Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service • Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
No. 655
Oklahoma State University
As a sheep showman, your primary goal is to develop,groom,andpresentyouranimalsothatitwillmakethebestimpressionpossibleonthejudge.Atthesametime,youmustbecourteoustootherexhibitorsandfollowtheinstructionsoftheringstewardandthejudge. When exhibiting sheep in a showmanship contest or inbreedingandmarketclasses,theexhibitormusthavetotalcon-troloftheanimalatalltimes.Thejudgewillexpectcertainotherattributesinhistopshowmen–quiet,“unshowy”calmhandling;evidenceofhavingtrainedtheanimaltosmooth,quietactions,andproperlyposingtheanimal.Thejudgewillalsoexpectyouranimaltobecleanandproperlygroomed,andhewillexpectyoutobeneatlydressed.Checkyourshowcatalogstoensurethatyouarefollowingtheestablisheddresscodes. Sheepshowmenshouldbeconcernedwithproperlyhandlingandcontrolling theanimal aswell asposingandwalking thesheep.Rememberthatthebasicskillsarethemostimportant. Inposingsheepwhenthejudgeisattherearandviewingtheanimalsfromadistance,theexhibitorshouldbefacinghisanimalwitheachhandgraspingacheek(Figure1).Theexhibitormaybekneelingorsquatting,whicheverpositionprovidesforfullcontroloftheanimal.He/sheshouldbebackedawaytheanimalsothatthejudgecanseeclearly.Theanimalshouldbeposedwiththefeetmoderatelyspread,buttuckedunderenoughsothebackdoesnotsag.Theanimalshouldbeposedonlevelgroundorwiththefrontfeetonslightlyrisingground.Theexhibitorshouldmakesuretheanimal’sfrontfeetarenotinahole.Theexhibitorshouldnotplace thehandsatanyotherplaceon thesheep,suchasovertheshoulders,neck,orback.Figure1ashowsthepositionoftheexhibitorwhenthejudgeapproachestohandletheanimal. Whentheanimal’slegsareoutofposition,thefrontfeetmaybebestplacedandspreadbymovingonefrontlegatatime.Theexhibitormaintainsagraspunderthecheekwhilegraspingthelegabovethekneeandrepositioningit(Figures2and2a). Remember,theanimalshouldalwaysbebetweentheex-hibitorandthe judge. Inthecaseofsettingtherightrear leg,withthejudgeontheright,theexhibitorshouldholdtheanimalinthelefthand(underthechin)andreachoverthetopoftherumpandgraspthelegaboutthehock(Figure3).Iftheanimalistoolargefortheexhibitor,he/shemaywanttoreachundertheanimaltoplacetheleg(Figure3a).Inthecaseoftheleftrearleg,usetherighthandtomovetheleg(Figure4).Theexhibitormayalsoplacetherearlegsbypushingorpullinggentlytowardorawayfromthelegoutofposition,usingthesamecheekgraspdescribedearlier.Althoughthisisaneffectivemethodforplac-ingtherearfeet,itdoesnotappealtothemajorityofjudgesandshouldonlybeusedwhenallelsefailsorwhenshowinglargebreedanimals. Whenthejudgeapproachestherearoftheanimaltohandleit,theexhibitorshouldmaintainthesamegraspatthecheeks.
Sheep Showmanship
Figure 1. Posing animal with judge viewing from the rear.
Figure 1a. Position when judge approaches the animal for handling.
