Showing for the first time!

Zone · #1 05/19/08, 07:27 PM

I am very nervous. I'll be going to and showing at my very first dairy goat show on June 7th. I have NO idea what I am doing.

Any pointers or experiences on what I can expect, what I should do or listen for.....would be great and very much needed! Thanks!

I am bringing two jr. does. (So they don't get lonely and scream their heads off.) There will be two rings for the jr. does.

Help...

sungirl · #2 05/19/08, 09:21 PM

You should already have them lead trained. Even if still work with them 10-20 mins each day. I pefer around 7pm when it is cool and the animal works so much better. Have them both clipped as soon as you can, I like to do it 2 weeks before the show to allow for the hair to grow out. Have each hoof trimmed the right way and looking its best.

Enter into the show ring holding the animal by a lead chain or collar. Always keep the animal between the judge and you. Listen to what the judge tells you, most times walk around the ring a few times before you have to set them up. To set them up make the front legs be set square and the back legs slightly back & to the sides. (You are showing off how dairy these doelings are.)

Now what I would say would be to meet with a fellow breeder who is willing to help you do a "pretend show." He/she will also give you any extra tips you may need.

Zone · #3 05/19/08, 09:30 PM

Thank you very much! One is lead trained the other is being a pill.
Yes... I will work with them a lot more now that I know I'm really going.

Thank you for the many tips you have provided. It is a BIG help.

sungirl · #4 05/19/08, 10:07 PM

Don't forget to claim down, you are learning. I remember my first show, I was leading my doe and she took off and I fell into a bucket of well goat droppings. Mind you I was obly 9 years old and a very small girl! (Note to self never let any of my grandchildren take one of my 170 pound Saanens in the show ring! )

Have fun and don't get to sad if you don't win. You & the does tried their best. And last but not all, animals as they get older will change a bit so if she is weak in one area now don't go out and sell her over one judges thoughts, (If we all did that no one would have any animals!)

Zone · #5 05/19/08, 10:51 PM

LOL That paints a horrible but VERY funny picture.

I am going to the show with the belief that I will not win anything. Truely, that does not bother me. I am there to have fun! I know I will too. If, a very big if, I do win anything I think I might faint.

Thanks for the tip about goats changing over time and not to be discouraged. I'm there to learn too.

Thanks! I loved your 9 year old poop bucket story. Sorry, but that really cheered me up for some reason. :lol

Togg Lovers · #6 05/20/08, 08:43 AM

Just relax. We went to our very first show this weekend and boy were we nervous. After we got settled in and a couple of peeople found out that it ws our first show everyone was helping us and giving us tips. We didn't expect to win at all because we hadn't even worked with our goats at all. Never even walked them on a leash. But they did great. It was like they were so happy to see other goats that they just did what they did. The judges seemed to just tolerate us people and paid more attention to the goats. And we won! Our buckling got 3 first places and our junior yearlings each got a first and a second.

Zone · #7 05/20/08, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Togg Lovers

Just relax. We went to our very first show this weekend and boy were we nervous. After we got settled in and a couple of peeople found out that it ws our first show everyone was helping us and giving us tips. We didn't expect to win at all because we hadn't even worked with our goats at all. Never even walked them on a leash. But they did great. It was like they were so happy to see other goats that they just did what they did. The judges seemed to just tolerate us people and paid more attention to the goats. And we won! Our buckling got 3 first places and our junior yearlings each got a first and a second.

Boy! That sure is encourageing. I just worked with mine again and ugh... they do NOT like to be led. Especially Kala. The yearling I just brought home today, if tamed down a bit to lead nice might be going in her place. She looks awesome!

....Will talk later. Just got off phone. Have to help someone learn how to milk a goat.

Don't it feel good to be needed?

Goat Servant · #8 05/20/08, 09:16 PM

By the time you get there all the jitters will be gone cause you have done show prep, whether on goats or just packing all their and your stuff & it will take the edge off.
Just remember when you are suppose to be in what class with which goat...I check the list a bajillion times and have brought goats back to the barn when one of them was suppose to come back to the ring. Shheesh. So Im always asking "what class is this? When is the so & so class?
Different from being at home when its always time to muck!!

Yeah we all need to be needed!!!

alidansma · #9 05/20/08, 11:53 PM

I have only shown once myself...it didn't go so well for me. But I did learn a few things.

First off if your girls are going to be in the same class you will need someone to lead the other goat.

The goat show that I went to was a lot of anxious waiting and it was HOT. Bring a comfortable chair, cooler, water, snacks and a book or something.

