The Basics Swine Showmanship

1 The Basics Swine ShowmanshipThe Basics Swine ShowmanshipThere are certain Basics in showing Swine that even the youngest showman can work to achieve. While theseideas may seem to be very detailed, they are the keys to making the Showmanship experience as positive asit can be. Always keep in mind while you prepare for your Showmanship that a judge is looking to be impressedin the show ring. If you want to win the blue ribbon, your number one task is to find a way to impress him!SwineSwine ShowmanshipShowmanship is the overall care, training andappearance of 4-H and FFA members and their projectanimals, and members performance in and outside theshow ring. A member is on display at all times at the fair eventhough he or she is judged for Showmanship only during onespecial class. Showmanship in the ring is characterized by theappearance of a club member and his or her animal andthe manner in which the member presents that animal to thejudge. The purpose of showing is to present an animal to ajudge in the best manner possible so the judge can evaluatethe animal thoroughly An exhibitor should try just as hard toshow an animal well during regular judging as during ashowmanship class.

2 The only difference between a regularshowing and a Showmanship class is that the relative merit ofthe animal is not under consideration during a showmanshipclass .A good exhibitor keeps the pig under control at alltimes. This is difficult because a pig is not held or restrainedlike other animals, and different training procedures arefollowed. There are two phases in Swine Showmanship :preparation of the animal and showing for the Show RingPreparation for the Show RingTrainingTrainingTraining a pig begins in advance of show time. The best wayto do this is to begin walking the pig two weeks before showtime, getting it used to you and your commands. Thisexercise will tend to firm up its muscles and give it a betterappearance. You also can practice giving the pigcommands with a can or small stick. Put the animal in a penwith other pigs and see if it can be controlled with other pigsaround.

3 The exhibitor should not make a pet of the pig or itwill not respond well in the show ring. Cleaning. It is best togive the pig a good scrubbing two or three times before thefair. Start about one week before the show and do the lastwashing after you arrive at the show. It usually requires morethan one washing to remove all the dirt and dandruff fromthe pig. Grooming. The animal s hair coat will show morebloom if you begin brushing the pig prior to show also will help gentle the animal. Brush the hair coatin its normal direction. Never part it on the back. Clip theanimal s tail from switch to tail setting if desired. The insideand outside of the ears also can be clipped. To give a pig aglossy hair coat, apply transparent oil to darker hogs. The oilcan be mineral oil or a non-detergent motor oil. Never leavea large amount of oil on the pig. The best way to apply oil isto soak a rag and rub it over the pig.

4 If too much oil isapplied, take a dry rag and rub some off. White pigs andwhite areas on dark pigs can be dusted with a white powderto give the animals a nice appearance. Here again, toomuch powder is not desirable. Sometimes a good washingmakes the pig just as attractive. Before entering the ring. Priorto entering the show ring, the exhibitor should brush the pigclean of all straw and clean its feet of excess mud ormanure. The exhibitor should be ready when the class iscalled. Promptness in getting the pig to the show ring is themark of a good will handle the fair better if they are comfortable aroundyou. Spend some time getting to know your pig. Regularlywork with your pig including exercising them and practiceshowing them. Have parents or friends serve as a judge asyou practice your Showmanship skills and get your pigaccustomed to being handled. Provide some outside penexperience. This will give your pig additional exercise and willmake it easier to move your pig in unfamiliar surroundings atthe your pig a few times prior to the show.

5 This will help getyour pig used to the extra handling and will reduce scrubbingtime at the show. It will also aid in making sure you have aclean, well-presented project to the public at the fair. Usecaution when washing your pig. Cold water can be your pig slowly beginning with the legs giving the animaltime to adjust to the water temperature. Secondly, use greatcaution when washing around your pigs head to avoidgetting water into the ears. This will make you pig carry hishead in an unnatural manner. To wash your pig, begin with agood pre-rinse to soften hardened manure and dirt. Then,apply a mild soap, scrub the dirt free with a brush, and thenrinse. The final rinse MUST remove ALL soap and dirt. Dandruffcan result from soap residue. When you are finished, returnyour washed pig to a clean, well-bedded To the FairGoing To the FairPaperwork:Paperwork: Put all necessary paperwork in a folder or binderfor easy access during check-in at the fair.

