Reprinted with permission
from www.ShowPig.com.
As you prepare for your next showmanship class, there is something to
keep in mind that is often overlooked. You see, it is very easy to get
really focused on your performance IN the show ring and forget
about the time before you enter the ring.
Remembering all of the rules of the ring and concentrating on driving
your hog are certainly important things that you need to keep in
mind. But, if you neglect what you need to do BEFORE you
get to the ring, the rest won’t matter!
Let’s start with you. It is very important to me
that my top showman understand that a showmanship class is all about
them. It’s how they look, how the hog looks, and how they look working
the hog. SHOWMANSHIP IS YOU! That means that you need to show up
to the ring with a very clean, professional appearance. This doesn’t
mean that you need a tie or a dress. It does mean clean jeans, a clean
shirt, NO HATS, and your hair at least partially combed! It can
be tough to be ready for a busy day in the show ring,
but making sure that you look very presentable
goes a long way to getting started.
Now, let’s talk about your hog. In a best case situation, you
should bring your hog straight from the wash rack to the ring. This will
at least give you the best chance of having your pig clean when you get
to the show ring! You would be amazed at the number of hogs that I see
every year in showmanship classes that are dirty. If you come to a
showmanship class with your hog not looking its best, you are at a
distinct disadvantage to winning the top placing. But you’re probably
asking yourself, "Isn’t a showmanship class about showing the
hog?" Sure it is, but it is very hard for a showmanship judge to
have his or her winner driving a dirty hog around the ring, no matter
what kind of showman you were in the ring!
So, as you get ready for your next showmanship class, keep these two,
before-the-show items in mind. SHOWMANSHIP IS ABOUT YOU! How do YOU
look? How does YOUR hog look? This is your chance to shine. Make
the most of it, before you get to the ring too!
