2025
INTRO TO HORSEBACK ARCHERY CLINICS & WORKSHOPS
Seawinds coach Lance Bishop offers introductory and intermediate level clinics through the Maritime provinces.
Intro clinics usually happen at existing stables where riders have developed interest in getting started with horsearchery.
The first clinic allows a broad introduction to the sport, covering the foundations of the archery form that works for horsearchery (starting on the ground), preparation of attending horses to be brave to the archery and be ridden without rein tension on a short arena-bound track, and then finishing with a chance to see how far we can safely advance our horses in a weekend.
Most experienced riders with calm, well-trained horses get as far as shooting arrows from their horses within a couple days,some at walk or trot only, and some even at a canter. The goal is to give participants the knowledge they need to continue their journey safely and effectively.
Successive clinics evaluate and refine the students' shooting techniques, present more advanced training drills, and prepare students for their first competition.
Contact us for
available dates in
2025.
More information about our clinics:
Seawinds Horse Archers Club started in Nova Scotia in 2018 with the mission to introduce the exciting sport of horseback archery to Eastern Canada. The club is coached by Lance Bishop who serves as an International Competition Judge for the World Federation of Equestrian Archery.
Lance Bishop teaches side by side with his partner Sarah Clarke. Lance and Sarah are both competitive horse archers, Lance is a certified mounted archery coach with the CFMA and Sarah is a EC Licensed Coach with a background in horse training and development. With different strengths they balance each other out to work together preparing the archer, preparing the horse, and bringing these elements together allowing the horse to set the pace. Each participant will have their own individual experience as there are many determining factors as to how far a horse is comfortable progressing in one weekend, but everyone who attends will leave feeling as though they have the right tools to continue there journey progressing in this new sport!
Lance’s training curriculum primarily reflects the teachings of the Hungarian Master Lajos Kassai, founder of the Kassai School of Equestrian Archery and the World Federation of Equestrian Archery. Kassai is regarded as the father of the modern sport.
Sarah's mounted archery training is also Kassai focused, during these clinics she is there to give a hand with ground archery training but her priority and her passion is on the development of the horse within the sport and has a good eye for knowing when a horse is ready to progress.
Clinics and Workshops are taught year round throughout the Maritimes and during the warmer months at the Seawinds training centre in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley. The first clinic at a new location lays the groundwork for the unique archery technique that works on the back of a horse (taught on the ground in the beginning) followed by the education needed for our horses to become brave and safe when we let go of the reins and starts shooting arrows. Subsequent clinics build on this and work towards the goal of establishing training tracks locally to help make the horse archery journey more accessible. All archery equipment is provided during clinics and students are encouraged to bring their horses. Clinics are insured through the Canadian Federation of Mounted Archery with the stipulation that riding participants must also hold membership with their provincial Equestrian Canada association.
Whether we come to you or you come to us we will deliver an unforgettable experience for you and your horse!
One of the advantages to attending a clinic with a group at our training centre is that you will have the opportunity to work with seasoned horse archery horses in addition to working with your own horse... or even instead of if you are unable to bring a horse of your own and would still like to attend and focus on your own development in this sport.