses completely unprepared ( trained ) to face mass archery ? ( First battle(s) i.e. initial contact with a culture using a different fighting system ).

Could this have been another reason the French had to dismount in some battles in the 100 years war ? At least when the French faced the longbow early on ? I would imagine some desensitizing training would have been used later to re-give the French Cavalry some effectiveness ?

Obviously, the same thing could be said later on with firearms and canon on the battlefield.

You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
View user's profile Send private message
Gordon Frye




Location: Kingston, Washington
Joined: 20 Apr 2004
Reading list: 15 books

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 1,191

PostPosted: Wed 07 Mar, 2007 8:42 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Jean;

I think that you're absolutely right that there is a lot to the English mass-use of archery, and not simply the arrows falling fast and thick among the French Chivalry that was a problem. The noise of thousands of bowstrings thumping and arrows whistling, being somewhat unfamiliar, combined with the screams of men and other horses from the pain of being impaled would definitely be a factor! Horses have to be desensitized over years of training to this stuff, and every time a new noise or action comes up, new training comes into play. Bows/arrows, then firearms being fired AT, then FROM, etc.

Of course, the first time the Greeks came up against elephants, their cavalry bolted too... Eek!

Good point, Peter, on the delay problem. But since guys successfully train their horses to the Mounted Cowboy Action Shooting game, which involves lots of cocking, shooting, and running around, I'm sure that they can get used to anything eventually. Eventually! Cool

Cheers!

Gordon

"After God, we owe our victory to our Horses"
Gonsalo Jimenez de Quesada
http://www.renaissancesoldier.com/
http://historypundit.blogspot.com/
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Yahoo Messenger
Peter Bosman




Location: Andalucia
Joined: 22 May 2006

Posts: 598

PostPosted: Wed 07 Mar, 2007 11:31 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Well Gordon a good rider-horse combination based on mutual trust has quite a bit of margin. This said horses MUST be trained with forethought.
Horses cán be formidable tools of war IF one ALWAYS takes into account that they are programmed to be professional claustrofobics with a conspiracy theory.
The program 'horse' was the reason I earlier wrote, in another topic, that guerilla type skirmishing is the most suited role for true mounted warriors. Not by far the only, but the almost universal mounted footsoldier or dragoon, rather prooves the point.

Btw Gordon, advanced another step towards a weapon permit today. With the two new forms added to the earlier two I can go to regional police HQ after getting a medical exam. The 'Civiles' will no doubt tell me which form(s) are missing.
If and when that is sorted they will no doubt need an indefinite period to 'check' and approve, but héy it looks like it might actually be possible Laughing Out Loud

HC
View user's profile
Bill Duncan




Location: Macon Georgia
Joined: 09 Dec 2003
Reading list: 3 books

Posts: 74

PostPosted: Wed 07 Mar, 2007 6:50 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Some where there is a very un flatering pic of me in midair holding a rifle while the horse I was on is doing mach-10 sideways.
Always make sure you and the horse are on the same page.
Dunc

May you live as long as you want but never want for as long as you live
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Gordon Frye




Location: Kingston, Washington
Joined: 20 Apr 2004
Reading list: 15 books

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 1,191

PostPosted: Wed 07 Mar, 2007 8:22 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Bill;

Ah yes, the "Bomb-Proof Horse" that "has never done that before"! Laughing Out Loud

Peter;

Great on the weapons permit! I hope that the process continues to go well, and that soon you'll be posting photo's of you shooting off your horses (rather than them going sideways in one direction, and you in the other, as with Bill here... Wink ) Good luck on both of those processes! Big Grin

Cheers!

Gordon

"After God, we owe our victory to our Horses"
Gonsalo Jimenez de Quesada
http://www.renaissancesoldier.com/
http://historypundit.blogspot.com/
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Yahoo Messenger
Jean Thibodeau




Location: Montreal,Quebec,Canada
Joined: 15 Mar 2004
Likes: 50 pages
Reading list: 1 book

Spotlight topics: 5
Posts: 8,310

PostPosted: Wed 07 Mar, 2007 8:25 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Bill Duncan wrote:
Some where there is a very un flatering pic of me in midair holding a rifle while the horse I was on is doing mach-10 sideways.
Always make sure you and the horse are on the same page.
Dunc


Well. now you HAVE to find that pic and show it to us. Razz Laughing Out Loud

You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
View user's profile Send private message
Bill Duncan




Location: Macon Georgia
Joined: 09 Dec 2003
Reading list: 3 books

Posts: 74

PostPosted: Wed 07 Mar, 2007 8:35 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Its been over twenty years since this happen and I have been laughing my hind-end off thinking about it this evening Laughing Out Loud Wink
yeah its funny now!
Will look for the photo.
As to bows here are mine.



