FAQ: First Horsebow? Which one? 

I made my first asiatic bow after watching this channel. I copied one of the Chinese fiberglass limbed with wood siyah models . Learned how to do thumb release ,then purchased a 40 lb turkish . I'm 6'3" and 250 lbs . My draw length is 32" so my bow is at 46lbs at full draw . It's all I want for my thumb. After shooting "horse bows " I dont even care about other types of traditional archery . Thanks for all the great content.

been researching 'horse bows' this was very informative and helpful all I have to do now is find one with my draw length and in price range.

When I was 15 years old I shot an American flat bow, which I used until I went into the army at the age of 18. Now, at the age of 86 I have just bought an asiatic recurve bow with a draw weight of 30 pounds and by some fluke seem to have followed the advice that you give here. I am still using the Mediterranean 3 finger draw, but I suppose I will eventually try the thumb draw. I am going to look around and see what other advice you have posted about asiatic recurves and all the small tweaks that improve the experience of shooting them. Thanks for a very good, interesting lesson.

You're a great teacher. As an adult, I'm surprised horsebows don't have a shelf, yet remember thinking not needing one as a kid.

YES! I waited so long for this video! Thank you, Armin! :)

Always the best Armin!

Aha.... that's a lot of info I really need, thank you.

Very helpful advise, thank you Armin.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us.

Nice video!! Thanks Mr. Armin for another Great Info. Allways VERY professional. And love see so Beautyful bows. Cheers✌

Thanks, great video (all of your videos are great)! I'm new to archer so your information is extremely helpful and you also make me laugh. Have a blessed day!

I can’t believe you don’t have 100k subscribers by far the most knowledgeable and accessible source of recurve bow info on RU-vid. Thankyou!!!

I love your videos. Extremely informative.

Great advice communicated in an entertaining manner 👏

Thanks, best explanation of horse bows , I have ever heard and seen. ARMIN , YOU ARE THE GREATEST. NEW INFORMATION FOR ME.

Hi ! Nice to find a video like that today. Was at a Medieval Festival yesterday and bought my first "horsebow" with the intent to diversify my collection and archery style. I watched your video on the thumb draw this morning and subscribed ! Thank you for making these videos, the Hungarian makers of my bow put a stylized wooden thing on one side of the bow grip. I'm learning a way to old it and nocking my arrow correctly, will put a nock soon.

Really comprehensive answer to, an in my opinion, quite difficult question. Thx a lot for this one Armin!

Good advice as always. Thanks Armin! Thumb draw is so much fun. For me it just feels more natural than fingers.

Excellent presentation my friend many newcomers will benefit from the information you put forth in this video. Great job as always! Thank you very much for all you do Armin.

I love these bells tolling in the background in your videos ;)

I just shot my first horse bow today, you definitely led me to them. I will be buying one before the end of the summer. Thank you once more Mr Hirmir

Day time fireworks. You gotta love Malta :D

So enjoy your videos. So knowledgeable. Like how you compare bows and which you suggest and why. Love your reaction to the fireworks!😂

Thanks for the video! Reminds me of my house with the fireworks in the middle of the day in all of July!

Oh wow, this is super useful, thank you

Thank you so so much. I'm just about to begin my archery journey and will probably start with a horse bow as I love the look and history. This was super super helpful!! :) :)

Great advice , love your expertise 👍

Thank you! I want to get into eastern-style archery, specifically horse bow archery. There is not a lot of good info on what to look for in a 1st horse bow, and this was SO helpful.

Excellent advice! Thank you very much.

The tip for thumb release makes perfect since now thanks man you have a good looking collection of bows

Thanx sir, i’m from malaysia. That information about the weather hot and humid here are really helpful because I hear a lot where bow break due to that situation. Thanks. Gonna buy my first bow

Thanks for the helpful info!!

Very good information. Thank you.

Ich bin immer wieder begeistert, in welch kurzer Zeit Du so viel Information auf so einfache Weise "rüberbringst"( z.B. eine kurze Zugbewegung am Horsebow, oder eine kurze Grimasse zum geprochenen Wort.. 😏✊🏻💪🏼🏹..und schon hat man es verstanden. Super!! Danke dafür🙏🏻🙇🏻‍♂️🙇🏻‍♂️

Excellent video. I started well with the Crab Bow then though I did get matched arrows at the same time.

Great teaching!

