Showmanship Guide

Showmanship
Table of Contents
Appearance of a Show Exhibitor .....................
Page 3
Show Ring Etiquette ........................................
Page 3
Beef .................................................................
Page 4
Dairy ................................................................
Page 7
Goat ................................................................
Page 9
Horse...............................................................
Page 11
Lama ...............................................................
Page 13
Poultry .............................................................
Page 15
Rabbit ..............................................................
Page 17
Sheep ..............................................................
Page 19
Swine ..............................................................
Page 21
Works Cited .....................................................
Page 23
Showmanship varies from county to county so contact your local Extension Office for
additional information on rules and resources.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity
educator and employer.
Appearance as a Show Exhibitor
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Professionalism in the show ring is important. Looking neat and clean is expected.
Pants should be clean and appropriately fitting. No shorts or capris.
Wear a polo or button-down type shirt. Avoid screen printed t-shirts.
Your outfit should compliment your animal to present it to the best of its ability.
Make sure your clothing fits appropriately and is cut modestly. Your waist, chest or back
should never be exposed to the judge or the public.
Hard soled brown or black boots/shoes are suggested. Absolutely no sandals or backless
shoes. Tennis shoes should be avoided if possible.
Exhibitors’ hair should be neatly combed and out of their face to allow eye contact with the
judge. No hats period! Only exception to this is a cowboy hat may be worn for horse
showmanship.
Certain species have a special dress code: dairy and diary goat showmen wear all white;
meat goat showman where white shirt and black pants, poultry showmen where white,
and rabbit where a white show jacket unless the rabbit is white in which case you would
wear a dark colored shirt.
Show Ring Etiquette
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Professionalism in the show ring is important.
Follow the direction of the ring steward to be respectful of the judge’s time.
Keep your eyes and ears on what is happening in the ring at all times. Do not let yourself
get distracted by people or things outside of the show ring. Maintain eye contact with the
judge at all times.
It is common courtesy in the show ring to leave enough space between you and the next
exhibitor. This allows the judge to view your animal and other’s animals without feeling
crowded. It also allows your animal room in the event they will not stand still and you
need to walk them around to come back in line.
Remember you are showing the animal and exhibiting your showmanship skills.
Show good sportsmanship and have a courteous attitude towards other exhibitors, the
judge and ring stewards.
Be prepared for specie specific questions about your project, such as breed, nutrition,
carcass value, growth performance, etc.
Showmanship starts the minute you walk into the arena for your first class and continues
through the entire show.
Special Thanks To:
Grant Nelson, 2011 Swift County 4-H Summer Intern who compiled the initial information.
Final Editing, 2012
MaryAnn Anderson, 4-H Program Coordinator, Lac qui Parle County
Kirstin Koch, 4-H Program Coordinator, Stevens County
Shelly Vergin, 4-H Program Coordinator, Swift County
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Beef
Appearance of the Animal
 Washing or rinsing a calf daily will keep the animal
free of dirt and stains, and will also promote healthy
skin and hair growth.
 Use a blower to dry the calf’s hair after a bath.
Blowing the hair is a fast, efficient way to keep the
calf clean in between washing or rinsing.
 The hair normally is combed upward at a 45 degree
angle towards the animal’s head.
 No hair or color changing agent can be added to the hide of the animal…this is prohibited
and unethical! Paint can be used from the flank and down towards the hoof.
Clipping and Fitting
 Do the major clipping (shaving heads and necks) about a month before the show. Minor
touch-ups can be made on show day. Rest of the body can be done 2 weeks before.
 The head is completely shaved, leaving the eyelashes. The poll is generally clipped on
steers and can be trimmed, left long or clipped for heifers. The neck is trimmed and
blended in with the body.
 The tail is clipped from a certain point up. Do not clip the tailhead; however it is good to
trim the long, stray hairs. Also clip the top line to make the animal look smooth and strong
topped.
 Clipping is done to make the animal look more square. Always blend in the areas you
have clipped to keep it looking natural.
 To fit the body of the calf, comb the hair up and forward, and then spray on an oil
conditioner. This gives the hair a healthy looking shine that compliments your calf.
 Be sure to wash your animal completely after the show to get all the oils out.
Showing the Animal
 When using a halter, make sure the halter sits on the bridge of the animals head.
 Always lead on the left side of your animal.
 You should have a show stick of appropriate length so you are comfortable with it and can
easily reach the calf’s back legs.
