Help us to Follow Our Arrow!

Hi i'm Steff and together with my incredible traditional Cob Huckleberry Pie we have shared a whole world of adventures from competing around the UK winning in various disciplines from showing to Working Equitation, or being a part of parades and demonstrations such as All the Queens Horses at the London New Years Day parade and even Horseback Archery (see profile pic)

I became curious in Horseback archery in 2019, i had previously trained and coached ground target archery in 2008, and picked up a cheap plastic children's bow and arrows online to see whether or not Pie would entertain my wild idea of trying it out. Being a jack of all trades adding another string to his bow - pun intended- was of no concern to him and he took to the idea very quickly. We have played with that same plastic bow on and off for a few years with our highlight being providing some entertainment for guests at retreat and events at a hotel.

Last year I was introduced to the competitive side of the discipline with The British Horseback Archery Association (a sport that is growing in popularity worldwide) when a junior client that I coach found herself without a ride for the British National Championships. Knowing Pie was quite the pro already out of the competition environment, I offered to take him along for her to use in the event and spent a week immersing myself in the friendly atmosphere and learning all about the different techniques, types of shot, design of tracks and trying to rack my non mathematical brain around the grading and live scoring system.

Since returning home I have felt an urge to take up the bow again and in a short time have joined the BHAA, achieved my club horseback archer qualification and first grading as well as starting training on the coaching pathway to help other people find their inner warrior in the future.

I've been very fortunate to borrow other people's bows to achieve the above as it has become very evident that my plastic kids bow and firing at plastic feed sacks filled with hay really isn't going to cut the mustard if we are to progress further. I have realised that bows are very personal to the people who hold them and with a potential opportunity to compete at the National Championships in August on Pie myself this year it would be amazing for us to be able to go without having to beg and borrow equipment from other people.

Some major financial set backs recently means i don't quite have the funds for the outlay at the moment and I hope that enough people have found inspiration in The Adventures of Huckleberry Pie and I to support us and would like to see how we fair up in battle...cough cough...i mean competition. Please consider supporting us in helping us get the right weapons.....sorry, equipment for the job.

It will give us a great start to our own personal journey with the British Horseback Archery Association but will also help me introduce new people to the sport once I finish my Coaching Qualifications.