Showmanship tips from Elsie Swine Start working with your animal 10-15 minutes per day. In the morning hours or evening hours to avoid too much heat. Driving the hog Use a whip vs. a show stick, much easier to control the animal Drive the hog to the judge with the whip Stay in the jowl area when tapping with the whip Do not use knees Never hit legs or rump Most valuable part of the hog and don t want the judge to see you hit it at all. You can hit on the cheeks or belly It is okay, as a last resort, to give the hog a hard slap across the face if needing to get it out of a corner or similar situation. (Do not do in front of the judge not recommended only as a last resort.) When they are going to the bathroom, just let them do their business. Then get back to it. When the hog is moving, don t hit or they will wonder what you want it to do. It is responding to your hits with the whip What you should be doing Other tips Eye contact Keep close to your hog Practice moving back and forth in front of the judge o Do not get in between your animal and the judge o Do not get behind the judge Watch for nonverbal cues from the judge (hand signals) o If the judge kneels, drive the hog to the judge Walk 5 or 6 feet and turn, then again walk 5 or 6 feet and turn to show the rear of the animal. You should be bent low showing serious intent at driving the hog. Bend your free arm to show intensity. Eye contact with the judge. Do not smile show the judge you mean business! be natural If the judge stops to ask you a question, be prepared. Smile EYE CONTACT Practice 360 degree turns before you get in the ring. Keep a soft brush in your back pocket Give them marshmallows, tums, or yogurt to make them friendlier. They will hear the Tums container and really start to respond to a shake of it. Give them 4 or 5 a day. If trading off animals in the ring, trade show whip or stick as well. Clip 4-5 days before show or else they may have razor rash not good for showing
Sheep Your lamb should be so tame, you only need one hand to guide it. Always keep a hand under muzzle Start setting them up and holding them 15 minutes a day Practice jacking up the lamb To show the lamb, make a box with the legs Make sure their whole spine is in a line Feel the lamb drive into your thigh o Bend both legs and lunge into it. Bend the toe (on the leg the lamb is driving into) up to the sky. Your legs WILL get tired. Practice this stance for a while to get used to it. o Your lamb has two ears ONE ear should be in EACH HAND. o Hands under jaws with ears forward to show lamb to the judge. o Point your fingers toward one another, but do not lace hands. o Rest the nose of the lamb in the crook of your elbow. o Whenever a judge is feeling your lamb, brace it. MAKE EYE CONTACT with the judge If starts to run give a pressure push on front of the shoulders. This lets them know you mean business. To take another lamb in the show ring, run YOUR fingers up the back to give it a sign that you are taking over. Then reset the lamb. On the day of the show, do not get your lamb out of the pen a class in advance. (wait until the judge starts talking as a signal to you to get your lamb) Watch out for alfalfa bloat. Don t feed too much alfalfa Leg shag leave it on. Blend it in and brush it up! Goat Set up back legs Jack up front Hold collar with left hand when on right side, on left side, use right hand Collar underneath throat Much like a sheep Always walk in front when switching sides. Train with a sheep halter Goat maintenance Feet trimming is very important Keep ears clean Ear tags clean Make sure arm pits are clean Use vet wrap (black or brown) on horns Get a steer brush and use in the show ring
Products recommended by Elsie For manure stains, use White Touch Steer brush for goat Revive skin and hair conditioners animals Final Bloom for goat on brown spots and pigs Mane N Tail for all animals Cordless clippers Pro Pink for sheep For Manure stains, use white touch Check with rules before using any of these products as some may contain oil!!!!! Elsie s phone number 503.476.6135