Preparing the bow for shooting part 6 BRACING THE BOW ON HORSEBACK

As a complement to previous parts, in which we explain bracing and checking the bow slowly and carefully, we can now show - for a change - one of the more “battlefield” ways of bracing a string, that is by mounted archer. In the old days there were a lot of similar “special” techniques, to be used in different circumstances, like bracing while running, or standing in deep water, without getting archery equipment wet. First of all I have to say, that most of those methods are more difficult and/or risky for your bow than “normal” techniques we described before. This knowledge is not really necessary if you take part in modern horseback archery competitions, as you can brace your bow beforehand, on the ground, or else ask some of the “ground crew” for help. Of course it was completely different under battlefield or hunting conditions, when an archer can spend whole day in the saddle and cannot ask his fellow warriors to stop and wait a moment while he dismounts and start preparing his bow before charge, or trying to replace broken string in the middle of a melee. Essential skill or not, I personally will not feel a complete horseback archer without the ability to perform such a basic task without dismounting - even if for the next ten years I'll do this only for training or demonstration purposes.

First method I would like to describe is suitable for most types of bows (on our photos we have Sanczenko and his Saluki Mameluk), more and less curved, with and without string bridges and regardless of limb tip shape. The only exception are extremely reflexed bows, with limb tips closing or even crossing each other when unstrung. Well, but those “crabs” are difficult to string even on-foot and with a helper...

Bracing the bow on hurseback.

We should notice, that old war bows were often less “aggressive” geometry than their competitive counterparts (like Turkish flight bows with half moon "hilal kuram" silhouette vs. war bows of "tekne kuram", boat-like shape, curved only at the ends) which, among other things, gave them more robustness and made them easier to maintain under field conditions.

One loop of the string we fix on appropriate limb tip and we position this end of our bow vertically downward, gripping opposite siyah in right hand, and free string loop in left hand, together with horse's reins (very similar position as when preparing to string the bow on the ground, by “across the leg” method).


Now, keeping the bow's belly towards us, we hook bottom siyah against inside edge of our right foot (as shown on the photo by red arrow, not too close to the toes). Depending on stirrup shape and size, sometimes you will have to remove your leg from it (although in the case of horse tack from our photos, this is not necessary).
If the bottom string loop is not permanently tied to limb tip (more about this later), with our left hand we have to keep the string tight all the time, to prevent it from falling or going off-center, which can be quite difficult, especially if our horse is not standing still.

Next, keeping our knee bend enough (right foot cannot go forward) we start to bend the bow with the right hand as shown by yellow arrow, directing its tip towards our left hand, where we hold free loop of the string. Limbs bases and bow handle should gradually lean back on our leg behind right knee (red arrow) wrapping around upper calf and lower thigh. Of course bending of the bow is not as evenly distributed as in “normal” bracing, but this is war and you sometimes have to take a risk...
It can be difficult at first, but with a bit of practice you can position everything in such a way, as to avoid over stressing either of the bow's limbs.

When we pull the bow end close enough to our left hand, we fix the loop at limb tip and, after checking the string and geometry as carefully as possible in those circumstances, we remove the bow from our leg.
We can also make the whole operation just the opposite, reversing hands and on the left side of our horse, although if we will do it in historical outfit, complete with a sabre and bowcase, this can hinder our movements a bit.
When unstringing the bow we, as always, make the same movements in reverse order. During our first attempts to brace and unbrace the bow that way it is good idea to have somebody standing on the ground nearby, taking a look at bow's lower parts and helping as necessary.
When attempting to brace the bow in a hurry and/or using one of the more risky methods it's good to have one string loops tied in place to the appropriate limb tip. Then we don't have to worry about this end of the bow (in this case about lower end, which is very hard to see for a mounted archer, unless he leans a lot forward). It's also convenient in everyday life, the string stays on the bow correct way up, will not mix with other strings (if we have several bows) or get lost etc.
In our times we often use rubber bands for this purpose, but more elegant and historical way is to tie string loop with a thin thread (yes, you can find this method in period sources).
It's easy with most types of limb tips (on Turkish, Persian, Mongol and other bows, with string groves similar as on our photo) and a bit more difficult, but still possible, on Korean bows, popular among our archers.

