Mounted Archers of the Potomac has been teaching the ancient sport of mounted archery since 2017. What started as a small group has grown into a thriving community with regular practices at multiple Maryland and Virginia locations, including Waredaca in Laytonsville and Frying Pan Farm Park. Everyon...
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Mounted Archers of the Potomac has been teaching the ancient sport of mounted archery since 2017. What started as a small group has grown into a thriving community with regular practices at multiple Maryland and Virginia locations, including Waredaca in Laytonsville and Frying Pan Farm Park.
Everyone begins with an introductory ground clinic—a roughly 90-minute class taught entirely on the ground (no riding). This is a prerequisite for any mounted practice and covers:
After completing the intro clinic, you can move on to regular ground practice sessions and mounted practice once you can successfully speed load while walking.
Children as young as 8 can participate, though they need sufficient arm strength to draw a beginner bow. Kids 12 and under must be enrolled in regular riding lessons outside the club to ensure safe behavior around horses.
If you have a horse you'd like to use for mounted archery, MAP works with you to desensitize them to the sport. Their instructors have trained dozens of horses, including spooky ones, using stress-free short sessions. They've found that almost all horses can eventually learn mounted archery—some of their best archery horses still spook at the mounting block, proving horses can compartmentalize their fears.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Annual Individual Membership | $30 |
| Annual Family Membership | $45 |
| Non-member Facility Fee | $15 (waived if you bring a horse) |
| Single Bow/Equipment Rental | $10 |
| Six-Practice Equipment Rental Pass | $50 |
Non-members can attend one practice before membership becomes required.
MAP is a chapter of Horse Archery USA (HAUSA), the national organization that provides insurance coverage and organizes competitions. All riders must hold an active HAUSA membership to shoot while mounted.
The club connects members with global mounted archery resources:
Key Philosophy: Fun is the #1 goal. This isn't a high-pressure competition outfit—it's a community of like-minded people who share a passion for this ancient sport.
Regular practices and intro clinics happen at:
Practices and clinics are announced via the club's mailing list. Ground practices typically run 2.5 hours; mounted practices run 4 hours.
Headquarters: Gaithersburg, MD and Herndon, VA
All event announcements go out via email. Sign up for the mailing list to find out about upcoming practices, clinics, and other events.
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