THE SHOW RING

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 111, 6 November 1935, Page 19

THE SHOW RING

SOME COMMON EEEOES

TEACHING CATTLE TO POSE

Well-mannered animals have a great advantage over untrained animals in the show ring. Every animal should have a neat halter and lead rope, and should be.taught to lead properly and > to stand in position when being ex- c amined by the judge. j If the hind legs are out of position, i draw the animal forward step by step ( until the legs are in the correct position. If a front leg is too far for- ' ward (and the other legs are in good ] position) put pressure with the foot \ on the animal's hoof and exert ah ( easy increasing pressure until the leg ' is drawn back. If any trouble is 1 experienced in getting the animal into a good position, lead it around again ( and stop dead when the animal is in the correct position. ' The front legs and head look best when the animal is standing slightly uphill. An animal with any slight weakness in the back should not be drawn out full length. Some o£ the common show ring errors are allowing the animal to stand with its head down, with its feet in wrong position, with back lowered, or standing downhill. An exhibitor wishing to make a good job of showing an animal should make a careful study of his animal first with someone else holding it. By doing so he can delect any little peculiarities of the animal and .correct them. He will also be getting the same view of the animal as the judge. Some animals have a natural st3 rle in the ring, I while others have to be trained to; show to advantage. I It is particularly noticeable in show rings in New Zealand that attendants in charge of animals do not realise that they should display their charges to the best advantage. When being paraded, the animals' heads should be kept up and a brisk pace maintained. When they are lined up for inspection, the attendants must see that the animals are standing correctly. Attend-1 ants should watch their animals closely, and should also note the movements of the judge. When a yearling heifer, for example, is being inspected, the attendant should see, when the judge is examining the fore udder, (hat the hind j leg on the side next to the judge is well back, and when the judge steps back to examine the rear portion of the udder the animal should be moved one step forward, bringing the hind lag forward. If this is done, the [judge can pasily. examine the iidjUir, _ j