The Thrilling World of horseback archery combines trust and precision as Nico Thielen and blind rider Nadine Schumacher share their dynamic, niche sport.

Horseback archery isn't your typical weekend sport. Imagine galloping at 50 km/h, letting go of the reins, holding onto your horse with just your legs and swiftly releasing arrows at a moving target. Now imagine doing this with no sight.

Nico Thielen, a horseback archery coach based in Luxembourg, knows precisely how exhilarating and demanding this ancient martial art can be. Having competed internationally, from Hungary to Jordan, Nico champions this revitalised discipline that requires profound trust between rider and horse.

Yet Nico’s most remarkable coaching challenge is Nadine Schumacher, who became blind two years ago due to complications from Type 1 Diabetes, exacerbated by severe and chronic stress. Despite this life-altering event, she is determined not to let blindness define her limitations.

Nadine's journey into horseback archery began through a friend’s introduction to Nico and his fiancée, Sarah Elmquist, who embraced the unique challenge of trying to teach someone who cannot see.

Both certified coaches trained in Hungary, they adapted their training methods ingeniously. Nadine shoots by the rhythmic sound of a metronome placed on targets, proving sight is not the only means of achieving pinpoint accuracy.

The synergy between horse and rider is profound, especially given that horses, highly sensitive prey animals, mirror human emotions. For Nadine, whose connection to horses was already strong from years as a riding therapist, horseback archery became a natural extension of her understanding of non-verbal communication.

Nico highlights the emotional intelligence required in horseback archery, emphasising harmony rather than dominance.

"Horses prefer a softer, more intuitive energy," he notes, pointing out why women often excel in equestrian sports.

He also shares a fascinating insight about herd dynamics: it’s typically the oldest female horse leading through wisdom and experience, a concept he humorously suggests humans might adopt in leadership roles.

Both Nico and Nadine stress the therapeutic aspect of their sport. For Nadine, horseback archery represents a remarkable physical and mental challenge, providing immense satisfaction with every arrow hitting its mark. Her resilience serves as an inspiring testament that obstacles, even blindness, can become gateways to extraordinary achievements.  You can also hear the perspective of Nadine's son, Sam, in this show who came to accompany his mother. 

You can find both Nico, his finacée Sarah and Nadine competing in the Limpach Open Horseback Archery Festival this weekend. 

More information can be found here:

Find Nico on instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/bow.rider/

And Nadine here: https://www.instagram.com/souls_in_balance_hobscheid/

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