The exhibitor should not drop to his knees or thrust a kneeagainsttheanimal’sbreast.Aslightbendingoftheexhibitor’skneesandapushdownwardonbackontheanimal’sheadwillservetocontrolit(Figure5).Themainideahereistomakethesheep firm up, but at the same time keep the animal from fight-ing,chocking,orbackingup.Ifyouhavepracticedbracingyousheep,itwillpushforward,thustensingthemusclesintheloinandleg.Itisimportantthattheexhibitorkeepthesheep’sfeetonthegroundatthistime.DONOTliftthefrontfeetwhenthejudgehandlesyouranimal. When the judgeviews theanimal from its rightside, theexhibitorshouldbekneelingorsquattingontheleftsideneartheanimal’shead,butnotagainstit.Theexhibitor’slefthandshouldbeundertheanimal’sjaw,wellouttowardthemuzzle,withthe
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arm fairlyextended.The righthandshouldbegently rubbingunderneath the animal’s belly. This serves to raise a saggingbackandtocalmtheanimalaswellastheexhibitor(Figure6).Also,theanimal’sheadshouldbeatanormallevel,nottoohighortoolow. Whenthejudgemovestothefrontoftheanimal,theex-hibitorshouldremainbytheanimal’sleftshoulder.Avoidmov-ingtoofartotherearoftheanimalandstretchingoutatarm’slength.Whentheexhibitor’sleftarmisextended,itshouldbeatanangle,goingmorebacktowardtherearoftheanimalratherthandirectlyouttotheside.Iftheanimalhaschangeditsfrontlegposition,theexhibitorshouldresetthelegs.Donotworrytoomuchabouthindfeetbeingslightlyoutofpositionasthejudgeisconcernedwiththefrontendoftheanimal.Iftheanimaltendstobestartledbysomeoneapproaching,itmaybeagoodideafortheexhibitortoplacehis/herrighthandonthebackoftheanimal’snecktoensurecontrol.Ifitappearsthatthejudgeisgoingtoaskaquestion,theexhibitorshouldmoveclosertohisanimalandstandnearenoughsothathe/shecanheartheinstructions. Whenthejudgemovesfromthehead-onviewtotheleftsideoftheanimal,theexhibitor iscorrect inmovingbetweenthejudgeandhis/heranimaltotheoppositeorrightside.Thismovement should be made when the judge has passed theexactfrontoftheanimalandneedsaclearviewoftheanimal’sleft side (Figure 7). The exhibitor’s movement should alwaysbeslow,natural,andgraceful.Theexhibitorshouldmakethismovementaroundhis/heranimal’sfrontend.He/sheisoftenindangeroflosingcontroloftheanimalbyattemptingtostretcharoundtherearandisoffbalancesteppingoverhis/heranimal’sback.Therefore,movementaroundtheanimalshouldalwaysbemadeinfrontoftheanimal.Theexhibitoraccomplishesthisbystandingwithbothhandsontheanimal’schin(Figure8). Whenthejudgeaskstheexhibitortomovehis/heranimal,theexhibitorshouldbeontheoppositesideoftheanimalfromthejudge.Iftheexhibitorisontheanimal’sleftside,theexhibi-torshouldhavehis/herlefthandundertheanimal’schin,well
Figure 2. Placing animal’s right front leg.
Figure 2a. Placing animal’s left front leg.
Figure 3. Placing right rear leg.
Figure 3a. Another technique for placing the right rear leg.
Figure 4. Placing the left rear leg.
Figure 5. Bracing the sheep for handling.
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Figure 6. Proper position of exhibitor and animal for a side view.
outtowardthemuzzle,soastoavoidchokingtheanimal.Theexhibitor should have the fingers of his/her right hand closed andcuppedundertheanimal’sdock(Figure9). Never grasp the wool with an open-fingered hand at any time.Whileitisfairly“showy”tomovetheanimalwithouttouch-ingitsdock,thisoftenresultsinalossofcontrolbytheexhibitor.Theanimalshouldmoveata fairlyslowandevenpace,withitsbacklevelanditsheadinanormalposition.Theexhibitorshouldalwaysstrivetowalkinastraightlineandavoidpushingtheanimalfromsidetoside. Whenthejudgerequirestheanimaltobewalked,turnandreturned to the line-up, theexhibitorshould turn theanimal’sheadinwardsothattheheadremainsclosetotheexhibitor’s
Figure 7. Movement of exhibitor from one side of the animal to the other side.
Figure 8. Position of arms when changing sides of animal.