A great review of the issues involved in choosing your first 'horse bow'. I 'm a recent fan of the Asiatic bow (last 2 years). I own a variety of types: plastic crab bow; fibreglass and laminated bows. In general, I'm very happy with my choices and I'm particularly fond of the inherent beauty of these bows, and of course, their performance. Flaxen Saxon.

I also appreciate the information on form just before the fireworks. :)

Thank you for this informative video

I'm glad to see that I was not all wrong with buying my first horsebow, and I will learn to shoot with thumb release and instinktivt aiming

@Armin Hirmer. I am looking to learn to shoot a horse bow. This video was most helpful. I was almost about to make the mistake of getting a 50 pound draw to start. Please keep the videos coming.

Thanks, I was so confused and overwelled untill I saw this video 😅 Be blessed

The information was helpful and the fireworks😀

THANKS FOR THIS VIDEO.

My first bow was a take down recurve 60lb draw (which I only draw with three figures). My first "horse" bow was a 35lb Turkish style bow. After watching your videos I was nervous about started with a 35lb (you posted one about a year ago saying that 35 maybe too much for a started in thumb release). But I was surprised at how well my thumb held up. Archery so far has been a challenge but getting my thumb strong enough for 35lb draw was easy. Great video again Armin.

I just wanted to say how much I am enjoying your videos. Love your helpful style. Tony and Deb in SW France

That was THE most important and useful video for me, as it answered all the right questions for me. I'm interested in various traditional designs of bows around the world already for a long time, but I shot anything other than contact recurves (apart from Olympic recurve for a relatively short time). I wondered which design of cheap asiatic bow should I buy, because I would like to try the thumb release shooting. This video confirmed my predictions about draw weight: I shoot 52 # flatbows, my draw is already 30 inches, but I was sure, that with thumb release and possibly longer draw, I must be careful. I also liked honest remarks about the shooting feeling (kicking of the bad bows). Although this is to some point always a personal preference (I personally prefer a good designed flatbow/longbow over any recurve, modern or traditional), I was sure, that these syahs would "do their thing" be it in a good or a bad way. I'm also sure, that this designs of bows will never be my favorite way of shooting, because of that, but I want to try something new, and for that I need a cheap, solid bow. I'm very grateful for this video. Thank You, that despite Your knowledge in asiatic bows and shooting technique You don't assume, that everyone is beyond some basic considerations as mentioned here. Thank You very very much, Armin!

Great Master .,.. salute to you

Again thank you for the info, wish I was there to try them all thanks again sir.

I had figured out a while ago that I needed a low poundage bow for fun shooting and practice, (at the time I was looking at a longbow type). My 'horsebow' purchase (Turkish Ali-bow fiberglass 30 lb) came from an interest in Scythians/Pazyraks which gradually evolved into wanting to try a reflex 'horsebow'. Cost and Armins reviews of Ali-bow products finalized the decision. My second bow will probably be a fiberglass bow again, 40 lbs, as this is the minimum for hunting where I live. Thanks Armin!

Thank you very much for all of your great content. 👍 I found out that horsebows are just as fun and accurate when using the 3 finger grip even tho the thumb grip is the traditional way to go :) But... when it comes to poundage, arrow weight and so on I'm at a complete loss at the moment. Maybe binging your videos will help 🖖

Very nice video, great advice as always. Especially the advice of getting a week bow at start. I can stress this enough, since I saw a lot of archers getting bad habits after starting with a 50 pound bow. It is also my experience. When I started archery 7 years ago, my teachers shot 80-90 pounds bows and recommend me getting at least a 50 pound bow. I still have a grudge for them for this bad advice. Now, one of them is shooting 45 and the other 70 pounds. After 3 painful years I bought myself a 35 pounds nomad a started lo re-learn again. I had to get rid of my bad habits and still to this day I am not completely cured. It would be easier for someone new to learn the correct technique than for a messed up technique archer who has to unlearn first the bad neuronal connections.

Thanks for the nice informativ video, now i started with the manderin duck thorn horse bow, with 19 pounds, this video was helpful for me. you do a great job for archery , thanks ;-)

Great info. I'm leaning toward a fiberglass bow.

thank you

Those were some LOUD bows at the end :-)

Pride is their biggest enemy when learning, especially if they already know everything. :)

First thank you for everything you do for me and anyone who love archery or they just started. I call your Chanel, archery bible and save your videos under the same name on my playlist. Thank you

Grazie, ha risposto a tante mie domande, come tutto bisogna partire con umiltà dalla base e crescere piano piano. 🙏

I got myself a Korean bow with 20lbs, and I'm super happy with it! ^^

Excellent presentation. One thing I will say about the thumb release is how much better it is on the wrist and elbow. When drawn, the knuckles are aligned horizontally not vertically as you have using the Mediterranean release. This is how the forearm naturally comes to rest resulting in less torsion on the elbow and wrist.

very useful, thanks!