 Attachment: 58.09 KB
Dscf4477.jpg


May you live as long as you want but never want for as long as you live
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Peter Bosman




Location: Andalucia
Joined: 22 May 2006

Posts: 598

PostPosted: Thu 08 Mar, 2007 12:36 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Although the genaral perception is that the role of the horse as a war machine is a thing of centuries past this is not true.
In réaly rough going neither wheeled not tracked vehicles are of use and footsoldiers not at all surprising.
During WW2 several mounted commando units were employed and with such success that the US-army kept this alive and again adopted this strategy in Afghanistan.
The units rode into the difficult terrain and got off to fight. Space age true dragoons.



What I like a lot is the idea of the lanyard to attach the gun to the rider in combination with a quick-release snap on the scabbard.

HC
View user's profile
Peter Bosman




Location: Andalucia
Joined: 22 May 2006

Posts: 598

PostPosted: Thu 08 Mar, 2007 4:40 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Gordon Frye wrote:
Great on the weapons permit! I hope that the process continues to go well, and that soon you'll be posting photo's of you shooting off your horses


After 3 hours of red tape the application has been entered into 'Thé System'. I should not expect an answer earlier than in two months time.
If the permit is granted I can buy the (gun)s. Those come with documentation which I need to present with the guns aat the Guardia Civil. If all is found in order I can apply to have it registered to my name. That will taken its time too.
I will thén receive the registration and this together with the weapon permit allows me to shoot on my own premises.
I can then also apply for a permit to hunt form the regional Federation. This however is nót the same as a being allowed to hunt. No, that is the permission in géneral and with tháy you can go to the local club to become a member and apply for the right to actualy hunt.
At the end of this one máy choose to lobby for permission of a specific area....

Peter
View user's profile
Gordon Frye




Location: Kingston, Washington
Joined: 20 Apr 2004
Reading list: 15 books

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 1,191

PostPosted: Thu 08 Mar, 2007 7:57 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Peter;

Oy! Sounds complex! Eek! But it's great that you've started the process at least. Good luck with it!

Cheers!

Gordon

"After God, we owe our victory to our Horses"
Gonsalo Jimenez de Quesada
http://www.renaissancesoldier.com/
http://historypundit.blogspot.com/
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Yahoo Messenger
Sam Castle




Location: England
Joined: 10 Mar 2007

Posts: 1

PostPosted: Sat 10 Mar, 2007 6:49 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Lucky kids. I wished I was able to shoot my bow from horse-back. Also, I'm ashamed at the bow type your using Peter and Bill. Be real men, use a English longbow!
View user's profile Send private message
Gordon Frye




Location: Kingston, Washington
Joined: 20 Apr 2004
Reading list: 15 books

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 1,191

PostPosted: Sat 10 Mar, 2007 8:47 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Sam Castle wrote:
Lucky kids. I wished I was able to shoot my bow from horse-back. Also, I'm ashamed at the bow type your using Peter and Bill. Be real men, use a English longbow!


Perhaps, but they're bloody hard to use from horseback! Especially the serious 125-lb and up Longbows! You need to stand on your own two feet to properly send your cloth-yard shaft into a Scotsman's bum at two-hundred yards with one of those big boys. Big Grin

Besides, a good Hungarian or Turkish shortbow gives a lot of power in that little package... which you can easily shoot from horseback. Cool

Cheers!

Gordon

"After God, we owe our victory to our Horses"
Gonsalo Jimenez de Quesada
http://www.renaissancesoldier.com/
http://historypundit.blogspot.com/
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Yahoo Messenger
Peter Bosman




Location: Andalucia
Joined: 22 May 2006

Posts: 598

PostPosted: Sat 10 Mar, 2007 10:26 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Sam Castle wrote:
Lucky kids. I wished I was able to shoot my bow from horse-back. Also, I'm ashamed at the bow type your using Peter and Bill. Be real men, use a English longbow!


Implying real men have brain damage? No thanks I'd rather be a clever sissy Laughing Out Loud

The composite recurve bow was invented some 3000 years ago just for this purpose and evolved gradually to the perfection of the turkish delight....

http://www.atarn.org/islamic/Performance/Perf...h_bows.htm

My laminated turkish





is a work of art, weighs just over 300 grammes, is 48" long, draws 34" and with 35# drawing weight shoots simple, wooden arrows accurately over 100 yards.
I draw 32" and can manage just under a dozen per minute. From horseback I am just as fast but can only hold a few in my bowhand. Getting more from the scabbard needs time. I guess warriors could manage to get 5 or 6 into the air during the charge.
The next trip to Málaga I will buy some modern thin lightweight carbon arrows as these will vastly improve the efficiency of my ultra-fast bow and shatter less easily.

Peter
View user's profile


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Bow-proof
Page 1 of 2 Reply to topic
Go to page 1, 2  Next All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum