| |
Show
Ring
Etiquette
by
Sandi
Wall
[Webmaster's
Note:
Showing
Pygmy
Goats
can
be
a
fun
and
educational
experience
for
the
whole
family.
There
are
few
rules,
but
these
basic
guidelines
can
make
the
experience
more
enjoyable
for
you
and
those
around
you.]
With
all
the
shows
that
are
upcoming
in
the
near
future,
I
think
all
exhibitors
should
review
the
following
show
ring
etiquette.
These
are
simply
a
few
rules
to
remember
when
you
are
in
the
show
ring
that
will
help
you
look
better
as
an
exhibitor,
show
your
animal
off
to
its
best
advantage
and
help
the
judge
to
better
judge
your
goat.
REMEMBER
PARENTS,
if
your
children
are
showing
in
the
ring,
PLEASE
GO
OVER
SOME
OF
THESE
RULES
WITH
THEM.
1.
Always
move
in
a
clockwise
circle
(unless
the
judge
instructs
you
otherwise).
2.
Keep
at
least
2
feet
behind
the
goat
in
front
of
you.
The
judge
has
a
hard
time
judging
your
goat
if
it
is
riding
piggy-back
on
the
goat
in
front
of
it.
3.
ALWAYS
KEEP
YOUR
GOAT
BETWEEN
YOU
AND
THE
JUDGE.
When
changing
sides
of
your
goats,
do
so
in
front
of
the
animal.
DO
NOT
go
behind
the
goat
or
climb
over
it.
As
you
are
changing
sides,
switch
the
lead
from
one
hand
to
the
other.
4.
Use
a
short
lead.
You
don’t
want
your
goat
to
be
able
to
walk
3
feet
in
front
of
you,
but
rather
at
your
side.
Keep
the
collar
up
high
around
the
goat’s
neck,
keeping
the
head
held
high.
5.
When
setting
up
your
goat,
do
so
by
placing
his/her
front
legs
set
squarely
under
him/her.
Place
the
rear
legs
so
that
the
hocks
are
lined
up
with
the
tail
head.
6.
When
you
are
asked
to
walk
your
goat
side
by
side
with
another
goat,
do
just
that.
Do
not
run
your
goat
up
and
back,
this
is
not
a
race
to
see
who
can
get
back
in
line
first.
This
is
a
method
a
judge
uses
to
compare
two
goats
from
the
front
and
rear.
If
the
goat
next
to
you
stops,
then
wait
for
him/her.
Walk
up
to
where
the
judge
is
standing,
turn
the
goat
in
towards
you
and
then
walk
back
into
line
where
you
started
from.
7.
When
the
judge
asks
you
to
line
your
goats
up
head
to
tail,
leave
a
space
of
at
least
18
inches
between
your
goat
and
the
one
in
front
of
you.
There
is
nothing
worse
than
having
your
goat
jumping
around
and
acting
up,
then
to
discover
your
goat’s
tail
being
swallowed
up
by
the
goat
behind
you.
8.
KEEP
YOUR
EYES
ON
THE
JUDGE.
Your
eyes
should
be
only
on
two
different
places,
the
Judge
and
your
goat.
This
is
not
the
time
to
be
checking
out
the
scenery
around
you.
If
the
judge
asks
you
to
move
your
goat,
he/she
doesn’t
really
like
to
have
to
repeat
his/her
instructions
two
or
three
times.
9.
Do
not
call
your
goat
by
it’s
name
when
the
judge
is
within
hearing
distance.
10.
DO
NOT
TALK
TO
THE
EXHIBITOR
NEXT
TO
YOU.
Save
your
conversations
with
fellow
exhibitors
for
outside
the
ring
and
show
a
little
professional
courtesy
to
the
judge.
11.
Last
of
all,
but
probably
most
important,
DO
NOT
BRING
A
SICK
ANIMAL
TO
THE
SHOW!
This
also
applies
to
goats
with
scours,
pink
eye
and
sores
on
their
mouth
or
other
parts
of
the
body.
Many
of
these
conditions
are
contagious
and
will
very
probably
(if
not,
should
be)
disqualified
from
the
show
ring.
Excerpts
from:
Hale,
Lydia,
and
Ellen
Kritzman,
eds.
Pygmy
Goats:
Best
of
Memo
(1976-1981)
National
Pygmy
Goat
Association:
pp
117
This
document
is
for
informational
purposes
only
and
is
in
no
way
intended
to
be
a
substitute
for
medical
consultation
with
a
qualified
veterinary
professional.
The
information
provided
through
this
document
is
not
meant
to
be
used
in
the
diagnosis
or
treatment
of
a
health
problem
or
disease,
nor
should
it
be
construed
as
such.
|
|
