Circus Lofts
Horseman Pouter Counterfeits A few years before the Horseman Pouter was introduced here in North America from Scotland a few fanciers on our side of the pond attempted to recreate this fantastic breed of pigeon by making crosses of various breeds of Pouters and non-Pouters. The plan was to make them as close as possible in type and temperament to the genuine Horseman from Scotland. One of the many crosses that was done was Norwich Cropper x Racing Homer, with some Voorburg thrown in. The basic end result of this formula was a bird that was ¾ Norwich and ¼ Racing Homer. Many believe this is the basic original formula for creating the Horseman in Scotland countless years ago. This cross was very typy and was an excellent flier but lacked the Horseman temperament. Some of these birds were shown at the major shows and could have fooled the experts. To this day this cross is being used by some Horseman breeders to add better type and flying ability to their birds. They are called “Horseman Project Birds” which I believe is a good name for them as they are not genuine Horseman Pouters. The real Horseman Pouter is a real and distinct breed of Pigeon from Scotland. But since the genuine Horseman has been imported into the North America, this crossbreed is dissipating in the lofts around America. There is no more use for it. The second major attempt at recreation was done by crossing Brunner Pouters with different Spanish Pouters such as Rafeño and Laudino. The end result was a bird that was 50% Brunner Pouter and 50% Spanish Pouter. These birds have no Horseman blood in them whatsoever, yet are being offered for sale on the internet as Horseman Pouters. These birds are of poor Horseman type, looking like skinny Spanish Pouters with long legs. This mongrel continues to misrepresent Horseman Pouters by a very few in spite of condemnation by the North American Horseman Pouter Club. Despite all the genuine Scottish Horseman imported into North America these counterfeit crosses are still being peddled around the states as Horseman Pouters. The NAHPC does not recognize these cross breeds as genuine Horseman. If you are interested in genuine Horseman Pouters for exhibition or performance, do a complete research on the lineage of the birds offered to you, so you aren’t deceitfully sold these Horseman counterfeits. I might add that the genuine Scottish Horseman are not just show birds. The main breeders I know put a priority on breeding these birds for temperament, as it’s a big part of the Horseman standard and well should be. Most of the Flyers in Scotland get their working birds from the show breeders because most of the Flyers don’t breed. The genuine Horseman Pouter is both a bird that can be shown and one that can fly and seduce other pigeons as good as the best of them. The following is a poll I took of some Horseman Flyers in Scotland regarding this very subject: Question: I would like to discuss or learn
something about Horseman in the UK. Since Horseman have only been in my
country for 4 years, we have a lot to learn. Answers: Doo-Man (Horseman Flyer) #1: "I think even the show birds have got it, they soon learn what a board is when the hoods been over there heads." Doo-Man #2: "You are right
in that most birds can be trained to be a successful thieving pouter but I
still prefer to breed from flying birds and fly birds bred from flying
birds. They are no use if they look beautiful in the air and in a pen if
it has sawdust for brains. Unless it's a hen and is only kept to keep a
good doo on the road. Doo-Man #3: We have had a couple of Evan's (show birds) which have done pretty well but you only remember the good ones I suppose. Doo-Man #4: Hi Alan, I have bred
a lot of flying Horsemen from both my flying stock and from show stock I
have bought from friends in the show fraternity. Doo-Man #5: Consider this, Horsemen have been bred for show in big numbers for a good 20 yrs now, I would suggest that many Doo-Flyers don't realize that they have been flying Horsemen from show breeders for years as many breeders cut the band off old and young birds before sending them to the thieving sport, so in order to judge them collectively you need a broad poll across the city or cities, the poll is flawed if the flyer has unbanded stock and does not know where or how they were bred before they got them. We also overlook how many birds have been taken from the thief sport to be crossed into horsemen to improve a physical trait, therefore unintentionally carrying thieving ability back into horsemen. 8) 8) 8) Doo-Man #6: I have a NPA doo (show type Scottish Horseman) which is a picture and caught 60 hens at his last pitch
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