For those of you who show!? Help! :)

TheLoveOfGoats · #1 07/21/11, 11:17 AM

We had Linear Appraisals a few weeks ago and the judge doing our appraisals had told me that I need to have a fresh clip on my palomino/golden yearling doeling. A fresh clip as in clipping her the day of the show! Here it is a couple days before the show now and I so want to go clip her so I dont have clipper marks and that dull look on show day!! Has any one that shows waited to clip their light colored goats tell the day of show??

Donna1982 · #2 07/21/11, 02:05 PM

I don't show yet but being from the dog show world I would never do major grooming the day or even the day before. So when I do start to show my LaMancha I will be doing the same. I would think its a no no... how do you cover up screw ups you make? lol.

TheLoveOfGoats · #3 07/21/11, 02:23 PM

Thats what I was thinking.... but he said that she will blend in with the sawdust to much if I dont have a really fresh clip on her, and that goldens like her you cant really see the clipper marks as much if at all on them.... I clipped her 4 months ago but cant remember if I could see the clipper marks at all.... I decided though that Im going to clip her this evening and hope all turns out well

Cannon_Farms · #4 07/21/11, 02:28 PM

clippers shouldnt leave marks, either your blade is dull, your clippers are too slow or your not holding them right especially if you have clipped her before.

Im often clipping the day of the show or touching up but I prefer not to do it that way its just the way it turns out. I would be greatful that he shared his opinion with you as that point of view you may of been blind to you could mean the difference between winning and loosing. Also judges dont like oily sprays that make them shine or sticky stuff either.

Heritagefarm · #5 07/21/11, 02:49 PM

We clipped ours about 2 weeks before the show. Be aware that judges are largely ruled by personal opinion, so one opinion may be just as valid as another, and while one goat may place 12th it could also become a champion in another ring!
So, we actually would have liked to have trimmed them earlier so that their fur could grow out just a tad more and be slick and smooth.

saanengirl · #6 07/21/11, 02:57 PM

I raise Saanens and never clip more than a week before the show unless the show is after October 1. At Nationals I usually clip the day before the breed show. For the later shows, if I am not showing in September, I will usually clip around the third week of September and that will keep the coat reasonably short for the October and November shows.

TheLoveOfGoats · #7 07/21/11, 02:58 PM

Cannon, I have had pretty good results with clipping all my gals, to where I havent had to many clipper marks that you could really see.... I use the A5s and love them. I am very happy that he shared this information with me (sense Im a beginner shower)

But the reason I wouldnt want to clip my goats the day of the show (besides touch up) is like you said, I dont really like the way it turns out, or looks right after.... they lose some of thier natural shine and look dull.

TheLoveOfGoats · #8 07/21/11, 03:06 PM

This will be the Golden does first show, but my other gals are all darker and I clipped them a week before the show and they looked great by show day. I was just curious to know if anyone else has been told to clip lighter or golden goats the day of. Like I said I just dont want her looking really dull or if I make a mistake I cant fix it

I agree that judges like different things so you never know

saanengirl · #9 07/21/11, 03:26 PM

The day of, really means the day before. Yes, that is a general suggestion for light colored goats.

coso · #10 07/21/11, 03:36 PM

I usually clip darker colored does 10 to 14 days before a show. Cream or white does, I usually do it the weekend before the show. But a lot of show people clip there light colored does a day or two before the show. I just don't have the time to do that. My .02 Darker does just look better if they have some growth. Just remember to spray down that topline with some sunscreen or you will have a peeling goat in a week or two. Then they really don't look good.

Cannon_Farms · #11 07/21/11, 03:41 PM

what blade are you using and do you go backwards or forwards? There are some nice polishes that dont leave them sticky or oily but i love this product for coat shine and overall condition
http://www.tractorsupply.com/equine/...20-lb--5031852