For training, get a little vanilla wafer in your hand (or what ever your goat's preference is) and let the stubborn goat sniff and nibble at it. When she stands up nice and straight give her a little bit. Get your goat used to standing up nice and straight and moving her feet into position. You need to reach around from the backside to move their feet.
Another thing is you can put a little bit of grain a ways from the goat and walk her to it. Then next time move it a little farther away. Pretty soon she should be prancing as soon as she sees the lead ready to go find the treat!
If they are in milk the judge is going to want to see that their teats are functional, so they should tolerate their udder being handled.
I did not know how to "set up" my goats and the judge did make a comment on that.
Bring Purell (handwashing facilities may not be handy), do not share anything that could be contaminated with blood (hoof nippers comes to mind) Even though people should only bring healthy goats to show, sometimes they don't, so take the precautions to keep your herd safe.

Watch the people who are showing before you and try to see what the judge sees. They will make comments about why each goat is placed the way they are and you can learn a lot that way.
Ask someone who is in charge of the show if you need to bring in your own bedding and that sort of thing - for ours we had pens about 6 ft by 8 feet. We brought our supplies in a garden cart, shavings, food, buckets, extra snap hooks, spray bottle, grooming supplies for last minute touch ups, little clippers, poop broom and pan for clean up. Seems at the show I went to everyone was a professional but me. They practically brought their whole barn!
Almost every one was very nice as well.
The worst part of my show however was waiting around all day and missing my class. I was at ringside and watching the other goats showing and I misunderstood what class had been called. I didn't want to interrupt, but then when they were done judging and I asked when my other goat was going in they told me that I had been scratched out of the class because I didn't bring my goat in when I was called. ASK the ring steward if you name is on the list for your classes before the show starts and make sure they know it is your first time showing so they will not miss you.
Hope that helps, no matter where your goats place you will meet interesting people and learn a lot about your goat's strengths and weaknesses.
Good Luck!

PS Bring an extra shirt in case your goats sneeze hay all over you 20 minutes before you show!

Zone · #10 05/21/08, 12:25 AM

Alidansma- Wow! You have helped me more than you know. Thank you SO MUCH! I felt like I was right there while I read your post, seeing the things you were describing.

Great advice.

Thank you everyone for your tidbits of show wisdom dos and don'ts. It is greatly appreciated. Any more advice before I take the plunge?

**mygoat** · #11 05/21/08, 07:09 AM

I, too, plan on going to my first ever sanctioned show this summer. I've done 4-H showing (eek) for the first and only time last year. I was lucky, I had a doe that had been there, done that and was trained already, took to the ring like a pro. This year I'll have a pair of FF OR three young doelings, depending on who I want to take... eek.

Either way I"m going to have to find one or two other people willing to show for me.

Sweet Goats · #12 05/21/08, 09:40 AM

I am a 4H project leader, so I know how you feel. I get new kids every year and my daughter and I work very hard with the kids. First of all, what everyone said I totally agree with. I am also a judge.
1. Always make a goat sandwich. You and the judge are the bread, and the goat is the meat. ALWAYS keep the meat between the buns.
2. Always watch the judge and know where he/she is at all times. If the judge tells you to move and you miss the cue, then that is a big no no.
3. SMILE Make sure it is a natural and sweet smile. Not a pasted on smile. I have seen so many kids it that ring that look like the just HATE doing this and that they do not at all and that they do not want to be there.
4. Know your goat parts. If you do not know the answer, don't just say "I don't know". Try hard to think about it and if you are still not sure say "I am not sure but I think it is here", and point to where you think it is.Some judges will tell you if you are right. If they do not and you were not sure about the part. After you point to the part. Tell the judge, "I think it is here but I will have to look that up later". I just love to hear that the kids are willing to go look it up. Now granted most if not all the kids might not even think about looking it up, but hey they humored me. I have had mainly JUNIORS come up to me after the show and say, "excuse me, I just wanted to tell you that I did look that ????? up and it is here. That makes feel great that they do that.
5. If you have young goats like it sounds. If you goat acts up and will not walk, screams and I have even had goats jump up and they fall rather hard to the ground. DO NOT PANIC. Take your time and check the goat and make sure they are not hurt, and go on. If you panic and get upset, that does not look as good. STAY CALM.
6. The last thing i tell my kids when I do clinics. Don't spend a lot of time trying to set your goat. If you can not get them set in 30 seconds or less, leave them alone. The more you work on it the more frustrated you get(the goat feels it) the more the goats get frustrated also.

Ok, Sorry I took so much to tell you this, but these are the things I tell my kids.
Good Luck, have fun and PLEASE tell us how you did.

No matter if you take first or last, hold your hear high and be proud of yourself and goats.

