FAQ: First Horsebow? Which one?

I get this question a lot and I wish I could answer it short...
Did the best I could, I hope it is helpful for you out there.
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Armin Hirmer
Malta Archery
100 Triq Annibale Preca
Lija LJA 1915
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[@jasonpercy184]

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.

[@juffurey]

You should get a Onewheel. Or learn how to ride a tricycle, and go on a walking archery range.

[@connorhart7597]

How's the journey coming?

[@MarcassCarcass]

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.

[@sebastienschubert2991]

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

[@ArminHirmer]

better the right subscribers then only just many :D thank you

[@scoffmax]

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.

[@terrymoody3094]

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.

[@tammynfletcher]

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.

[@miguelveratraditionalarche9374]

Hi!! Fletcher I hope you are fine. I ask what has been your experience with the SiCai?? Cheers to you and Mr. Armin.✌

[@sb-ant6457]

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

[@Gravey91]

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

[@cliffbensimon7519]

Very helpful advise, thank you Armin.

[@volp5502]

Always the best Armin!

[@maxyong520]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us.

[@robertocatrone715]

I love your videos. Extremely informative.

[@miguelveratraditionalarche9374]

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

[@twintwo1429]

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

[@Archerstidbits]

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

[@vaportrail226]

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

[@ArthA122]

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.

[@janedagger]

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

[@gizmonomono]

Day time fireworks. You gotta love Malta :D

[@aaronottobre4865]

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!! :) :)

[@sanctifiedmind3822]

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

[@mackenziemoore6907]

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

[@toddstewart4404]

Excellent advice! Thank you very much.

[@ericmorrell806]

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.

[@kevbee8325]

Thanks for the helpful info!!

[@ShadeTreeStables]

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

[@malcolmjones4108]

Great advice communicated in an entertaining manner 👏

[@syahmishaare2323]

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

[@susanscandles]

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

[@mrbluespepper]

Oh wow, this is super useful, thank you

[@jimmiebusch2907]

Great advice , love your expertise 👍

[@MichaelJones-ti9fx]

Very good information. Thank you.

[@islamtahir674]

Thank you for this informative video

[@fancymcclean6210]

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.

[@muzeumkaasznikowa7156]

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

[@drsmartypants1795]

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!

[@joshm6720]

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.

[@Intranetusa]

What is Alibow's normal shipping price before COVID happened? Right now everything seems to cost ~$50 shipped.

[@rickkahapea5361]

Great teaching!

[@bucklenus4071]

THANKS FOR THIS VIDEO.

[@marinasilver6572]

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🙏🏻🙇🏻‍♂️🙇🏻‍♂️

[@sigmanarchery54]

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

[@anthony99900]

I love your review too man. Keep Up the good work especially the Ragim bows

[@sigmanarchery54]

@@anthony99900 thank you sir I appreciate ya hope you subscribe to my channel and thank you for your feedback and support.

[@blairhayden8955]

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.

[@fmagalhaes1521]

@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.

[@singharchery3043]

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

[@ColetteNoir]

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

[@mikker32]

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

[@devinderkumar8738]

Great Master .,.. salute to you

[@engnkck]

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 :)

[@claidemore]

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!

[@AnimaTriste]

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!

[@tonyanddeb1012]

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

[@ArminHirmer]

Thank you

[@MichaelJones-ti9fx]

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

[@mikhaelstibino]

very useful, thanks!

[@EnFyr]

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 🖖

[@peacehope3003]

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

[@UncleDanBand64]

The information was helpful and the fireworks😀

[@adamkilroe9840]

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.

[@theruleofthumb2171]

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.

[@jamesbariso704]

First :watch all the videos of AH. Second :listen to AH wisdom thru his experiences ,start practically with cheaper and lighter bows and eventually upgrade. Third: observe carefully his SMILE when shooting a certain Bow, that means you should buy them ...eventually. Fourth : be carefully watching because AH is very contagious, I started collecting bows because of him. Fifth: Appreciate AH so he will be encouraged to continue parting knowledge that are truly beneficial to us Archers. From the bottom of my heart Maraming Maraming Salamat Armin. Also to all Boyers who supported AH throughout his ventures Thank You Very Much.

[@ArminHirmer]

haha thank you so much

[@ldohrebl]

@@ArminHirmer Too funny, because of Mr Hirmer I bought my first horse bow today. I have a long bow and a recurve, both Bears, but since I have watched so many of Mr. Hirmer’s videos which I thoroughly enjoy, I told a dive today and made the purchase. I will let you know how that goes but in the mean time, I will continue to watch Mr. Hirmer in Malta from California. 🙂

[@LaskerEmanuelEVE]

The smile test is really key, it tells you what you need to know.