A second method worth mentioning is generally even simpler than the previous one, but it is suitable mostly for bows of small or medium reflex; for example it is very convenient for widely known Samick SKB and other bow similar in shape (on our photos you can see The Squirrel and his Saluki Damascus). Additionally, such a bow should not have string bridges or any other elements that can hinder slipping string loop along siyah. Not even mention to do this with Windfighter. I'm not saying it's
impossible, but it really wouldn't be worthwhile.

This time, while one string loop is fixed to the appropriate siyah end, the second loop should not be completely free, but put loosely around the other bow limb. We grip the bow in the right hand, around siyah base in such a way, that our fingers support this loose loop and prevent it from slipping down; bow is hold vertically.






We put the bottom tip under upper part of right thigh or under buttock (as shown by yellow arrow on the second photo), back of the bow towards us, and our left hand, keeping reins, will now grip bow's handle. Of course you should lose the reins a bit, to keep control over the horse but also prevent from pulling its mouth accidentally.






Now, keeping the bow's bottom tip pressed against our thigh all the time, we start to pull the handle towards us (yellow arrow), while our right hand pushes the upper siyah away and slightly upwards (red arrow on photo), pushing the string free loop along the limb with the ends of fingers.
It's VERY important, that you should do this by feel, turning your head away and inclining it forwards if necessary, to avoid being hit straight in the face by the limb tip, if it slips out of control (NO KIDDING, IT CAN KNOCK YOUR EYE OUT! Accidents like that happens from time to time in sport archery, where people often string their bows in a very similar fashion).


Where our right hand reaches limb tip, we push string into it's groove with our fingertips, being careful not to slip it too far, over siyah end (it can happen quite easily). Even if you have some troubles fixing string loop into proper place, DO NOT LOOK THAT WAY! It is forbidden, banned, haram, and not allowed!



















There is also another similar method, when you place the bow more or less horizontally, it's back towards the ground and one siyah resting on horse's neck, and then one hand (holding reins at the same time) we press bow's grip down, and with the other hand we pull opposite siyah up and slide free loop of the string towards it's groove. Without doubt this is safer (limb tip cannot spring into your face), but less comfortable for me, especially with longer bows.
Broadly speaking, for a right-handed person, no matter which of those above mentioned methods he will use, most convenient way of using hands is as I described: to make most of those movements with right arm, while his left hand is holding reins (as is customary in any cavalry forces, no mater what the weapon of choice is), and merely helps, being held quite close to the body.
But of course it is also possible (and worth training) to swap your hands and do everything in mirror image, on the left side of the horse. Actually in original texts you can find a suggestion, that upon encountering strangers or hostile riders, you should brace your bow at the opposite side of your horse, to shield your movements and intentions from the eyes of your potential enemy.
Those techniques, without dismounting, are used in principle when we are in a rush, so instead of full measuring-and-checking procedure we only take a quick glance (or a quick check by feel) on the loops and string center position on the limb. But if there is no need to start shooting at once, then all the usual checks described in the previous chapters can be done while mounted, as convenient as standing on the ground.
For a good rider, feeling sure in the saddle, it's not that hard to learn to brace or unbrace the bow in full gallop. In fact in Kitab’ı Huyul (Turkish manual from about 1640 A.D.) you can find one of the exercises consist in shooting at the first target, unstringing and stringing the bow again, shooting at the second target and cutting two more targets with a sabre. All this on approximately 180 m. track, so probably in about 20 seconds. Even if we assume, that by unstringing they mean only taking the loop off limb tip and fixing it again, without completely unbending the bow, this is still an impressive example of historical warrior's level of skills. But to be able simply to do it in your own time, without breaking speed records, does not require very long training.

Before you start to risk your favorite bows, please come to AMM Archery classes, we have proper equipment to train this safely ;-)

No bows, archers nor horses were harmed in the making of photos for this episode (although two of the latter were seriously bored - but subsequently received a carrot
each...)