 When standing, the exhibitor will face the calf and hold the lead strap in hand near the
head while holding the calf’s head up high. (Eyes just above the shoulder)
 When the judge starts to choose the placing for the class, move your animal in the spaces
in front of you so the judge can compare your animals together.
 Keep your animal standing alert with head up, back level and legs placed squarely under
the body when standing side by side with other exhibitors. In the “head to tail” position,
the back legs should be slightly staggered with the left leg slightly ahead of the right.
 Use the show stick to move the calf’s feet, pushing gently on the halter back or forth in the
direction you want your calf’s foot to move.
 Remember the show stick is also used to keep the animal calm. Gently scratching the
belly or brisket will keep the animal calm and relaxed.
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Beef Showmanship Patterns
This demonstrates a staggered
feet placement when showing a
female. This gives the animal a
longer bodied, more structurally
correct appearance.
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To move your animal to the front of the line – lead out
at least one animal body length, turn across the front of
your animal, lead back through the line at least one
animal body length and proceed to the front of the line.
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To realign your animal in a position – again lead your
animal out at least one animal body length, turn across
the front of your animal, lead past the line at least one
body length, and return to line.
Having the animals feet set
squarely underneath the body
is acceptable when the
animals are positioned side-by
-side but is less effective for
side views in a head-to-tail
alignment.
When displayed side-by-side, animals
should be aligned evenly with the first
animal in line with adequate spacing.
The showman’s position in
relationship to the animal is
important. Standing parallel to or
slightly forward of the animals
head gives the judge an
unobstructed view of the animal.
When animals are stopped in a head-to-tail
alignment, the showman must leave space in
front of their animal. This will allow the judge
a better opportunity to evaluate the class.
Source: Ohio State University
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Dairy
Appearance of the Animal
 Wash the animal so the hair and hide are free of dirt,
dandruff and foreign objects.
 The animal’s feet and legs should be cleaned, along with the
hooves.
 An extremely clean animal will give you an edge!
 When washing the animal use soap and warm water. The
soap doesn’t have to be expensive, dish soap works very
well with cattle. Use a brush to clean the dirt from the hide,
and make sure all of the soap is rinsed out to avoid irritation
of the skin.
 Make sure the halter is clean and free of debris, and that it is properly fitted.
 Make sure to wash the ears inside and out by hand using a damp cloth. Be extremely
careful not to get water in the ear canal.
 Make sure to handwash the udder, not with the hose.
Clipping and Fitting
 Clip the head, neck, ears, tail, and udder (cows and springing heifers only). Other parts of
the animal can be clipped on an "as-needed" basis.
 Clip the front and rear legs to give the appearance of greater flatness of bone and to
remove stains.
 Trim toplines to improve straightness.
 Clip the withers to a sharp point to improve angularity.
 Body clipping is acceptable, especially when the body hair is excessively long. Do not clip
the belly and udder of heifers that have not calved and are not springing.
 Blend the neck and shoulders by clipping in the direction the hair runs. Start at the point of
shoulder, and clip upward to the top of the shoulder blade.
 Clip the tail from a point about 4 inches above the hairs on the switch. Clip against the hair
on the tail until you reach the tailhead. Blend the longer hair and close-clipped area at the
point where the tail lies over the pinbones. You can blend the clipper lines by clipping with
the hair.
Showing the Animal
 No show sticks are used in dairy showmanship.
 Use a leather halter and chain. The leather should compliment the color of the cow.
 When using a halter, make sure the halter sits on the bridge of the animals head. If the
halter sits too high, it will irritate the eyes. If the halter sits too low, it will interfere with the
nasal breathing patterns. Always lead on the left side of your animal.
 The ring steward will let the exhibitors know where to go with their animal.
 Always present the animal to the judge; keeping it between yourself and the judge.
 When the judge starts to choose the placing for the class, move your animal in the spaces
in front of you so the judge can compare your animals together.
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Showing the Animal (continued)
 When standing in line, or posing your animal, place the legs in appropriate places to show
off her better qualities. Place hand in shoulder blade to set animal up or take a step or
two with the animal.
 For fresh cows, the right rear leg should be in front of the left rear leg to permit viewing of
the rear udder.
 The legs should be spaced so that the back is straight and the rump is nearly level.
 When changing your animal’s pose try to keep it looking as natural as possible.
 Do NOT abuse your animal, hitting and kicking are not allowed.