Zone · #13 05/21/08, 10:24 AM

Sweet Goats/Lori - Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! If any more tidbits of wisdom I'd LOVE to here it. That was great! I feel a bit more confident already. (Of course I'll either rise to the occasion while I am there or turn to mush in my shoes.)

I don't expect to win anything. I am just excited to be going. If I do win anything, I think I'd faint. LOL

Zone · #14 05/21/08, 10:31 AM

Should I bring one goat or two? I don't want the single to get too scared or lonely. I could bring a yearling and a doeling under three months. Which one or both? They both need to learn how to lead better. I just got the yearling yesterday. She's beautiful.

Sweet Goats · #15 05/21/08, 10:51 AM

OH, have faith in yourself and those beautiful goats.

Now what we do to help them learn to lead, (It does not always help). We show in halters and collars if they do have a halter small enough for the little ones, but for the collar, we have the lead on them and we "bribe" them with snacks that they like. Maybe raisins or pretzels, animal crackers. Give them some and let them enjoy some, then make them walk a few step to get to them and so on.
What we also do to teach the kids to switch sides. have them walk around their property and as they see something, anything even a stick. pretend that is the judge, and switch side. Switching sides should be smooth. Don't do it really fast and choppy. Take you time and make it looks nice.

Why not show both of your goat? It is good for your and them. If you do not show both then I would for sure take both goats if they will allow that. Not all places will allow you to bring goats that are not being shown.

Sweet Goats · #16 05/21/08, 11:09 AM

I do not want to brag, but when we go to the HUGE shows that have 60 or more kids showing, the judges always comment on how well the kids from El Paso County show. We had a judge from Main and he is a VERY well respected judge that we all just loved showing for him. He asked for all the kids to come in the ring. (wow that was a lot of kids). He pulled the best showman out of all the kids in that ring. I was SO proud to see all my kids were pulled out but 1. That was only 10 kids but hey out of 60 some kids that was awesome. He only pulled out 14 kids. Then he found out most of them were all from El Paso County. They called me in the ring and he made me turn about 15 shades of red, and gave me a beautiful board. WOW, that was totally unexpected.
SO Please don't take that as a gloat, I just wanted to tell you the things I tell my kids.

IF you work those goats no MORE then 15-20 minutes at a time each day, you will see that it really works. (My daughter does it two times a day for the youndg ones to get them use to it, morning and evening) If you do it more then that they just get irritated and will not listen. They are hardly ever in a ring that long anyway. Also pick up your goats feet and make sure you can touch them all over wothout moving.

Ok i am getting really excited for you.
We have our first HUGE show over fathers day Weekend. We always have about 350-400 goats at that show. Like i said it is HUGE.

Zone · #17 05/21/08, 12:04 PM

Yippee! THANKS! I will take two. Probably the yearling and the doeling. I can't wait. Your advice is most welcome. I like your experience with the judge and the showman kids. That must have been a shock and a wonderful one too!

alidansma · #18 05/21/08, 07:12 PM

I brought three goats - two to show and one to keep the one I wasn't with busy - I have seen people with a dozen or more goats!

Goat Servant · #19 05/22/08, 12:56 AM

There is almost always someone around to help. Last mo I brought 6, 3 were in one class and 2 in another. Hubby had to work. Well some blessed lady brought 3 extra sets of hands.
If you need help showing don't hesitate to ask! And Im sure you will help others when you can!

Sweetgoats thanks for all your input! Ive only done about 4 shows and I notice people always fidgeting with their animals. It stresses mine out. If they dont set up right the more I try the more get annoyed and become real boogers. Oh well.

Sweet Goats · #20 05/22/08, 08:56 AM

I totally agree with Goat Servant. There are always goat people around to help. And yes some people take a lot of goats and i am one. I will be going to a show over Fathers day and I will be taking 17 goats. I usually take more but I sold a lot of them this year. Now i say I but really they are my daughters. Sometimes we do have one then one goat in the ring and if I am busy I can always get the kids to help show. Those of us that go to the cashmere shows, we all know each other and we are always there for each other. The 4H kids just love to get together to see each other and it is like a big HUG fest for the first hour or so. We live all over CO so we do not get to see each other any time but shows. Last year during the show we had a goat tear a horn off and the 4H leader was at another barn so they new they could come to me for help. Yes we all show to win the class but first and for most we are there for each other in need, and we are always very happy for who ever wins. Matter of fact when my Liz died, they sent me a huge bouquet of flowers and a beautiful card, and had it all delivered. Ann, their 4H leader said it was totally their idea. They new how much I loved her. Matte of fact I got her for Ann and the kids new her also.

So to sum it all up. GOAT PEOPLE ARE GREAT