职业教练
说起教练，台北陈永山是台湾职业教练的代表人物。早在50年前，台湾的赛鸽就是以奖金为主，跟所有职业运动一样，有奖金就有人投入，奖金越高，赛事越强，加入的人就越多，技术与水准就更专业化。但是养鸽并没有学校课程教学，也没有基础教科书学习，只能由鸽书或杂志来获取知识。10年前一位华裔德国鸽友做了几季的欧洲名鸽采访，很多鸽友也从中得到知识，再不然就从鸽店闲聊中汲取经验。综观所有的基本功都是从赛季错误中学习改进。

【图/文：116出版国际名鸽专集11】

目前台湾职业教练的薪资，平均约在2万台币，比赛赢奖则有分红，鸽舍老板会事先说明先分红标准，通常会将成本扣除，另外才有5%~10%分红。

职业寄养棚
在台湾寄养棚又称为「综合橱」，随着比赛奖金提高，各鸽舍投入资金更多，几十年前，渐渐形成开放给朋友寄养鸽子、一起比赛的风气。比赛结束时，不管是谁的鸽子赢奖，综合橱鸽主都可以分享奖金成果20%。

以一个鸽舍一季放40只鸽子，总有4-6位鸽友作出的幼鸽来参加比赛。这4-6位鸽友，可能会再找几个朋友一起分担下注资金。总算起来一个综合橱，就可能有20人以上参与这鸽舍的比赛。我说：有奖大家分，输奖不伤身。这也就是台湾赛鸽能走下去的一个原因。

说到职业寄养棚就是从综合橱升级的职业教练，他一定要养功好、常获奖、在奖金大的鸽会比赛、有自己的鸽舍招兵买马参加比赛。有些则是跟候鸟一样，追逐奖金大的鸽会，到当地建鸽舍招兵参加比赛。

不管是职业教练或寄养棚鸽主，很多都很低调，不愿意曝光或接受采访。林建民是目前北部最棒的寄养棚，他养鸽的资历不长，但天生对动物就是有一套，用在养鸽上一样表现优异。林建民有4次北海全船总冠军纪录，这两年转战北部一级大会，成绩令人佩服。

职业教练与职业寄养棚最大的差别就是－寄养棚是自己当老板，盈亏自负。但是同样的他与综合橱一样，抽取每位寄养人的奖金20%。通常是不扣本，并且不负责中网鸽子的赎金。即使如此， 职业寄养棚还是非常辛苦努力奋斗为自己在赛鸽中出头。

Professional Pigeon Trainer and Foster Pigeon Loft

Professional trainer
Speaking of pigeon trainer, Chen Yung-Shan from Taipei is a most representative trainer in Taiwan. Back in 50 years ago, they developed Bonus system just like all the other professional sports, there are more and more people participating in pigeon racing because of the money. As time goes by, training skills have become more mature. However, there is no course or textbook that can learn from; the only way to get knowledge is to read books or magazines. Also, it is always a good way to learn from experienced fanciers or trainers. Ten years ago, a German born Chinese made a few collections of some interviews of celebrity pigeon trainers from Europe. Lots of fanciers actually benefited from those collections. Otherwise learning from the pigeon shop chatted lessons. In brief, learning from mistakes is really important.

The average salary for a trainer in Taiwan is around NTD 20,000. There are bonuses if you win the competitions. The owner of lofts will structure bonus plans in advance. In general, it is around 5% to 10% of the prize money, after deduction of the cost.

Professional Foster Pigeon Loft
In Taiwan, foster pigeon loft is also known as “composite pigeon loft”. With the growing of the bonus, there is more money being invested in lofts. A few decades ago, some fanciers started to train and race pigeons together in order to improve the chances of winning. Under this rule, no matter who won the price, he should share the money with the owner of foster pigeon loft. Normally is up to 20% of the Bonus.

For instance, there can be more than 20 people involve or invest in a composite pigeon loft. Some put pigeons in the races; some only invest in those pigeons. Each loft can put up to 40 candidate pigeons in a race.

Higher chances of winning and lower risks of losing are primary reasons why we can keep the sport of pigeon racing running in Taiwan.

As to professional foster pigeon loft, it is a composite pigeon loft, which has professional trainer. Professional trainer has to be good at training pigeons and winning prizes. Some professional trainers have their own lofts, and they keen on taking races; while the others will build lofts in different places to form a team by local fanciers’ pigeons.

Most of the professional trainers and owners of foster pigeon lofts don’t want to go public; they are unwilling to do any interview. Lin Chien-Min is currently the best trainer in north part of Taiwan. He is really good at training animals, especially with pigeons even he doesn’t race for a long time. Lin Chien-Min holds the records of four times champion of North Sea Championship of the entire ship. He tune to Taipei biggest club in these two years and the result is real admiringly.

The most significant difference between being a professional trainer and running a professional foster pigeon loft is that you have to take all risks on your own if you run a professional foster pigeon loft.

Though you have to pay the costs all by yourself, you are able to share 20% of the prize of each fancier. Besides, you don’t have to pay ransom for those pigeons in net. However, it still takes a great effort to win a race.