I don't think someone with the experience of flying owls and a buzzard qualify to give you advice on any aspect of training a red tail. If your quarry is pheasants and rabbit with the odd hare and for a first bird you will not go far wrong with a female Harris from traditional old lines.
I love going every month good excuse to have a cider or 10 are region has lots of quest speakers from hunting in Africa to Diana Durham-Walters I love it. yes I to don't believe in breeding from untried stock in the field unless it was a imprint female gyr wouldn't fly that! But I'd fly her daughters!
Yes would of been, but not many people who want to learn offer anything in return. Good job your not closer as I'd take you under my wing, and have you cleaning bird mews
Only place mate? Seeing a gos bob and weave through a wood after a pheasant is pretty close as is a falcon stooping a grouse on the 12th from a Hugh pitch. My fav is up in the highlands near Elgin flying the falcons in the morning and the broad/short wings on the afternoon followed by a few drams!