Learn more about MA3: www.mountedarchery.org
sources. It is not only a combination of smaller targets setup a very specific way but it also involves the use of traditional Turkish archery equipment, specifically quivers.
In one of our previous articles we discussed the various Ottoman and Turkish style quivers available on the market today – and there are a lot of quality options. The biggest portion of the quiver requirement is that it disallows the “sword”, cross-draw or modern sport quivers that have become the standard for the sport. The main characteristic of the Ottoman quiver is that the arrows point back, rather than forward. This feature allowed the horse archer to swing a sword, use a spear or throw a javelin without worrying about damaging or hitting their remaining arrows. It is an older style of draw, and the debate about quivers and their historical authenticity will be argued for time immemorial; however Ottoman archery from the 16th and 17th centuries is very well documented, so there is little room for debate on what is “acceptable” on a traditional Ottoman course.
The course itself is named for the distinct target style, the Tabla – which in Turkish means “table” or “tray” because of it's size and shape; there is also similarly named folk drum with roughly the same sized head as the target. At 60 CM (just under 24 in) it is a diminutive target by USA horse archery standards. Typically in America, the 10-ring, 90 CM “FITA” targets are the norm, so the smaller size presents a higher degree of challenge to your typical target offerings.
As opposed to the standard US target faces, the Tabla is a mixture of blue, yellow and white elements making a very distinctive and high-contrast target. The scoring is a simple 6/4/2, but deceptively difficult due to the size and positioning. The targets are typically difficult to find, but high quality paper versions are available from The Flying Hun – Archery and Leather here in the USA.
As simple as it looks, the distances are the key as are adherence to the rules – which are as follows:
Canter or gallop must be maintained throughout the runs.
The rider may start the run with an arrow nocked.
All other arrows must be carried in the quiver.
Archers have to use quivers on their waist with the nocks pointing back (so no hip quivers with the nocks in front of the rider). For instance Ottoman quivers, Seljuk quivers, Crimean Tatar quivers, Mamluk quivers; Manchu quivers or Korean quivers may also be used.
Archers must take their arrows one by one from their quiver.
Archers are allowed to shoot one arrow at each target.
Arrows may only be released within the 90m track, ie they may not be shot before the start post or after the finish post.
The event will be run in 6 runs.
For Postal Matches visit IHAA: www.horsebackarchery.info/postal-matches
For paper targets, quivers and traditional equipment: www.theflyinghun.com
View the works of Mamluk Archery: mamlukarchery.com
In the future we plant to spotlight any of the unique courses that appear either on the world archery stage or as postal matches – in particular historic courses are an overlooked portion of our sport. Many of these courses are not yet recognized for ranked, international competitions, but the demand for new and interesting events is growing.