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Mounted Archery

Seminar/Clinic Summary Sheet

Equipment

Bows

Bows must be traditional in form (but may use modern materials such as fiberglass) – no pulleys, arrow rests/shelves, cut-out windows, stabilizers, weights, machinal releases, etc. Bows may be of any draw weight.

There are many types of bows in existence that meet this requirement. All bows used in Celeste’s clinics and seminars are Tatar bows.

Where to Purchase
Alibow: https://www.alibowshop.com/
Tennessee Valley Archery: https://www.facebook.com/TNValleyArchery/

Arrows

Arrows can be made of any material. When first starting — you’re going to miss the target, which means that you’re going to loose and break arrows relatively frequently. It’ll be easier on the bank if you start out with cheaper arrows and then upgrade to nicer ones as your skills improve.

For those just getting started, I usually recommend these arrows: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JGTQKZL

It is recommended that fletchings are feathered, not plastic.

Only target/field/bullet points are permitted.

For Qabaq targets, Flu flu arrows with blunt tips must be used.

Quivers

A quiver is required unless otherwise specified in the course description (when not required, arrows may be carried in the bow hand).

Quivers must be attached to the rider — never to the horse, saddle, or bow. Quivers may be attached to the hip, thigh, or back. It may not be attached to the rider’s arm or lower leg (i.e. no straps to be secured below the knee).

Arrows should be secure in the quiver and unable to bounce out when in motion.

Where to Purchase
KnavishDesigns: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KnavishDesigns
Steve’s Archery Leather Craft: https://www.facebook.com/Stevesarcheryleathercraft/
Wild Montana Leathercrafting: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2539662556341101/?ref=share
Witch and Crow: https://www.facebook.com/witchandcrow

General Rules

Horses and Tack

Qaqaq Target

All horses should be adequately trained and experienced in mounted archery and must be fit enough to complete all their required runs at walk, trot, canter or gallop.

All competitors MUST use a saddle with stirrups, and a bridle, bit-less bridle, side pull or bosal. All horses must have reins. There will be no liberty riding or riding with a bridle-less bit (war bridle) or a halter.

Horses should have a free head carriage. Any device or arrangement that pulls on or restricts a horse’s head or mouth during normal paces, when the reins have been released, (whether used with the aim of slowing the horse or not) is not allowed. The only piece of equipment allowed that attaches the head to its body/saddle is a rein keeper.

Track

The track shall be 1.5-3 meters wide. There shall be at least 25 meters space after the finish line for the horse to slow and stop safely.

The boundaries of the track shall be clearly delineated by a rope, track poles, or raised earth.

  • Any posts used as barriers must be bendable, easily bent, under 100 pounds, such that it does not present significant risk of injury to a horse or rider who falls on them.
  • The top of the post must be covered by a non-metal T-shaped fitting, ball, or rounded object to prevent injury.
    • The white, push-in posts with flat, square tops are permissible to use without a covering on top as long as the posts are angled OUTWARD from the track.
  • If rope is used, it must have breaking points to allow a horse to go through it.

Scoring

Arrows should not be touched until their score has been determined and recorded. Once properly scored, arrows should be removed from the targets after each run, so each competitor has clear target faces to shoot at.

  • Arrows that bounce off the target shall score zero and do not count as “hits” for the purpose of bonus points.
  • Arrows that pass through the target should be awarded the score that is indicated by a new hole in the target face, or where the target judge believes the arrow to have penetrated the target. If nobody saw which scoring zone the arrow passed through, or there is disagreement, then the lowest score for that target should be awarded.
  • An arrow that strikes and remains embedded in the nock-end (i.e., has robin-hooded) another arrow, it should score the same points as the arrow it struck.
  • If the shaft of an arrow breaks two different scoring zones or touches the line between two scoring zones then the arrow shall be scored as the higher of the two scores

Certain courses may require that the track be cleared in a specified amount of time. Points shall be awarded or deducted for completing a run in less or more than this time. One point shall be awarded or deducted for each second, calculated to two decimal places for electronic timing or to one decimal place for manual timing.

  • Points are only awarded for time if the competitor hits at least one target. If no targets are hit then the run scores zero, regardless of time taken.
  • The lowest score for a run is zero. If the time penalties exceed the arrow score the competitor scores zero (not a negative score).

Example Course Setups

Utah Quad

Australian Course

Tower

Additional Resources

International Horseback Archery Alliance (IHAA) Website: http://ihaa.info/
Mounted Archery Association of the Americas (MA3) Website: https://www.mountedarchery.org/
Competition Rules: https://www.mountedarchery.org/_files/ugd/241da4_88e09d39ca754b15ad6881cf22f189ba.pdf
Creekside Horse Park Mounted Archery Lessons and Competition Schedule: https://www.creeksidehorsepark.com/Mounted%20Archery%202023.pdf