Anyone flown hawks from horseback?

[741HCR]

Does anybody do this? I charge around the countryside on horses a lot and keep wondering about carrying a hawk at the same time. Would be rather fun at the bunnies....but then I don't have a hawk at the mo so may be tricky to try.

[Afshimo]

I have!! (once!!!) Its prettty cool, I used my sakret (hooded) took me an hour to settle the horse, and then we walked, at the most- trotted. It was hard cus I dont normally ride, but I had a super horse and that was what helped. My falcon was also happy to be knocked around cus the tro was boucy to say the least! She's not fond of the horses, but is coming to terms with them. Once she is ready, I will reintroduce her, and try saddle hawking lol.

[Coedhirion]

Some people use horses for crow hawking in this country. The horses have to be trained as the bird coming too close and the sound of the bell so close can realy upset them. The birds if not used to seeing horses are very suspicious, and also have to be accustomed to it all. The Arabs fly from horse back a great deal. I have followed on my horse while some one else flew their birds, & you get a real good 'birds eye' view and it is not so tireing on your legs :lol: :lol:

[741HCR]

Fantastic Coedhirion. One thing puzzels me. So your hawk has had its fill so you need to keep it on the fist of it will fly away and sit in a tree, yet you need two hands to get on a horse. HOW do they get on a horse with a bird on their fist??

[Coedhirion]

with one hand...try 2 get to watch Nick Fox's video of Crow Hawking in Northumberland. Apart from the horse part there is some brilliant flying!!! Tho he has it easy as he has a large group of helpers and many 'look outs' with 2 way radio. but the shots of him riding with the birds do show how it should be done 2 give the bird as smooth a ride as if sitting on the glove at home !!!! its a real good video .. I should def. get commission on this !!! :yawinkle: :yawinkle: :lol:

[Hawkmaster]

I would love to but could not find a horse that would take a fat ******* like me though! :lol:

[Natch]

i fly a finnish gos of off a 17 hand pure arab but have yet to have a kill :lol: :lol:

[741HCR]

Are you serious Natch? A pure bred arab with outstanding stamina, pace and a temprement to go with it!!! Not the quietest of rides to choose to fly your Gos from. Ah.....or did you to mean "to kill" the arab?

Hawkmaster - Nonsense. You should try one of the horses at our local hunting yard. A friend says its a dinosaur, not a horse. It is a monster and quite capable of carrying two of you plus hawk. Plenty more of them around too.

[Varmint]

We used to use Garroch ponies and HH to catch Bunnies, had a lot of fun but not enough ground suitable for the job?

We ran a pointer thru reedy fields and rode up above the points, then gradually worked our way back as the HAwks and Horses got used to the job.

On Kills we would allow a small pull, then offer an alternative tid bit chucked out to the side, pop the kill in our bags, remount, then call the HH on.

Interestingly though? of all the ponies we tried, more than half were completely at home with the hawk taking off and landing even sometimes on their hind quaters, and subsiquently took it all in their stride, but they were riding school Donkeys!

Sure footed, strong as an ox, just a bit lacking in the Looks department :lol:

Fun days!

[741HCR]

Fantastic "Varmint", do you have a pic to put on here? I am jealous.

Just looking at the Isle of White Falconry & Owl Centre and it says "our senior falconer will demonstrate horseback Falconry".

[Natch]

only joking cant ride a horse to save my life. knows more about fighting crocodiles than riding horses.
:toimonst:

[Coedhirion]

I would love to but could not find a horse that would take a fat ******* like me though!
get a nice old fasioned welsh cob real sensible & inteligent an well up to weight ....well within reason !! :lol:
******* oh ... but a bit fussy who they make friends with :lol: :yawinkle: :yawinkle:

[Hawkmaster]

:lol: 20 stone seems cruel to have a poor old horse lug it around! :lol:

[Tim Laycock]

The funniest thing I ever saw in the field was at a Welsh hawking anniversary field meet a few years ago.

We were out in a large group and John Buckner was the days field master.
During the course of the day we came accross a field with some horses in it and one of our party (A young lady flying a female Ferruge) made the comment that she had always wanted to try hawking from horseback.
On hearing this a wicked glint appeared in Johns eye and he exclaimed with great gusto "well my dear now's your chance, why dont you give it a try".
The young lady took him at his word and in a few minuites a makeshift bridle had been made of a leash and one of the horses caught and led to a wall so it could be mounted.
The said young lady then climbed the wall and managed to get astride the horse.

What then followed would not have been out of place at a rodeo, the horse set off at a great rate of knots, Kicking, snorting, bucking and all manner of other tricks until the woman had been firmly deposited on the floor.

It took John five minuits before he could say between gasps of laughter that "The bloody horse has never had a man on its back in its bloody life!"

After the laughter had died noboby was realy fit to carry on hawking, but we did!.

[Mary Quite Contrary]

[Just looking at the Isle of White Falconry & Owl Centre and it says "our senior falconer will demonstrate horseback Falconry".[/quote]


They cant demonstrate how to look after there birds correctly, so i would very much doubt they will do horse back falconry.

[Chris S]

best to use a 14 hand cob easy to get back on and easy going nature helps with the birds.