 ALWAYS KNOW WHERE THE JUDGE IS AT!
Correct rear leg position for heifer
Correct rear leg position for cow
giving the judge a good view of both
the front and back of her udder.
Always stay on the left side of the
animal. Hold her head high and
keep the extra lead line rolled up in
your hand for a neat and clean look.
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Goat
Appearance of the Animal
 Using a mild shampoo wash the goat to free it of dirt and
debris, be sure to rinse all of the soap out to avoid
dandruff. Keep the udder, flanks, feet, legs, ears, eyes,
mouth and nose clean.
 Clip dairy goats 7-10 days before the show, a number
10 blade is usually used for the body, while a shorter
blade (number 20 or 40) is usually used for the udder.
Clip the entire body, including whiskers, beard and hair
inside the ears and the feet and legs.
 The hair on the tail is squared off below the last bone in the tail, leaving a triangular tuft of
hair at the end of the tail.
 Shear meat goats at least 7-10 days before the show to ensure clipper tracks disappear.
Do not clip the hair below the knees and the hocks.
 Run the clippers parallel to the length of the body rather than vertically, small animal
clippers may be needed to clip closely around the eyes, ears & pasterns.
 Angora goats may or may not be washed (make sure they appear clean) and are not
clipped. Washing removes the natural oils in the mohair.
 All goats must be disbudded/de-horned.
 Trim hooves one to two weeks before the show.
Showing the Animal
 Chain collars are preferred; one may also use a narrow leather collar.
 Work with your goat before the show, practice walking it around the pen or yard. Let your
animal become accustomed to other people. Have others run their hand over the neck,
withers, back, sides and udder similar to what a judge would do in the show ring.
 Once in the show ring set up the goat in line, pose the feet squarely under the body with
the hind feet slightly spread. It is usually easiest to set up the hind feet first. Hands can be
used as much as need be, however, judges do not like the exhibitor to fuss with the goat.
You can move the back feet where you want them by pressing back on the opposite
shoulder or by picking up the leg between the hock and pastern and setting it down in the
desired position.
 Lead the goat with one hand using the collar and always keep the goat between you and
the judge. If you need to change sides move around the goat’s head and change hands
on the collar, keeping the collar high on the goats neck.
 Always keep the goat between you and the judge except when needing to cross the goat.
Do not cross at the rear of the goat. You can use either hand on the collar, depending on
where the judge is standing.
 DO NOT be abusive to your goat, no slapping, pinching, etc.
 ALWAYS KNOW WHERE THE JUDGE IS AT!
 Pay attention to the judge and the ring steward.
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Always keep the goat’s head up,
with its body, neck and head in a
straight line.
Keep just enough space between you and the
animal in front of you. You don’t want to crowd
but yet you don’t want too much space either.
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Horse
Appearance of the Animal
 Make sure the coat is clean and shiny.
 Mane, tail, and forelock should be free of tangles and
trimmed correctly for the breed.
 Clipping is done to accentuate the face and legs. Clipping
should be done at least 2 weeks prior to the show and
touch ups done that day. In general, the long hair around
the jaw, fetlocks, pasterns and bridle path should be
trimmed. Know the breed guidelines when clipping.
 The feet should be either trimmed or shod properly.
 Hoof polish (clear and black) is acceptable.
Showing the Animal
 A pattern may be used for the standard showmanship; prior to the class, learn the pattern.
 Always be in the proper position the judge or ring steward tells you to be in
 For Western Style Showmanship, use a well fitting halter and lead rope. The lead rope
should be 6-7 feet long. Be sure your equipment is clean and complements your animal.
 In Western Style, the lead halter rope should be held in the right hand with the excess
safely held in the left hand in a loop or figure eight fold.
 In Hunt Seat style, the reigns should be held in the right hand, or the reigns be laid over
the wither and use a lead shank with a chain running through the rings of the bit in a
triangular fashion.
 Your hands should move naturally and not stiffly. When turning to the right, the right hand
with the lead should move underneath the horse’s head.
 Never stand directly in front of the horse, always allowing the judge to have a clear look at
the horse. When leading the horse to the judge, don’t position yourself to the judge but
position the horse in front of the judge.
 Your horse should be set up with all four legs square or according to breed standards.
 Use pressure on the lead rope to set up the horse, do not place your hand on the horse.
 Keep at least 1-2 horse lengths between your horse and the next horse.
