User:Mhughes1074/sandbox

The Horseman Pouter AKA Horseman Thief Pouter, Horseman is a breed of fancy pigeons in the Pouter/Cropper group of pigeons. The following is the Breed Standard for the Horseman Pouter.

ORIGIN: The history of the Horseman Thief Pouter can be traced back with some degree of certainty to the 17th century, possibly earlier. At one time a ‘working thief pigeon’ in and around areas of London. For the past 100 + years, their stronghold has been based in and around Glasgow, Scotland. They are now considered to be a Scottish breed by fanciers around the world. They were first imported into North America in 2004.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: An alert and lively breed, responsive to human chat as well as to other birds in the loft or judging pens. One could call a good working Horseman ‘pushy’ for the way they keep cooing, bowing and working at other birds or people.

DESCRIPTION:

HEIGHT: From the high spot of the skull to ball of foot the ideal is 10 inches. The actual height range will vary from 9 inches to 11 inches. Taller than 12 inches is a serious fault even if the bird is proportionate in over all size. Shorter than nine inches is a serious fault.

LENGTH/STATION: Not to be more than 12 to 13 inches long from the tip of beak to the end of tail. The Horseman can be broken down into three parts. First part being the head to the waist, which is at the top of the wing butts/shoulder where the globe hits the body. Second part being from the waist down to the vent area where the back of the thighs join the lower body. Lastly from this vent area to the tip of the tail. In a well balanced bird the first part will be slightly more than either parts two or three, which should be roughly the same length. When stationing the eyes should be roughly perpendicular to the end of the toe nails. Eyes over any part of the toes or foot mean they are too erect.

HEAD: Oval and neat with a slight forehead rising from the wattle in a flowing line.

EYES & CERES: Eyes to be bright and vibrant with a noticeable shine. All varieties to have the same red/orange colored eyes with the exception of pure white birds [absolutely no color including on the beak] can have either orange or bull eyes. Brown pattern birds have a ‘false pearl’ eye and shall not be cut points based on their eye color alone. The eye ceres shall be small, smooth and fine in texture.

BEAK & WATTLE: Medium wattle size, to be smooth and without coarseness. Medium beak length with color to match feather color (Black, Horn, Fleshy).

NECK, CROP /GLOBE: Length of neck/crop/globe starting at the top of the shoulders to be in proportion with the birds over all size. The crop/globe shall be well sprung from the waist and be well balanced with the rest of the bird. There should be enough back globe for an over all round crop/globe. The crop/globe must be under complete control at all times, neither too small nor too large, with the beak resting on the crop/globe. Birds close to the ideal height will often times have a less distinct break at the waist. While this is a fault it is minor in comparison to a bird that is considerably taller even with a good break at the waist.

BODY: Body to be wedge shaped, smooth and hard in the hand, but not overly large or wide. Back to be full but not round [AKA roach backed] to avoid side boarding with the cover feathers over the back. Keel to be straight and flow smoothly from the waist to the hip/leg joint, without extending much past the edge of the wings on a side view, carrying through in a smooth flowing line to the vent area. See side view for proper look. Brunner Pouter size and shape and type are a serious fault for being too small and thin. Norwich Cropper body size and type is a serious fault. The Horseman must be handled by the judge in order to feel the shape and condition of the body and keel.

WINGS: Held tight to the body with the flights resting on the tail and ending ½ to ¾ inch from the end of the tail. See side view drawing for better understanding. Flight tips should not cross over each other.

TAIL: Flows smoothly from the body and is held tightly together roughly one and a half feathers wide.

FEATHER: Hard and tight feathering, in good flying condition. Hock, thigh and vent feathering can be slightly looser than the body feathering.

LEGS: Strong, straight and free of feathers below the hocks; set wide on the body. See front view for better understanding. Thighs are visible with no noticeable hinge at the body junction. Length must be balanced with the over all bird. Legs that are too long or too short for the birds size are faults.

COLORS: All known colors (normal and rare) are recognized, including Self White. Any white markings, flights or pied markings are a fault.

NATURE: Alert and lively while performing constantly in the judging pen. They must be responsive to the judge, as well as to other birds when being judged.