[Coedhirion]

Hawkmaster...20 stone seems cruel to have a poor old horse lug it around! try a 'traditional' they would cope with that!! Try running around Welsh hills in persuit of BOP and quarry too, you would soon be down to a nice trim 10 stone :lol: :yawinkle: :yawinkle:

[741HCR]

This looks plenty big enough "Belgian draft horse Brooklyn Supreme was 19.2 hands high and weighed 3,200 pounds". I think this was the heaviest horse ever, but they do come taller that this one too so no excuses about there not being a horse big enough for you to ride!

[Varmint]

Well i could carry him after he gets tired!

Tried a bit with My wifes 16.2 Hunter, no good, then the Bavarian Warm blood... guess what happened?

No doubt that the cobs, Highlands, Garrochs have the build for the job, strong, sure footed and easily re mounted.

Lets start a revival of Hawking on Horse back and save a few from the French Dinner tables!

[Hawkmaster]

I unfortunately will never be 10 stone, I was far more than that when lean and cut. There is a piture somewhere on the forum :lol:

[GoneHawking]

Gonna try hawking from a Quad bike this year!!!

[741HCR]

That has good fun potential.

[Coedhirion]

when i mentioned using my quad for hawking not so long ago. some one on the forum gave me a real 'bashin' and called me a lazy s..d. !!!
But i tell you if you want to get bird or birds + boxes possibly the ferrets the dogs, yourselves, or the kite, winch, pegs to hold it all down, block for the bird to sit on, food for lure etc etc all to the top of a steep welsh hill ......Get A Quad an Trailer!!!
it takes the farmyard manure out an all :yawinkle: :lol: :rolleyes:

[Hawkmaster]

when i mentioned using my quad for hawking not so long ago. some one on the forum gave me a real 'bashin' and called me a lazy s..d. !!!
Jealousy I want one too, just a ****** to get over those fenses and hedges here in Devon.

[Varmint]

I just sold one befor Xmas that would have been ideal for you paul, but yes you do have to get off em to open theose pesky gates!

[Tim Laycock]

yes you do have to get off em to open theose pesky gates!

Either that or attain ramming speed and shut your eyes :lol:

[Varmint]

Worse ones are where you just lean forward and open the latch and then shun them open with the quad, then they bounce right back at you! :oops: :?

[Goldie]

Worse ones are where you just lean forward and open the latch and then shun them open with the quad, then they bounce right back at you! :oops: :?

you mean to say you've done that too :lol:been there done it :oops:

[741HCR]

How about flying birds from a hot air baloon...but then you would need a ground crew.

I have soared in thermals on many occasions with buzzards and kestrels in the microlight which is great fun as you are so close and in their own environment. Do have to watch you don't hit them though as they soar as lower speed.

[Coedhirion]

dont fancy the baloon, if you had 2 do a burn to clear a hill an the bird came in at wrong moment ...roast falcon :roll:

[Varmint]

Just finished watching Roy Luptons video "Battles on the high ground".

Is Roy Disabled? i saw him stood a couple of times but the rest of the time he seemed to be glued to the argocat!

Is he disabled??

[Mary Quite Contrary]

Ask LL

[Tim Laycock]

:lol:



(Posted the above smilie in the wrong place, cant seem to delete it so I added this :oops: )

[Red Sheridan]

Varmint.
Roy, for reasons that it is not my business to discuss, is unable to walk great distances as it is painful for him after a while. That said, on a good day he often has left me behind and panting.

Roy flies Goldies and to see him carrying a 7.5lb male for bloody ages or a 11lb female is a sight to behold. Incidentally, if you meet him, try to avoid shaking hands as you will almost certainly end up with every bone in your hand crushed !

All the best to you.
Red

[Varmint]

Hi Red, Just wondered? He applied for a job with me some time back and i just thought what if he were Disabled, would he have managed?

I cant really see an argo cat going to some of the spots we go to?

Im more than familiar with the feeling of carrying a 11lb Goldie around the hills, been doing it for years, but havent given up just yet!

Oh well good luck to him, any hawking is better than no hawking at all!

[CuCulaine]

The only one I know that did, was a fellow called Skidmore, central US, used two types of dogs, English pointers to point, and sigh I think spaniels to flush. He flew falcons, not hawks and I believe his wife flew too, very nice guy. Took alot of game each year and definately could of written a book.

[Kym]

I am hoping to this season.

I will start a thread when we the birds are ready and manned down a bit.

I was hoping the thread will be a place were those that have flown from horseback can give tips and advice - just hope it goes down well with everyone and doesnt end up in a huge unpleasent "discussion"!!

Watch this space........

[CuCulaine]

Okay Aidios have fun

[EdenJohnny]

i fly a finnish gos of off a 17 hand pure arab but have yet to have a kill :lol: :lol:

How the heck , You dont get 17 hand pure arab

Johnny

[Fozzy132]

I am going to try it this season, I know the horse is steady enough as we had him stand whilst we flew my male harris to the glove.

[CuCulaine]

The only one I know that did, was a fellow called Skidmore, central US, used two types of dogs, English pointers to point, and sigh I think spaniels to flush. He flew falcons, not hawks and I believe his wife flew too, very nice guy. Took alot of game each year and definately could of written a book. If I was you, I'd try to find Skidmore, his wife or close friends. These guys gonna screw with ya