Horse Bows

Horseback archery bows are compact, powerful bows with roots in Central Asian equestrian culture, and they are growing in popularity within traditional archery. Their short design makes them more maneuverable than classic longbows and ideal for dynamic shooting. Browse our range at BogenSportWelt and find the horseback bow that suits your shooting style.
Standard Item name from A to Z Item name from Z to A Price in ascending order Price in descending order Weight SKU Release date Newest first GTIN Bestsellers Reviews
orderable 27
Beier 5
Big Tradition 1
Bodnik Bows 1
Buck Trail 2
DRAKE Archery 9
Oak Ridge 3
RAGIM 1
Rexbow 1
White Feather 5
01-10 lbs
11-20 lbs
21-30 lbs
31-40 lbs
41-50 lbs
51-60 lbs
61-70 lbs
10-20 lbs 2
20-30 lbs 7
30-40 lbs 7
40-50 lbs 5
50-60 lbs 3
58 Inch
37 Inch
42 Inch
44 Inch
48 Inch
50 Inch
52 Inch
54 Inch
56 Inch
Both hands
Left Hand
Right Hand
Fast-Flight suitable 7
Bestseller 26
Special offer 1
Top rated 13
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28 Items found.
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28 Items found.

4000 Years of Steppe Culture in Your Hands

The horse bow is one of the most fascinating bow types in existence. Compact, powerful, and deeply rooted in the history of the steppe peoples of Central Asia. What sets it apart from other traditional bows is not just its short length of 48 to 54 inches, but its entire concept: an engineering masterpiece of horn, wood, and sinew that achieves arrow speeds of 170 to 200 fps despite its compact build. For all other bow types, visit our bows category.

What Makes a Horse Bow Technically Special

The defining feature of every horse bow is the siyahs, the rigid end pieces of the limbs. They act as levers during the draw, keep the string angle flat, and ensure that the full draw weight only becomes noticeable just before the anchor point. Combined with the extreme reflex curvature of the bow, this produces a draw curve that stores an extraordinary amount of energy for such a short bow. Quality horse bows are made from multiple material layers, typically a wood core of maple or bamboo, fiberglass or carbon layers in the limbs, and traditionally horn and sinew in authentic composite bows. Modern laminate bows deliver these characteristics in a more weather-resistant and low-maintenance form.

Shooting Technique and Accessories: What You Need to Know

The horse bow is traditionally not drawn with the Mediterranean three-finger grip but with the thumb draw. For right-handed archers, the arrow sits on the right side of the bow, directly over the back of the hand, with no arrow rest and no bow window. The thumb draw takes several weeks to get used to as the relevant muscles develop. Beginners protect their thumb from string contact with a thumb ring made from horn, leather, or metal.

Draw weight calls for particular caution with horse bows. The steep string angle and the thumb technique put more strain on the hand and thumb than other bow types. For beginners, 20 to 30 pounds is the right starting range. A 30-pound horse bow feels similar to a 35-pound recurve because of the steep draw angle. This surprises many people but is crucial for a good start.

Who Is a Horse Bow Right For?

Honestly, a horse bow is not the ideal first bow for complete beginners. Archers with at least six months of experience on a recurve or longbow who are drawn to Asian archery traditions will find this bow type deeply rewarding. It excels on 3D field courses where its compact build offers unbeatable advantages in dense woodland, and it is of course the traditional choice for mounted archery. Anyone who prefers modern equipment with a sight and stabilizers will be better served by a recurve bow.

Our Range at BogenSportWelt

At BogenSportWelt you'll find horse bows across all price ranges. For getting started, solid laminate bows between 80 and 200 euros work well, with trusted manufacturers including Beier Germany and Toparchery. In the mid-range, Kaya and AF Archery offer Korean- and Turkish-inspired models between 150 and 350 euros. For more demanding archers, handcrafted premium bows from manufacturers such as Grozer provide historically accurate replicas with excellent build quality. Please avoid horse bows under 80 euros, as bows in that segment frequently have poor glue joints and inaccurate draw weight specifications. Browse our range or let our team help you find the right bow.