Saddle Homers

Also referred to as "Saddleback Homers", "Flying Saddle Homers", and most recently "Flying Show Saddle Homers" this versatile breed has been used as feeders, racers and most recently show birds. The earliest mention I can find on Saddle Homers is in the American Pigeon Journal (1948) and Wendel Levi's "The Pigeon" although they most likely have been around before that.

Standard SummaryAlthough the standard is to be reworked in 2012 by the Saddle Homer USA club, the current standard states:

"Alert and stands well, obviously healthy and clean; primary feathers carried above tail with tips 3/4" or less from end of tail; bird appears as a complete unit with all parts blending smoothly together, medium size, short bell neck preferred. Stance should be approx. 45 degrees from the ground... Ideally each wing shall have 10 white primary flights. All secondary flights shall be of appropriate saddle color, any deviation from these numbers shall be a fault."

Traits

The Saddle Homer is, well, a homer. Easy to breed. Healthy. Even tempered. Since they have been used by show type pigeon breeders as feeders for many years they are great parents. Homing ability may not be comparable to the Racing Homer but many race breeders have saddles in their lofts. Typically seen in Ash-red (Silver in homer crowds) and blue they come in a variety of colors including dominant opal, dilute, brown, and the highly coveted black which is used by some wedding release businesses as "Tuxedos". Patterns currently include T-Pattern, check, and bar. Spread is also prominent. Active projects are bringing recessive red and grease-quill into the breed. In the future barless will most certainly be added to the breed (if not already) as the benefits of this pattern to a shield marked bird would be invaluable.