The Clark County Fairgrounds recently hosted the 4th Annual Washington State Horse Expo. This is the second of a two-part video series looking at some of the unique events featured at the show, including Lisa Badger who performed mounted archery. In part one, we featured Jessica Wisdom competing in dressage.
For horse archer Lisa Badger, mounted archery with her horse Columbia is a form of therapy.
“To be running a horse, dropping the reins, drawing the bow… releasing the arrow, it’s that martial art Zen thing,” Badger said.
Badger currently performs mounted archery with the BlackPearl Friesian Dance Troupe and dabbles in dressage with the group. While dressage is very cerebral and serious, Lisa prefers mounted archery because it brings out her “inner warrior.”
“Archery touches something primitive in people and for women I think it is a very empowering thing,” said Badger.
Mounted archery is a relatively new sport in the United States, but is known well in other countries as the ancient martial art of archery on horseback.
Growing up Badger always had a love for horseback riding and archery. One day she decided to try the two together. After practicing her own for years, in 2014, she joined the Rogue Mounted Archers in Eagle Point, Oregon and began competing in mounted archery.
When she moved to Goldendale Washington to work on a Lipizon horse farm in late 2014, she became connected with the BlackPearls and began performing.
“It’s a warrior spirit and you get to experience that partnership with your horse… It’s magic is what it is. And it’s power,” Badger said.
