Lajos Kassai’s traditional horseback archery school, based on military traditions, has nearly 200 members. Among them are more than 60 women: they are the Amazons. From young to middle-aged, they come to the Kassai Valley to take the physically and mentally challenging entrance exam. Some are following their own dreams, many young people are driven by the enthusiasm of their parents or partners.

Being a horseback archer requires discipline, commitment, diligence and perseverance. Stepping out of your comfort zone is inevitable for progress. The goal of becoming a better rider helps them through the difficulties. For the Amazons, being a horseback archer is an opportunity to rediscover a harmonious balance in the distribution of attention between the outside world and their own inner selves. This is often lost in caring for others.

Time spent in community, working together, is also an attractive value for the women who join. The sustaining, supportive power of the equestrian community is significant in the lives of all members, including the Amazons

Amazons

Horseback archery is the queen of martial arts. It requires harmony, rhythm and balance rather than brute physical strength. Women excel in these, as well as in creating harmony with the horse and in load-bearing capacity, and are therefore successful in horseback archery.

Amazons

Members of the Kassai School hold a public training session in the Kassai Valley, Kaposmérő. Women and men have to perform the same tasks in the training and in the exams. As quoted by Lajos Kassai: "The river you fall into does not ask you if you can swim, and the rapids do not fall silent when a woman falls into them."

Amazons

Amazon candidates take the test on an obstacle course to assess their specific strength. After jumping over the barrels, they have to hit the swinging bags with a stick. They have to complete 5 laps of the 100-metre course without stopping. This is the toughest test of the entrance exam.

Amazons

Amazons go for free grazing horses in the Kassa Valley. The atmosphere of the training sessions, the cooperative spirit of the community, brings relaxation and recharging to many.

Amazons

One of the youngest students of the school, 7-year-old Anna Mária Pető is a member of the Brázik Tribe of Somod. Although she will not be able to take her entrance exams for a few years, the young Amazon regularly attends training sessions.

Amazons

Andrea Király crosses the finish line of the 5 km general fitness test at the entrance exam. The woman, who has grown up with children on the way, was looking for a new challenge and wanted to prove herself when she applied for the horseback archer entrance exam at the age of 49.

Amazons

With her battle cry, Ildikó Czirákné Németh demonstrates her inner strength to the examiners at the entrance exam.

Amazons

A group of Amazons run to clean up in preparation for the Open Day in the Kassai Valley. Every training day involves working together, with the men and women's tasks determined by the chiefs.

Amazons

Horse archers taking a level exam in the Kassai Valley. Students receive accurate, realistic feedback on their technical skills. The three apprentice and advanced levels and the six master levels are represented in the school by colourful caftans with their different coloured belts.

Amazons

In the Kassai schools, there is a strong emphasis on building community. In many cases, members of the tribes keep in touch outside of training sessions. They help each other and share each other's moments of joy. Shared holidays are not rare either. Many form lifelong friendships.