Appearance of Exhibitor
 For Western Showmanship wear western boots, a western hat or helmet, a dress or
western shirt with long sleeves and collar, dress or western pants and a belt. Gloves, vest
or jacket are optional; chaps and spurs are not allowed.
 For English Showmanship, refer to the Minnesota 4-H Horse Project Rulebook.
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The Quarter System
Always be in a position where you can observe your
horse and keep an eye on the judge.
The Quarter Method is the suggested method of
showmanship. Imaginary lines bisect the horse into
four equal parts as seen in the illustration.
When the judge is in I, the handler should be in IV.
As the judge moves to II, the handler should move to I.
When the judge moves to III, the handler moves to IV.
As the judge moves up the horse to IV, the handler
returns once more to I.
Always turn your horse away from you.
When leading your horse, keep your
shoulders even with their ear.
Set your horse up with its feet
squarely set (or according to the
breed standard).
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Lama
Appearance of the Animal
 Have clean, dry fleece which should be free of foreign objects.
 Brush the fiber beginning at the top of the leg up to the top of the
back and then back down again. Use a slicker to pick up the fiber
to work on the underneath coat. Use both a small and large
slicker brush to remove debris.
 After brushing, use the blower to remove the loose debris.
 Trim the toenails and keep them free of debris.
 Wipe any dirt from the corners of the eyes and around the
nostrils.
 Start grooming your animal at least one month before fair.
 Work with your lama, it should be well trained, have great manners, lead willingly, walk
briskly and allow you to touch.
Showing the Animal
 Maintain a safe distance between animals.
 Lead your animal from the left side, holding the lead rope 8 inches from the halter. Hold
the excess lead rope in your left hand. Walk with the neck at a 90-degree angle. Be sure
not to wrap the lead rope around your hand or fingers or have loose ends which flap
around your knees or wrap around your neck.
 Set up your lama squarely on all four feet; stand facing the lama at a 45-degree angle off
to its left shoulder. Move smoothly from side to side, passing in front of the lama as the
judge moves around.
 To set your lama you move its head to place it temporarily off balance - to the right to
move its left hind leg back and to the left to move its right hind leg back. Never touch your
lama or use your shoe to place its legs in the correct positions.
 Avoid pulling forward and down on the lead which causes the back to go down and the top
line to round.
 When your lama is having trouble standing still while in line you may need to start over
and reset it. This means walking forward out of line, haunch turning to the rear (180° turn),
walking back through the line and haunch turning again toward the front (180° turn),
walking back into your place in the lineup and finally resetting your lama.
 If you need to pass another exhibitor such as when the exhibitor’s lama suddenly stops for
a bathroom break, simply receive permission from the ring steward and pass on the inside
of the ring.
 Change positions (quadrants) based on the position of the judge.
 Make sure your lama knows your commands, so they stop when you stop.
 ALWAYS KNOW WHERE THE JUDGE IS AT!
 Smile!
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When your lama is having trouble
standing still while in line you may
need to start over and reset it.
Lamas with silky wool that lays close to the body seem to be hotter than those with a fluffy
fleece. Do not forget the light wool lamas - their fiber is dense and the skin needs to breathe.
Sheared lamas do very well in a show ring. It makes the job a lot easier for a judge to
evaluate the lama, besides, sheared lamas are beautiful! They have gorgeous bodies.
Any of these three shearing styles
would be appropriate for your lama.
Hand Shears: They are fast, but harder for a woman to
hold. You need a lot of practice to do a good job.
Scissors: These are easy to use and fit well in a small
hand. The lamas seem to tolerate the scissors quite well.
The hand shears or scissors give a bit of a scalloped effect
that grows out looking very nice. The difference between a
good haircut and a great haircut is about six weeks growth.
It takes about 30 minutes to give a lama a haircut with
scissors. Leave about ½ to 1 inch of wool on the body.
Electric Shears: They are wonderful but can be quite heavy. When using electric shears, you
will shear to the skin, leaving about ¼ inch on the body. The finished job is even and smooth,
but keep in mind, they shear very close. So if you do not have shade and fans where the
lamas can relax during the sunny hours, they could get sunburned.
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Poultry
Appearance of the Bird
 Wash the bird so feathers are free of dirt, stains
and foreign debris two days before the show.
 Do NOT wash your bird the day before the show;
birds need a full 48 hours to re-oil their feathers
to look their best.
 Clean the bird’s feet and nails.
