LEWISBURG, Tenn. – Rising Glory Farm, with its wooded trails, winding creek, green hayfields and livestock, sits in the heart of Marshall County. And in the center of this 84-acre farm sits a track designed specifically for mounted archery.

Mounted archery is one of the fastest-growing equine sports in the United States and has found a home at Rising Glory Farm. Established in 2000 by Chris Carlough and his late wife, Ida Marie, Rising Glory Farm first specialized in breeding and training Tennessee Walking Horses for pleasure riding. Eventually they turned to agritourism and raising cattle, chickens, pigs, quail and boarding horses. Now, mounted archery is the latest attraction. The farm is home to Chattahoochee Horse Archers and Tennessee Valley Archery.

It was Ida’s idea to host mounted archery on the farm and she reached out to mounter archer Elizabeth Tinnan, founder of Chattahoochee Horse Archers.

“I was contacted by Chris and Ida, saying they had this facility and wanted me to put this mounted archery together, for them” Tinnan said. “Ida knew I loved mounted archery and reached out to me. I wouldn’t have imagined myself moving to the middle of Tennessee, but here I am.”

Tinnan brought her experiences and the sport to Rising Glory Farm. Today, it is the only farm in Tennessee offering lessons by Tinnan, a top-ranked archer. She is a world class competitor who competes nationally and internationally.

“As a self-taught rider, I rode horses every chance I could,” said Tinnan, who started riding horses at age 15. “But I hadn’t found the equine discipline that suited me until I tried mounted archery. It’s a sport that requires talent, skill and precision.”

The Georgia native was introduced to the sport in 2014. And this pastime quickly turned into her profession.

“I dabbled in a few different things,” Tinnan said. “I once worked in a factory where I did welding, worked as a volunteer firefighter, even went to college thinking I wanted to become a veterinarian. Then somehow, I kinda fell into mounted archery and it was everything that I never knew I needed. It completely altered the entire course of my live in a very positive way.”

Like Tinnan, students typically try mounted archery following other equine disciplines, though others come with traditional archery experience.

“People with archery backgrounds usually have to re-learn the process because equipment and shooting techniques are different,” Tinnan said. “What works on the ground doesn’t necessarily work on the horse, whereas what works on the horse works both ways.”

Mounted archers use traditional, recurve bows that don’t have sights, pulleys or a shelf to enhance performance. Also, the height and mobility of the horse must be factored in for timing.

“The faster the horse goes, the more the arrow drifts off the target,” Tinnan said.

Tinnan’s lessons begin stationary on foot, showing her students how to carry and use gear. She demonstrates three shooting styles and helps students mount with equipment, load, draw and shoot. Eventually, students will shoot upon their horse, but at walking speed.

“We take our time going step by step because archers must confidently let go of the reins to execute,” Tinnan said, adding that it’s a challenge to twist and turn in the saddle while steadying aim.

Once they have confidence, riders can compete where they are judged on speed and accuracy. Competitions are scored with cumulative grading from multiple runs, some faster than others.

“Some courses require that you move a little faster and shoot a little faster, while other courses allow you to ride slower,” Tinnan said. “Some rules require you to carry arrows in your quiver, others require you to carry them in your hand.”

Whether experienced or a first timer, Tinnan is open to helping people engage in the sport.

“Whether it’s an eventer who’s already very comfortable cantering a horse or someone who watched a cool movie that had a mounted archer in it and they wanna do it because it’s cool, I support every level of participant as long as they are willing to put in the work and do the training,” Tinnan said.

“My client base is so broad and vast that it’s eclectic. It’s like when you get into someone’s car and it goes from one music channel to the next, bouncing from country music to heavy metal. It’s anybody and everyone who has ever had an interest in doing this.”

Tinnan is tops in her sport, but her love of interacting with people overshadows the trophies and ribbons she wins.

“I am not a highly competitive person. I really enjoy the atmosphere, people and horses more than the winning aspect,” she said. “But competing helps me enhance how I can train students and engage more people in the sport.”