6 Take time todouble check that you have all required paperwork includingregistration papers, health papers, entry tags or any otherrecords that may be :Transporting: Do not overcrowd the animals you are haulingto the fair. Do not give them a lot of feed before a long your truck or trailer is going to be full of pigs, pen themaccording to how they will be penned at the fair. Hogsshould be sorted before loading and given time to settledown. During the summer heat try to avoid hauling in themiddle of the day. Always water your pigs before transportingthem. You may want to wet bedding down when hauling ona hot day or add some ice blocks for the pigs. Make sureproper ventilation is Supplies:Show Supplies: Show supplies can be organized in a lock-able box. It is most convenient to have one spot to keep allnecessary paperwork and equipment. Equipment you mightconsider packing in your box would include washing supplies,brushes, bucket, hose, boots, sprinkle can, hog hurdles, rags,feed pans, decorations, change of clothing, and showingimplements.

7 Unless the show specifies otherwise, you willneed to provide your own feed and bedding. Straw or woodshavings are good choices for bedding at the fair. Duringwarm weather, shavings are the better choice as they trapless heat around the DayShow DayGive yourself plenty of time. It is amazing how many thingscan run amuck when you re trying to hurry. Your pig should bewashed the day before the show, and returned to awell-bedded pen. Brushing pigs while they are still wet will helpthe hair lay down properly. If your animal has gotten dirtyovernight, they should be washed again the morning beforethe show. To make your pigs sparkle when they enter theyring they should be wet not oiled and brushed. Give your piga drink of water before entering the show ring. This will helpyour pig stay cooler and more content during the you have been penned you can rewet you , let s talk about show day. Your clean, well-groomed pigshould come into the ring at a slow pace so that the judgecan take a good look at your hog.

8 Be sure that you havedressed appropriately and that your brush is in your job is to remain focused, calm, and confidentthroughout your Showmanship class, no matter how your pigacts. If your hog takes off running across the ring, DO NOTtake off running after him. Rather, move quickly but not at arun to recover complete control of your pig. After you enterthe ring, keep your hog at the far end of the ring until all ofyour competitors have entered the ring. Your judge willimmediately be impressed when you exhibit the control tokeep your hog out of the way of incoming pigs. It also helpsto show the judge that you want to be courteous to theother BehaviorShowing BehaviorExhibitor s AppearanceExhibitor s AppearanceAlthough the appearance of the pig and the exhibitor sactions in the show ring are the primary considerations in ashowmanship contest, do not overlook the exhibitor sappearance. An exhibitor should be clean andwell-groomed.

9 An exhibitor often is busy feeding or preparinglivestock just before show time, but should take time forpersonal appearance before entering the ring. Clothes thatare neat and practical are recommended. A sloppyappearance detracts from a good animal and a goodshowing job. Remember to relax and enjoy the experience!Knowledge Of The AnimalKnowledge Of The AnimalThe exhibitor should have some information about the swineproject. He or she should be able to tell the judge the age,weight, breed, sex and other points about the Entering The RingBefore Entering The RingAs you enter the ring, have in mind where you want your pigto go. The idea is NOT to simply following your pig around thering, but, instead, to drive your pig around the ring to theplaces where the judge can get the best look at your all times, you want to keep your pig between you and thejudge while moving your pig along at a slow, even pace withthe least possible use of your cane.

10 Excessive use of yourcane is one of the easiest ways for a judge to determinethat you are a less experienced showman. Successful swineshowman accomplishes complete control with very gentleuse of their cane. Light taps on a hog that has been workedwith is all that will be necessary to get them headed orturned in the right The RingIn The RingGoals:Goals: Your goals as you drive your hog are to keep your pig10 to 15 feet from the judge, keep your pig off of the fence,keep your pigs out of the corners, and on the move at alltimes. The more that you can be in the center of the ring,the more that the judge can get a good look at your free to use your free hand in your pig s face to movehim out of a corner or get him off the rail, but NEVER useyour knees. Your plan is try to anticipate when your hog willhead for the fence and keep him from reaching it. Yourposture should be slightly crouched in a relaxed, casualposition.