Trends in showmanship

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Perly
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Trends in showmanship

Post by Perly » Sun Apr 16, 2017 8:51 pm

I'm an ag teacher out in Washington state. I have a very active and competitive chapter in the show ring. Noticing that within the show world there is a transition and evolution to techniques, just curious where folks are with the very active and aggressive whip work that seems to be trending now. I get jacking that head up to open up that front, level that topline, and belly those hogs down, but is that at the expense driving those hogs in a natural state? Also, are the days of an easy driving, relaxed, yet focused and intense showman over? Are we moving to a day where our showmen need to be as agitated and busy whipped as the hogs with jacked up heads they're driving? What's the trend? Who wins? Like to get some responses from ag teachers and judges out there on the line.

buckI
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Re: Trends in showmanship

Post by buckI » Mon Apr 17, 2017 1:13 am

Not a judge, but a parent and youth leader.

I see some kids really working these pigs like you describe. Had a guy judging here a couple years ago that I place at the very top of the youth livestock judges. His comment, and I agree wholeheartedly, is that working these pigs as hard as some seem to, makes them walk unnaturally awkward and unless you are driving right at the judge, don't do it.

As a leader I stress that the kids need to get their pig's head up, but do not jack it up. Not only does jacking a pig's head up it impact the movement of the pig, but it detracts because these kids are so hyperactive out there, attention is drawn to the showman, and not the animal.

mjw1980
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Re: Trends in showmanship

Post by mjw1980 » Mon Apr 17, 2017 8:03 am

I like it when a kid does not have to actively whip the pig (not really whipping but tapping them). I always preferred more of guiding the pig with the whip and showed more control if you could turn your pig without touching it. Just moving it on the side you want them to turn from shows more trust and control to me. I was shocked at the way kids show now days after being out for so long.

eucathepig
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Re: Trends in showmanship

Post by eucathepig » Mon Apr 17, 2017 8:27 am

Children (some, not all) at my fair are ruthless and in my opinion abusive to their pigs. Last fair, members of a particular club would starve their pigs and only give them a little bit of water a few days before the show. I guess they did this to
to slow the pigs metabolism
It made the pigs walk slower but they were so hungry and thirsty it just broke my heart. There were a lot of days when the temperature reached 110 degrees and maybe more. They still would not give them much water. I'm happy to say the kids that I actually know (FAMILY MEMBERS) did not win any of their classes. I do not like these family members nor do I talk to them. I show pigs too at the same fair, but I am not in the same club as them, and I never will be.

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