Figure 9. Maneuvering an animal by the dock.
belt.Simplychangehandsunderthechinandreversetheanimalwhilestayingattheanimal’shead.Byturningtheheadinward,youreducethepossibilityof theanimalboltingaway.For thereturntrip,theexhibitorwillendupontheoppositesideoftheanimalfromthejudge(Figure10).Uponreturningtotheline-up,theexhibitorshouldimmediatelyplacetheanimalinposition. Whentheclasshasbeenlinedupwiththeanimalsfacingawayfromthejudge,exhibitorsshouldbecarefultospacetheiranimalsonefullbodylengthapart.Theexhibitorstotheleftofthejudgeshouldstayontheleftsideoftheiranimalwhiletheexhibitorsonthejudge’srightareontherightsideoftheirani-mal(Figure11).Again,thisfollowstheguidelineofkeepingtheanimalbetweenthejudgeandtheexhibitor.Figure12showstheproperpositionoftheexhibitorswhenthejudgeistothefrontoftheanimals. Whenthejudgerequestsasideview,itisimportantthattheexhibitorskeeptheiranimalsinastraighthead-to-tailline.Thisallowsthejudgetohaveafullsideviewofeachanimal(Figure13). Intheline,oratanytimethattheanimalisbeingviewedbythejudge,calmnessandcontrolbytheexhibitorarefarmoreimportantthanshowygesturingandarm’slengthposing,whichmayallowtheanimaltoboltloose.Theexhibitorshouldwatchthepositionoftheanimalmorethanhe/shewatchesthejudge.Keeptheanimal“showing”atall timeswithoutexcitementoroverreactions. Iftheanimalshouldboltaway,theexhibitorshouldfollowtheanimalasquietlyaspossibletoacornerandhazeandcatchit quietly. The best catch is under the chin or in the rear flank. As soonastheanimaliscaught,theexhibitorshouldliftitsheadupsothattheanimalcannotboltsoeasily.Theuseofahaltermaybenecessaryforsomeyoungorinexperiencedexhibitors. Theshowmanshouldbepreparedtoanswerquestonaskedbythejudgesuchasbreed,age,sex,andweightoftheanimal.Knowledgeofgroomingequipmentandskillintheuseofequip-mentareverycrucialshowmanship“skills.”Theexhibitorshouldalsobefamiliarwithgroomingtechniquesforthisparticularbreed,andhe/sheshouldbereadytoexplainwhyhe/shetrimmedtheanimalaparticularway.
Summary Aftertheshowisover,theshowmanshouldcongratulatetheotherexhibitorsandexpresshis/herappreciationtothejudge,regardlessofhowhe/shewasplaced.Everyoneappreciatesgoodsportsmanship.Agoodshowmanshouldmakeuphis/hermind
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toreturnthenextyearwithabetteranimalandtodoabetterjob. Everyexhibitorshouldrememberthatshowmanshipskillsaredevelopedthroughlonghoursofpractice,hardwork,andadesiretoaccomplishagoal.Anexhibitorcanimprovehis/herskillsandabilitiesthroughpracticeandbyobservingtheoutstandingshowmengroomandshowtheiranimals. Ashowmanshouldtrytowin;however,theprimarygoalistopresentyouranimalsothatitwillmakethebestimpressionpossibleon the judge.Youcanachieve thisobjective throughdevelopingshowmanshipskillsandinstrivingtoimprovethoseskills. Exhibiting livestock provides you with an opportunity todevelop importantpersonal traitssuchasself-disciplineandasenseofresponsibility.
Credits JoeHughes,Extension4-HLivestockSpecialist,andBillCrutcher,PurebredFlockmanager,OklahomaStateUniversity,edited thispublication.KarenC.Steeleprepared theoriginaltext. AppreciationisexpressedtoPhilEllsworth,OSUphotogra-pher,andFrancisnelson,Madill,OK,forthephotographsusedinthisguide.AppreciationisalsoexpressedtoBeckyWalker,ScottWalker,andDarinHowardforprovidingthesheep.
Figure 10. Returning an animal to the line-up.
Figure 11. Proper position of exhibitors when judge is to the rear of the animal.
Figure 12. Position of the exhibitors when the judge is in front of the animals.
Figure 13. Proper position of exhibitors and animals in a line-up for a side view.
Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Robert E. Whitson, Director of Cooperative Exten-sion Service, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma. This publication is printed and issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the Vice President, Dean, and Director of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and has been prepared and distributed at a cost of 20 cents per copy. 1204.
