Bracing too hard???

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SlickTxMaine

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Feb 11, 2009
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My daughter is showing goats this year for the first time.  She is 10 yrs. old.  Her goats are bracing really good, but the problem is that they are pushing her back when they brace.  Is there a way to train them not to overpower her?
 

frostback

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This is a question I was going to ask. Are you supposed to brace goats? I know sheep but are they now doing goats?
 

SlickTxMaine

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Feb 11, 2009
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frostback said:
This is a question I was going to ask. Are you supposed to brace goats? I know sheep but are they now doing goats?

This is our first year showing goats, and at our local show, they brace goats.  Looking at pics from major shows in Texas.....they brace goats.  Not sure where you are from, so check with a knowledgeable person in your area. 
 

frostback

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Yes I will check but I am sure they do not. Now heres a hypothetical for you, if in your area they do not brace, but the judge is from Texas, do you brace? I guess it would make sense to teach them too, but not always do it.
 

Jill

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I'm a little late here, but what the heck.  We have this same problem in Kansas, we are not allowed to brace or touch the goat other than to set the feet yet when you get to a major show they are all full brace shows just like sheep.  The look of a goat drastically changes some for the good some not, so do you pick a goat based on how they look braced or not braced?
 

kanshow

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Really late to this discussion and I'm totally confused.  Our state rules clearly state  that goats cannot be braced.  There was a huge deal made about getting this rule in place last fall.  Yet every jackpot we've gone to this spring, they have been bracing the goats and they've been rewarded for this by a higher placement.  At one show, the judge even mentioned it in his reasons for his showmanship placement that it looks better to brace...  So I have a big problem in that if we are going to have a rule, either enforce it or get rid of it..  As it happens, all the judges that we've had have out of state roots so its more than likely ok to brace whereever they are from but if a judge is going to judge a show. .they need to be made aware of the rules we made in this state.    The other problem is as Jill says..  we can't brace in our state shows but when tehy go to the majors, bracing is allowed.  One more thing for the kids to have to keep in mind when they are in the ring.. plus you need animals that can be trained both ways or a different set of goats.      IMO..  I think our state should drop the No Brace rule.
 

maine28anjou

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Feb 8, 2013
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It makes more sense to brace if you think about it... We went to the county fair this year as the only group of kids who had a brace on their goats and wiped out showmanship because the judge liked to see goats on a brace.
I see it as a modern style that might not trickle all the way down to a county level for a few years. But it'll get there soon enough!
 

BTDT

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Jan 26, 2013
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Check your rules, but please keep this in mind:  I really hate it when I see exhibitors "hang" their lambs or goats by their neck and then slap their butts to get them to brace.  I was at a show last year when the judge finally made a funny comment about all the "slapping noises" making it hard to concentrate. While it may be common practice, remember that many "non ag" people watch these shows and many of them see hanging animals by their necks, and hitting them hard enough to make their muscles "pop" as abuse.  While exhibiting your animals keep in mind you are educating the public about livestock production and livestock producers. Make sure you give them something to be positive about!



 

Danielle1018

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Feb 25, 2015
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I have been showing for 11 years and bracing is a new trend. Goats were never braced before but have all of a sudden started because people think it makes their tops "pop". As far as the bracing too hard goes, there is a way to fix it however it can be tricky. The harder you push on the goat, the harder the goat will push back. So sometimes it helps if you more or less just kind or lean or stand up against them with barely any pressure. They won't push as hard.

I know its an old topic, but I will try to help any way I can. Good luck to you guys ;)
 
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