 You want your bird to look calm and relaxed
during the show, so it is generally a good idea to
handle your bird a few times before bringing it to the show. If your bird cooperates, you
will look more professional, and judges notice that!
Showing the Bird
 To remove your bird from the cage, reach in and pin the bird down. Turn it so the head is
facing the door. Place one hand beneath the body with the index fingers between the legs
and the remaining fingers grasping one leg and the thumb on the other. Place your other
hand on the back and remove the bird head first.
 Close the door!
 To carry the bird, place the bird’s head into the crook of your arm with its head hiding in
your arm.
 When you get to the table, place the bird standing upright, and if able (only if able, we
don’t like birds flying away) take your hands off of the bird and place them behind your
back.
 The judge will ask you to show him/her certain parts of your bird. Just pick it up and give
him/her the best view possible without injuring your bird.
 Things the judge may ask you could include:
 Wings - counting and spreading the feathers
 Undercolor - check for mites and lice
 Width of Body - tell the judge the width
 Breast - measure the length of the keel bone
 Vent - show the judge the vent area
 Feet and Legs - looking for dirty, scaly legs or diseases
 Return your bird to its cage by carrying it as previously described and placing the bird into
the cage head-first, closing the door afterward. Return to the table to await further
instructions or dismissal by the judge.
 Do NOT abuse your animal - hitting and kicking are not allowed.
 ALWAYS KNOW WHERE THE JUDGE IS AT!
 Smile!
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Poultry Showmanship Steps
Pose the bird on the table in
alert position with tail fluffed,
head raised, feathers smooth
and wings in normal position.
Carry the bird balanced and
upright on the palm of your
hand with the head between
your arm and body.
First wing spread by grouping
wing tip with free hand and pulling.
Second wing examined by placing
free hand across body of bird and
applying pressure to last wing joint
with thumb and fingers to extend
wing.
When checking the
breast, bird’s head is
held downward with
its back against you.
Free hand measures
breast bone and
examines keel.
To examine undercolor,
user finger tips to gently
pull tops of feathers
“against the grain”.
Vent examined and
depth of abdomen is
measured by placing
as many fingers of
the free hand as
possible between
the top of the keel
and pubic bones.
Examine head by raising to
shoulder height and with free
hand move head. Turn the
bird and examine other side.
To show the width of body,
place thumb and index
finger of free hand across
the bird’s body directly
behind the base of the
wings.
Measure the width of
the pubic bones by
placing as many
fingers as is easily
possible between
the tips of the pubic
bones.
To examine feet and
legs, hold bird
against your body
and use your free
hand to examine all
parts. Bird is
swiveled to examine
front of feet and
legs.
From the APA’s Poultry Showmanship book
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Rabbit
Appearance of the Animal
 The rabbit MUST be clean and appear at its best.
 It should not have any visible dirt or foreign objects in the
fur.
 Have the nails neatly trimmed and clean the paws and
inside of the ears.
 It is important to condition your rabbit before the show, this
is a long-term process.
 Keep the cage clean to keep your bunny clean.
 When washing your rabbit, use a damp cloth to clean your rabbit’s coat. Use baby wipes
to clean in the ears and around the nose and eyes.
 Do not overwork your rabbit’s coat. This may cause early molting.
 Learn the breed’s guidelines for trimming hair and toenails.
Showing the Animal
 Showman should wear long sleeves or show jackets to protect from scratches.
 When carrying the rabbit, tuck it under your arm and hold it with that same arm (kind of
like a football).
 You should be able to hold your rabbit in position and be able to flip it around without any
discomfort from your rabbit.
 A rabbit with faults and disqualifications will not be discounted or eliminated during
showmanship. However, the exhibitor is expected to know his or her rabbit’s good
qualities, as well as any faults or disqualifications.
 When you get to the show table, set your rabbit down and pose it. For proper pose, front
feet should be even with the eyes. Rear feet should be firmly on table with toes even with
haunch (thigh joint).
 Know the ‘Standards of Perfection’ for the breed that you are showing. You should know
what the judge is looking for and expecting in your exhibit.
 The judge may ask you to do one of several things with your rabbit:
 check the ears for ear mites
 turn the rabbit over
 check the teeth for defects
 check the eyes for deformities
 check the chin/neck area for dewlap or abscesses
 check the tail for a stub, broken or wry tail
 check the toenails for missing or unmatched nails
 check for the sex of the rabbit
 check fur quality and cleanliness
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Flipping Your Rabbit
Place right hand on rump of
animal.
