A composite bow is made of many layers, cleverly arranged to take advantage of the properties of each: the outside of the bow is often sinew, which stretches, attached to a wooden core, with horn, which can be compressed, on the inside facing the bowman. Such a weapon can store more energy when pulled than a simple wooden bow of similar size. This makes the composite bow an excellent weapon for mounted archers, as a large bow would constantly get tangled up in reins, or could not be quickly swung across the horse’s neck. However, archery is not a skill that is quickly mastered; archery from the back of a galloping horse is a skill doubly difficult to master, and until a mounted bowman can not only control his mount, usually with his knees, and string, aim and release an arrow at full gallop to hit the target, he is not a true steppe nomad warrior.
