The genetics of your calf can never be changed, but how well you managed and performed your conditioning, grooming, and training programs will either enhance or distract from those genetics. All those long hours of caring for and training your calf will be evident as you walk into the ring. Here, you will present your calf for evaluation by a judge whose primary responsibility is to place the animals in the order which he thinks they represent the needs and goals of the Texas Longhorn breed and the beef cattle industry.

They will be judged on conformation, structural correctness, breed character, and quality. How well your animal exhibits those traits depends upon how you have accomplished your pre-show preparation and your showmanship skills.

Good showmanship is not difficult, but it does require much time, patience, and effort. Simply put, showmanship is showing your animal off to its best advantage, by emphasizing its strong points and knowing how to disguise its weaker areas. There are many cases where an animal did not place as well as it could have in the show ring because it was not shown to look its best before a judge.

Any person who has participated in a showmanship class at a qualifying show may participate in the showmanship class at the National Youth Show even if he/she does not have an animal qualified in the show. If one does not have an animal qualified, an entry fee will need to be paid to participate.

FUNDAMENTALS OF SHOWMANSHIP

The most important job for you as an exhibitor is to be alert. Show your calf properly and be aware of the judge at all times. Carry out the instructions of the judge and ring officials promptly.

As You Enter the Ring

When your class is called, you should be ready to enter the show ring promptly. DO NOT KEEP THE JUDGE WAITING. Begin showing as you walk into the ring.

When Leading The Calf

Always walk on the left side of your animal with the lead strap in your right hand and your show stick in your left. Hold your lead strap about 18-24 inches from the calf's head. You should either cut the extra portion of the lead strap off or keep it folded neatly in your hand. (Never wrap the free end of the lead strap around your hand.)

Your calf should be trained to lead at a brisk pace by your side, not ahead of you or trailing behind. Hold your calf's head up at an attentive, yet natural, level slightly above the height of its back.

When Setting Up Your Longhorn

As you lead your calf into line, set it up as quickly as possible. Leave at least three to four feet between the calves on either side. This amount of space enables everyone in the ring to work with their calves much easier. Also, leave at least five feet between your calf's head and the head and the edge of the ring. This gives the judge room to move in front of the animals.

When setting your calf up, change the lead strap to your left hand and use the show stick with your right hand while facing the animal. Set the animal's legs squarely under each corner of its body. A point should be made to always keep the animal's back level and straight. The calf's head should always be up.

If possible, your calf should be exhibited with its front feet on a slightly higher level than the rear feet. Place the rear feet with your show stick by pressing on the pastern to move it to the rear or by using the hook on the end of the show stick to pull a foot forward. In placing the front feet, you should try to set the animal's feet by using, pressing, or pulling on the pastern with your foot. With experience, you will soon learn that pulling slightly forward or rearward on the animal's halter while trying to move the calf's feet will aid you in placing the legs squarely under the calf. Both front and rear feet should be placed side by side, a normal distance apart.

The judge's purpose in lining up the animals head to tail, or side by side, is to get a full, comparative picture of the calves. If your calf is out of line, or is covering up another animal, the judge cannot make a fair comparison. This is called show ring courtesy, courtesy to other showmen, the judge and to your animal.

Courtesy and showmanship are important in the show ring. If requested to move your animal up or down the line, never lead past the front of other animals. Instead, lead your calf ahead, turn clockwise, go back through the line where it was standing, and then proceed up or down the line to your newly designated position. Whenever you make a complete turn with your animal, always walk around the animal in a clockwise direction.

In the show ring you should always be calm and deliberate in your actions and movements. Try not to become excited because your calf will sense this and also become excited. In the event your animal becomes nervous or hard to handle, remain calm, working with it quietly, and do the best job you can. Try to avoid bumping and crowding the other animals, and by all means NEVER LOSE YOUR TEMPER WITH YOUR CALF OR ANOTHER EXHIBITOR.

Your appearance is also a very important part of showmanship.

Do not take the outcome of the show too seriously. Do not be unsportsmanlike! Remember, the classes are placed by the judge the way he sees them on that particular day. On a different day, in the eyes of another judge, there could be a totally different outcome. The show ring should be considered a place to exhibit cattle for comparative evaluation as well as gain valuable educational experience.

Remember, as long as you have developed and exhibited your animal to the best of your ability, you have accomplished your purpose and gained a wealth of experience.