Nice presentation.

Thanks for your advice, Armin. We usually prefer short bows when doing horseback archery. Because while we riding fastly on the horse, we need to move freely and aim easily. On the other hand, we do not need very strong bows due to the targets in horseback archery are max 30 meters. So Short Tatar or Short Turkish which has 40# maximum strength should be optimal choice, I guess :)

the one you held up at 4:04 is the one i got and its great

Nice This is the Video I need to fing my Bow. I just learned that they have different names, It should be called Asiatic reflex bows. I want to learn too. Thanks for this video.

Addictive Asiatic! Once You feel the Smooth Unlimited Draw Lenght with Turbo Like Stack Free Power, The Proud Forward Facing Siyahs an the Sound of Shot, the Sensation is Addictive. Oh Yeah, Bringing It Armi.

Great advice, has been really useful as it seems to get harder to choose the longer you look of course, thankyou!

Hello, Yesterday I had one to shoot. From KAYA made and round about 160 Euro. Ist is the Nomad 53" KTB Carbon - Freddie Archery. Very nice made and smooth to shoot! Thank you a lot for this overview! Nice! Keep healthy! with love and peace ❤️

Very nice information sensei. Hehe, hope you don't mind i called you sensei, because i learn so many information about archery from you. Keep sharing information sensei. Well done. Hello from Indonesia 😁

Thanks for Info

I have not wanted to comment too quickly on my Alibow tang "dunghuang" but now I can say with confidence its an amazing piece of artisan craft and a very good bow. I purchased as I have stupid long arms so I wanted a ~34.5" draw and the dunghuang "long" delivers on this and then some and its beautiful in form and to shoot. its been for the past 6 months my favorite bow. basically I just use it and loan my others out to friends.

Excellent video! I followed your advices, It is really the good method imo : 1/ #25 Alibow fiberglass turkish bow (about 90€ included arrows and shipping) - new to thumb release, worked on my shoulders... 2/ #30 Freddie Archery KTB (195€ + arrows) - really fast and smooth, I learned what is full draw, how to use my back muscles 3/ #35 Simon's Raptor (about 600€ + arrows) - next step, fantastic looking bow with high performances. Thank you Armin 😎

super helpful

Great video

I started with a #40 Samick SKB for about 120 Euros and I'm very satisfied. I practiced with a #26 Rolan Snake first. Thanks for the information.

I chose the Fox Max as my first one. Great bow for the money.

I have been in archery formany many years and liked the look of these styles of short bow. So I bought an inexpensive Mongolian bowl a couple years back @50 pounds draw weight... Tried shooting it with a thumb realized was not the best thing I could do. It didn't even occur to me about the draw weight on my thumb. I have since stayed with a 2 finger release with the arrow on top of my index finger.... I am glad you brought that up.....

Perfectly Explained... Beginners must choose their Bows at low poundage 18Lbs to 30lbs could be ideal.. for learning and adapting purpose... Kudos Armin

I have found your words about draw weight so true. Normally shoot a 60lb modern recurve with 3 fingers. Thumb draw I'm lucky to do 30 pounds haha. It takes some getting used to! I should like to get a real one soon (using a homemade one, being on a low budget sucks) and this video was very helpful!

My first one is a IRQ 60 pound bow off Amazon for $109 plus the govdrnor's cut/bribe. Because of my short draw length, it is effectively a 43.7 pounder.

Very informative. I will purchase 25lb DW at a relatively low price.

Just bought my first bow, 40lbs Recurve left-handed to use for Thumb release (I am right handed) The thumb ring i ordered was awful so spend the day with a makeshift one from thing leather, My thumb ended up twice the size, thankfully i grabbed a Thick leather thumb ring and It works perfectly.

My first was a Bearpaw (Attila Arcus) Mongolian. Followed by Alibow, Attila's Archery, Akosbow, AF Archery, Bosen, Cinnabar, Grozer, IRQ, Kassai, Kaya, TOP... never met a bow I didn't like for at least a little while!