Source: http://lancaster.unl.edu
Place left hand so thumb is
under the rabbits jaw and the
ears slide through behind
either the first or second
fingers.
Gently and slowly roll the rabbit
over.
Handling Your Rabbit
 Put both of your arms in the
hutch.
 Position one hand behind
the rabbit’s rump, while
sliding the other hand
underneath its belly.
 Be sure to lift the rabbit
toward you so that you do
not break or pull the
rabbit’s toenails, or catch
a toe or foot on the wire.
 Remove the rabbit headfirst
from the hutch.
 At the table, release
the rabbit from
under your arm
while still
supporting the
rabbit’s weight with
one hand
underneath its
rump.
Source: Ohio State’s Rabbit
Resource Handbook
 With your hands still supporting the
rabbit’s belly and rump, gently lift
the rabbit up and tuck it under your
arm. The rabbit’s eyes should be
covered by your elbow.
 Place one hand under the rump to
support its weight.
 Place the rabbit on
the table.
 If the rabbit seems
insecure on the
table, it may
struggle which
could result in
injury. When this
happens, tuck the
rabbit’s head
under your arm or
cover it’s eyes with
your hand.
17
Sheep
Appearance of the Animal
Cleanliness
 Have clean, dry wool, free of foreign objects.
 Keep the flanks, feet, legs, ears and nose clean.
Trimming
 For market lambs, tightly shear the animal. You
may leave wool below the knees, hocks and
forward of the ears.
 For breeding ewes, trim so the wool is at a standard for that breed.
 Trim the sheep’s feet so he can walk and stand naturally.
Market Lambs
 Market lambs should be slick sheared so the judge can feel and evaluate muscling.
 You may leave the wool/hair below the hock if desired. Block the hair on the legs to bring
out a larger bone.
Breeding Ewes
 Breeding ewes may be slick shorn or fitted for show depending on show style, breed, and
class.
 Wool breeds should be shown with about 1-2 inches of wool.
 Meat breeds should be exhibited with 1 inch of wool.

NEVER wash wool breed sheep. Not washing maintains the quality of the wool.
Showing the Animal
 Work with your lamb before the fair so the judge can see evidence of you actually working
your lamb before the show. Males should be walked or run before fair to build muscle
mass.
 Always keep the lamb between the judge and self, but do not step over or around the
animal. Just step to the side when he walks around to see the front.
 Lead the lamb with one hand under the jaw and the other hand in the dock if the lamb
needs to be encouraged to move at all. Always lead from the left side of your animal to
keep in control.
 Hold the lamb with both hands, but make sure you do not lift the lamb’s feet up off the
ground.
 Try not to get too close to the other animals in the show ring.
 When setting up your animal, use your hand to place the feet so that they are square, do
not overstretch the lamb, but keep its head up high to help lengthen the animal and make
a straight back.
 It is okay to let the lamb relax a little bit when the judge is at the other end of the show
ring.
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Sheep Showmanship Patterns
J
J
Animals entering the show ring and lining up
on a rear-view. Notice the position of the
judge and showmen.
J
(Top) Push the lamb out of line, move around
the front of the lamb to change sides and
proceed to the designated location.
(Bottom) Push the lamb out of line and proceed
to the designated spot in line.
The head in or rear view. When the judge
handles your lamb, it is important that you
get a good brace. Be ready and push into the
lamb before the judge comes to handle.
All animals begin to move to a profile or sideview. Move the animal’s left side, push their
front end away from you, and follow the lamb
in front of you.
J
Completed moves from previous diagram
leaves gaps that need to be filled.
The profile or side view. Hold the
lamb with both hands, but make
sure you do not lift the lamb’s feet
up off the ground.
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Swine
Appearance of the Pig






Wash the pig so the hair and hide are free of dandruff. If you
don’t wash out all of the soap, the pig will get dandruff, so
make sure it is all out!
When washing the pig, try to avoid getting water in the ears, to
clean out the ears just use a damp washcloth. Spraying water
directly into the ear can he hazardous for the pig.
The pig’s feet and legs should be cleaned, along with their
hooves.
The hair is brushed in the direction it grows.
Sprinkle water on the pig when is really warm outside.
Use a soft bristled brush so you do not scratch the pig’s skin.
