Horse Bows question

[tmattson]

Hello All,
Can someone give a little insight on "horse bows". Are they a smoother/faster when compared to other custom shorter bows, like a Thunderchild or Shrew classic's, etc.? Or just another personal preference.

[flntknp17]

I'm sure you'll get a variety of answers.  I own four short Asiatic bows (Korean FRP, Kassai Magyar, AF Zhe Bie, AF Turkish) and enjoy shooting them alongside my "regular" traditional bows.  They are not like any of the others.  They don't draw or shoot the same as western style bows.  They are almost always extremely light in physical weight and have very small grips compared to western bows.  This can throw some folks off who aren't anticipating it.  By their very nature they have extremely smooth draw cycles, soft releases, and are often very quiet when shot with a clean release.  I don't understand why they haven't become more popular in the west.  Asiatic bows with string bridges on their siyahs have a very unusual feel to someone during the draw since they tend to have much flatter F/D curves than western bows with higher early draw weight......which translates into high arrow speed.  I would highly recommend shooting one if possible.  Some people love them and some people don't.  I think it just depends on how "set" you are in your ways of how a bow "should" feel. 

Matt

[tmattson]

Do you shoot yours with a thumb style release?

[flntknp17]

Do you shoot yours with a thumb style release?

I have tried both hard (horn) and soft (thick leather) thumb style releases and couldn't get used to them.....though for the really short Asiatic bows (under 50"), the advantage to a thumb release is clear because string pinch does become an issue simply by geometry, no fault of the bow.  In my somewhat limited experience, the thumb ring is extremely well suited to shooting on horseback because it forces the arrow into the side of the bow a little and that would make it very stable while bouncing around.  Also, I can see it being an advantage in war since that was the initial purpose of these bows.  It is undoubtedly quick and efficient.  Westerners don't seem to "take" to it easily because it necessitates having the arrow on the opposite side of the bow from what your used to (right side of the handle for a right hander instead of left side for a right hander).  Aiming is VERY different and takes some getting used to.  Also the thumb ring is (in my experience) louder than a three-finger release and the sound would make a lot of people uncomfortable.  Just some observations.

Matt

[Alexander Traditional]

I just got a Wind Warrior,and it's smooth and quiet. I like it quite a bit.