Great explanation, I think it's helped me narrow down first bows for my 9 year old and me. I think Im gonna go for the Tartar 30lb for me and Junior bow 15 from Ali Bow for my 9 year old; unless you can recommend a better bow for the kid. Thanks!!!

am sharing this with all my friends who want to buy their first bows , thank you master

All nice bows

Armin Fantastic knowledge drop 😉🤙🎯 aloha

I give you all 10 of my thumbs up, Armin! ;-) I have a Nomad Warrior Alibow Asiatic Reflex bow and a Tatar. Both great, both like going to archery college on a budget. You graduate and go on to win the Nobelly Prize.

Armin, I've been watching your videos for about 4 months now. Very recently I decided to buy a bow. However, I didn't know whether I should get a "horse bow" or a long bow as my starter bow. Because of you I am deciding to choose the "horse bow" as my first bow as well as the technique. Thank you for all the information you provide to this community and to beginners like me. ~Malichi

I got a Kaya KTB as my first bow. Not that expensive. The bow seems pretty good, and is nice to look at. Mine is 40 pounds wich is a bit high, but Ive managed to train into it.. But with hind sight a 30 pound would have been better. But an even more important thing is a good, well fitting thumb ring.

I feel very alone even though I love my horsebow archery. But -- I use Mediterranean draw, shoot off the left, and draw only, almost 28", anchoring at my corner of my mouth. I love Asiatic recurves/horsebows but I cling shooting like I'm holding a Fred Bear or Ben Pearson American hunting recurve that shrank. Both the Kaya "Khan" and the Black Shadow (Freddie/Nomad but not the custom Nomad I think) -- these two models seem to stack a lot past 28.5" or 29" (feeling very unlike other Traditional Korean Bows) and therefore do not seem inefficient or unreasonable to shoot Western-style. I have years invested in my instinctive form, it works *great* with these bows, and when I try to "reinvent the wheel" and shoot from the right side or draw to my ear or grab the arrow differently... I just don't have a lot of fun, personally, because of my history and muscle memory. At least when you score better than someone they speak a little more quietly. But it's lonely. The Kaya Khan, despite coming from the same factory as KTB's, was designed to shoot like a Western hunting recurve, but they had quality control issues (not in design or material but assembly and tolerance) and I think complaints killed more than just the otherwise fabulous model - it killed Western/Asiatic hybrid enthusiasm that was budding from it. People who got a good Khan were not pressured into re-learning archery but held a minimalist thing that shot like their behemoth. Before I ever heard of Armin, or Lars (hehe), I was astonished at my new Khan, crawling around in bushes (like you can't with a barebow Olympic or even a Grizzly) attempting to hunt turkeys like a 1300's guerilla ninja... all while being able to keep my instinctive form I already had, though.

Thank you @Armin. I have been looking for this video. I thought they were shooting fire arms, not fire works. Since watching this, I have a 35# fiberglass Turkish bow and I am still contemplating to get a 2nd bow of fiberglass or laminated bow with longer limbs - Tartar , Korean, Mongolian or Hungarian? What is the difference between the Tartar , Mongolian, Korean and Hungarian bows?

Thanks for this one, any chance of a 'whats your 2nd Horsebow' video as no idea where to go next.

I would either recommend one of alibow's fibreglass bows or maybe one of kaya's traditional korean style bows. I bought a kaya windfigher recently and I like it so far, it's #46 which usually is a bit too heavy to be enjoyable for me, but it doesn't feel that heavy at all.

I recently bought the scythian horsebow at 21-26 pounds from Flagella Dei as my first bow after shooting my clubs barebows for half a year. I'm very excited to start practicing thumbdraw! Thank you for all your videos on the subject Armin. You're an absolute star.

Hi Armin, I recently started (again) archery, but thumb release this time, with the Snake bow from Rolan. I'm considering uping up a bit (well, getting a nicer bow) and would like to know which one would you recommend between the Alibow's Yuan, the Alibow's Genghis Khan and the AF Archery's Mongolia bow, or maybe another one? (Not considering looks and prices) A comparison video of these three would be very usefull, by the way.

Hey, just bought a turkish bow from Styrczula, amazing bow. if you have chance to review it, AGREE. for now i think it's the best reflex bow i have shot

I am binge-watching his videos right now. I am hooked. Can't stop. I am using my guitar as a bow, and I am shooting pencils across the room. Please send help.

Hello, nice videos!! About the bow at 3:26 : any reviews? where can you buy it?