Showing the Pig
 Use a small whip, cane, pipe, etc. What is used is more or less exhibitor preference.
 The cane should be used to direct the animal in a certain direction, do not use hands for
this!
 Try to keep the pig walking at a moderate pace, if the animal does take off in a dead run,
don’t chase after it, just follow it at a normal pace. Do not chase, this just looks foolish.
 Do not force the pig to make abrupt turns.
 Do NOT abuse your animal, hitting and kicking are not allowed. Do not hit the pig in the
loin or ham.
 Keep the hog between you and the judge at all times. Make sure to give the judge a clear
view of the animal.
 Attempt to keep the pig in an open area about 10 to 20 feet from the judge, try to avoid
crowded areas.
 If the judge indicates he/she wants to inspect your animal, bring it to an immediate halt.
 Be showing the hog at all times.
 If pigs are fighting do not put your hands by their head, ring assistants will use boards to
break it up.
 When the judge tells you to pen your animal, move your animal to the penning area while
keeping the animal between you and the judge
 When penned up, brush your animal if it has shavings or dirt on it. Kneel behind your
animal so the judge can still see the pig clearly. Do not sit on the gate.
 ALWAYS KNOW WHERE THE JUDGE IS AT!
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Always keep your eye on the judge while keeping your
hog between you and the judge.
Driving the Pig
Stay close and drive the pig from the neck and shoulder area by tapping lightly with the cane
or stick. Never tap on the back or rump, as this may cause the tail to droop, and may also
bruise muscle tissue.
Acceptable areas to tap include:
1. jowel and neck region
2. Shoulder and front leg region
3. Rear hock region (be sure it is a light tap
in this region)
Proper training prior to the show should have
resulted in the pig learning to move and turn by
merely seeing the cane or stick. Pigs are one
of the most intelligent domesticated animals
and will learn very quickly to respond to visual
placement of the cane or stick.
When you want the pig to move to the left, you should be on the right side of the pig. The pig
will turn away from you and the cane or stick.
“Bad” Places to Tap a Pig
Ham
* Is a “high priced” cut area.
* If hit in the ham, the pig will usually tuck in his ham and arch his top making
him look undesirable or not at its best.
Loin
* Is a “high priced” cut area.
Source: Ohio State’s Swine Resource Handbook
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Works Cited
Bartz, Rae Ann, Barb Jurgens, Laurie A. Nelson, and Lynn Watland. Minnesota 4-H
Horsemanship and Horse Training Manual. Publication. St. Paul: Minnesota Extension
Servcie, 2002. Print.
Faris, Brian R. "Market Lamb Showmanship." Market Lamb Showmanship. Kansas State
University, July 2008. Web. 5 July 2011. <http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/
mf2828.pdf>.
Frobose, Dan; Extension Agent, Wood County, OSUE. Swine Resource Handbook. Ohio
State University, 2001.
Funk, Pauline J., and Thomas D. Zurcher. Lama Showmanship. Publication. Ed. Nancy J.
Hegland and Carolyn Dingfelder. University of Minnesota Extension, 2009. Web. 5 July
2011. <http://www1.extension.umn.edu/youth/mn4-H/projects/docs/Lama-ShowmanshipCurriculum.pdf>.
Grimes, John F., and Kelly Long. "The Beef Showman: Will You Be an Asset or a Liability?"
Ohioline. Ohio State. Web. 05 July 2011. <http://ohioline.osu.edu/anr-fact/0018.html>.
Johnson, Celina R., and Brett Kaysen. Beef Cattle Showmanship. Publication. Colorado State
University. Web. 5 July 2011. <http://livestock.colostate.edu/youth/documents/Beef/
BeefCattleShowmanship.pdf>.
Miller, Lucinda, Leader Ohio State University. Rabbit Resource Handbook. Ohio State
University, 2004.
Redwood, Tamsin. "Show Preparation." The Rabbit Shack. Tamsin Redwood, 5 Nov. 2008.
Web. 05 July 2011. <http://therabbitshack.tripod.com/id18.html>.
Rugg, Bradley W., and Renee D. Kostick. Minnesota 4-H Horse Program Rule Book.
Publication. St. Paul: University of Minnesota Extension, 2007. Print.
Travis, Allison. "Beef Showmanship Pattern Instructions | DailyPuppy.com." Puppies, Cute
Puppy Names, Pictures of Puppies & More | Daily Puppy. The Daily Puppy. Web. 05 July
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