Transcript Getting Ready To Show

Get Ready To Show!
So What’s the Purpose Anyway?
• To present an animal in a manner that will
show off the best qualities of that animal.
• To downplay any undesirable qualities your
animal has.
• To present your animal to the judge and
allow him to compare it to the other animals
in the class.
The Basics
• Train your animal!
– Halter break cattle & sheep
– Practice driving your pigs
• Keep it Clean!
– It is very important to have a clean animal, but it
is just as important to be clean yourself
• Be Prepared!
– Make sure you have all of the tools and supplies
necessary to fit and show your animal
• Know the Rules!
– Know what is allowed when fitting your animal
and know what is and is not permitted in the
show ring
The Basics - Showmanship
• Be courteous and
respectful
• Remain Calm
• Keep your head in the
ring.
• Pay attention to what your
animal is doing
• Pay attention to the judge
• Always make it possible
for the judge to see as
much of your animal as he
can.
The Qualities to Possess
• A good showman always is:
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Well groomed
Courteous
Alert
Modest winner / gracious loser
Beef Fitting and
Showing
Tools of the Trade
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Clippers
Rags
Curry comb
Soap
Stiff brush for
washing
• Fitting Adhesive
• Show oil
• Halters
– Leather halter for the
show ring
– Rope halter for tying
your animal in the stall
– Neck rope to tie your
animal in the stall
• Showstick
• Scotch Comb
Preparations Before the Show
• 4-5 months before
– Train your animal
• You should begin halter breaking as soon as you know which
animal(s) you will be showing
• 3 weeks before
– Trim Hooves
• Your animal will move more freely if his feet have been
trimmed properly
• This needs to be done 3 weeks ahead of time in case he
becomes lame.
– Review the rules of the show,
• there might be some rules on what is and is not allowed when
it comes to fitting
• Do you need to have your animal tested or vaccinated before
taking them to the show?
Fitting Your Beef Animal
• Washing
– Make sure you get any
mud balls, etc. off your
animal
– Try not to get water in
the ears
• If you get water in their
ears they will droop and
make your animal
appear sick
• Remember how you
like your baths!
• Clipping
– The Key to Clipping
• When you are clipping
your animal think about
the faults he has and
how you can hide them
and enhance the good
qualities he has.
– Take it slow
• Be careful of how much
hair you remove at a
time you don’t want to
gouge holes that cant be
fixed!
Showing Your Beef Animal
• Remember the simple rules!
• Present your animal in a way that shows its
best qualities
• Keep your calm and be confident
– Confidence is Key!!
Showing Your Beef Animal
• Halter
– Hold strap 6-12 inches from animals head
– Don’t wrap extra lead around your hand
• Showstick
– Place the feet so they are square under the animal’s
body
– Straighten topline be scratching your animals belly
– Calm your animal by slowly stroking it’s underline
Showing Your Beef Animal
• Basic Showing Techniques
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Set up your animal quickly but calmly
Keep it’s front feet out of holes in the ground
Leave ample room on both sides when lined up
Stay alert
• Always watch the judge and your animal
– Keep your animal between yourself and the judge
– Re-comb your animal after the judge has handled him
– Walk forward with lead rope in your right hand and
showstick in your left
Sheep Fitting and Showing
Tools of the Trade
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Trimming Stand
Bucket
Shears
Wool Card
Curry Comb
Scrub Brush
Hoof trimmers
Rag
Electric Clippers
Sheep Blanket
Fitting Sheep
• Know what is allowed
– Example: Do market lambs have to be slick sheared or
is rump wool allowed?
• Wash well
– Wool Breeds are not washed – it ruins their wool!!
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Shape with electric clippers
Card and trim fleece
Trim and clean hooves
Clean ears with a rag
Clean lanolin glands
Blanket when done
Showing Sheep
• Lead your sheep with one hand under the jaw and
one hand on top of the head
• Set up the legs squarely under the animals body
quickly, but calmly
• Be in control
– You may stand or squat down
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Keep your animal between you and the judge
Brace your lamb when judge is handling it
Keep the lamb’s front feet out of any holes
Be alert – watch judge and animal
Fitting and Showing Swine
Tools of the Trade
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Scrub Brush
Clippers
Grooming Brush
Show Cane
Sprinkling Can
Rags
Soap
Fitting Your Hog
• Wash all mud off – use soap and water
• Clip long hair off ears and tail
– Some shows allow body clipping
• Brush the hog’s hair
• You may apply a mist of water to make your
hog shine
Showing Your Hog
• Move your pig slowly and calmly
• Keep him about 10-20 feet from the judge at all
times
• Keep the pig between you and the judge
• Keep eye contact with the judge but keep control
of your pig
• Keep your pig out of holes in the arena
• Tap your pig with the cane lightly- never hit your
pig hard
• Respond quickly to judge’s directions
Fitting and Showing Dairy
Tools of the Trade
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Rope halter
Leather show halter
Tail comb
Rubber Curry Comb
Clippers
Stiff Brush
Soft Brush
Wire hoof brush
Rags
Fitting Your Dairy Animal
• Trim hooves (prior to the show)
• Brush daily
• Clip
– Head, neck and tail
• Wash your animal removing any stains they
may have
• Clean ears
• Clean hooves
Showing Your Dairy Animal
• Walk animal slowly, the showman walks
backwards
• Be alert – watch the judge and your animal
• Respond quickly to judge’s directions
• Set Feet Correctly
– Heifer
• Rear leg nearest judge is a step backward from the other leg
– Cow
• Rear leg nearest the judge should be a step forward, showing
the udder
• Keep the animal between yourself and the judge
• Keep front feet out of any holes in the arena