[@DrPeterMarsh]

super helpful

[@lubossoltes321]

Those were some LOUD bows at the end :-)

[@ghostfifth]

Thanks for Info

[@artimesbabai]

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

[@ArminHirmer]

Thank you very much

[@steven03048]

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

[@theruleofthumb2171]

my first student is shooting 145 meters target with 20lb and bamboo arrows. :)

[@kowalski363]

Great video

[@lebondave4377]

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 😎

[@ryeflekun7857]

Nice presentation.

[@timtravasos2742]

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

[@Catalinmanumesc]

thank you

[@karstenpaulsen5050]

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 ;-)

[@CarlitosMayo]

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.

[@jonoedwards4195]

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.

[@marlonwalt8849]

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.

[@mattmettaljus]

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

[@thelonerider9693]

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!

[@UncleDanBand64]

I just got a horse bow after 30+ years of longbow and recurves. I got a 50 pound. It shoots great Mediterranean but, I can also thumb draw it. Now I can't hit the side of a barn when thumb drawing. Now, I would not be able to do it normally. He did a video showing an alternate thumb method. Where your index and middle finger both hold the thumb and the string lays between index and middle finger. I have some lightweight horse bows coming to try the more traditional methods. What surprised me, my new horse bow is only 40 inches strung but, I have no problem shooting it with a Mediterranean grip. Zero finger pinch. So, if I never master thumb draw....it will not matter to me. I will be shooting these short fast bows from now on.

[@gaetanog.105]

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 ❤️

[@elvispresley7529]

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

[@alessandrovaselli3757]

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

[@charlieperry26]

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.....

[@robsarchery9679]

All nice bows

[@rickyavadianto7550]

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 😁

[@gblan]

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

[@NeverEverFaceTheDark]

Super helpful, thank you. It makes sense of all the wild options. Also makes me feel mildly reassured about my somewhat impromptu buy of a fibreglass bow. It was a little marked up from 100 euros but shipping would have cost me close to that probably. I got a relatively low poundage, it has a nice leather wrapping to hide it's probably ugliness , and it definitely doesn't look like the tartar bow you're holding even tho the seller said it was a tartar style bow. Oh well! I also finally understand draw length. But i did not get arrows. And no clue if hand shock will kill all enjoyment bc it's actually a cheapo Chinese import. We'll see...

[@krustysurfer]

Armin Fantastic knowledge drop 😉🤙🎯 aloha

[@stevehuffman7453]

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.

[@1512125]

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.

[@lebondave4377]

Olle Hellberg Absolutely! KTB (Kaya, Freddie Archery) are cheap and really nice to shoot, extremely smooth and fast.

[@itsourkingdom1319]

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.

[@SteveBene]

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

[@AdolfosTube]

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!!!

[@mikeorick6898]

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!

[@kabaleth]

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.

[@ArminHirmer]

Welcome and enjoy shooting

[@kabaleth]

@@ArminHirmer Thank you! I just got my bow this week, and it just sounds amazing! I wonder if i may ask you a question though, it's pretty specific, but is there a set amount of twists i should do on the bow thread for horsebows?

[@ArminHirmer]

@@kabaleth preferably not at all, but it needs to be just a few (10ish)

[@kabaleth]

@@ArminHirmer Not at all? Wow, gonna give it a try tomorrow then and see how it feel! Thank you again Armin for all your content and work!

[@eqlzr2]

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.

[@Torkijo]

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

[@OtterLakeFlutes]

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.

[@theatrenisha9345]

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

[@magnusdanielsson2749]

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.

[@TheDudemage]

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.

[@ArminHirmer]

All good, I did that too :)

[@strydyrhellzrydyr1345]

Did he send help.. send me a bow to if so .. lol.. I want a bow so badly .. any damn thing.

[@TheDudemage]

@@strydyrhellzrydyr1345 bro if you broke you can actually make your own makeshift bow. Search on youtube: makeshift homemade bow

[@strydyrhellzrydyr1345]

@@TheDudemage ummm. Well. Coulda said the same to you. But didn't... So????. Why. I know there are, watched plenty. If I had the right wood anywhere near me... I would...

[@TheDudemage]

@@strydyrhellzrydyr1345 yeah since I wrote that reply I got my first bow and started archery.

[@gh0stzxix200]

I definitely over did it with the 50 pound bow

[@nathski8812]

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

[@sebastianmaliszewski9036]

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