A Beginner's Guide for Showing Cattle

Standard Preparation

To maximize your chances of success in the ring, you’ll want your animal looking its best. Proper hoof care means keeping them trimmed. White spots should be bright and clean. The tail should be brushed and fluffy. The coat should be clipped and groomed and looking the best you can get it. Clipping a show animal’s coat can be a complicated process. Be sure you’ve done your research and have had plenty of practice trimming and clipping before you get to the show. Before the start of the show season, make sure you’ve clipped your animal of its winter coat and begin training the animal’s topline hair. Then, a couple days before the show, clip the animal for the final time taking particular care to get it looking exactly the way you want.

The appearance of your animal will count. It makes sense to ask many questions and ask for the advice of folks who have shown animals in the past so you can get yours looking the way judges will expect it to appear. Many judges are looking for a fluffy coat. This can be to your advantage as a fluffy coat may hide or disguise any physical imperfections your animal might have. To achieve a fluffy coat, spend perhaps more time than you’d think necessary combing the animal. Doing so will create the appearance of a healthy animal, and it will tell the judges that you are a handler who knows the importance of making a positive impression.