SILK ROAD CUP

For the third time, an international horse archery competition is taking place here in Iran: in the desert city of Yazd 2017, in picturesque Shiraz 2018 and in 2019 at the foot of the Alborz Mountains near Tehran. Last year I was already among the participants, which changed my mind about the country. Of course, I have to adhere to the strict dress code of the women, including the headscarf, but I am really looking forward to the friendly and warm Iranians themselves.

The most important basic requirement is a well trained horse. There are no particularly preferred breeds because the animals do not have to do anything extraordinary or unphysiological. Only a calm mind is an advantage.

Regarding the shooting technique, the scene can be roughly divided into "Mediterranean" or "thumb technique". The historical authenticity and the safe arrow guidance on very fast horses speak in favor of the thumb technique, since the arrow is placed on the right and is pressed against the bow by the wind. However, the Mediterranean technique allows the shooter to hold up to twelve arrows on the bow hand, so that