Showmanship And Showsticks

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JosiesCattle

New member
Joined
Jul 23, 2013
Messages
4
1. Tips On Showmanship
And
What do you suggest with a steer that is sensitive to showsticks on his feet?
Or it might be that he also just is not used to it yet?
 

vc

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Jul 24, 2007
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1,811
Location
So-Cal
Practice at home, relax when your in the ring, be attentive but relaxed.
We make the calves set up and stand there prior to them getting turned loose for the night, we do it every time, it does not take long for them to figure out the faster they do what you want the faster they get to do what they want.

As far as the feet, best way is to teach them to step into setting up, this way you use less stick on there feet if any, and get them set up quicker in the ring.

Knabe explains this method better than I can, do a search on setting up, it should come up.

Be patient and consistent at home it will pay off in the ring.
 

Will

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Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
744
Location
Jay Ok
We practice with no stick at home.  I want the kids to be able to get the calves were they need to be by applying pressure on the halter then we just use the stick to scratch and keep the calve comfortable.  When the cattle get trained it makes it so any one can show one and look very good.  My son can set the may yearling up with no stick then walk around her and she will hold the position.  Just takes some time.
 

SlickTxMaine

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Feb 11, 2009
Messages
641
Location
Texas
For two years I tried to get my son to teach his steers to walk into place and not use the stick to adjust their feet.  He didn't think it was important.  Until one year, he had a steer that would stand perfectly calm until you touched his feet, then he started dancing, and it was impossible to get him set.  My son, finally decided to teach him to walk into place.  It didn't take but a few days of practiceing and the steer had it figured out.  During the show when everyone was lined up and still, a neighboring steer got a little jumping and pushed up against my son's steer after he was set, causing him to move out of place.  As soon as the other steer was off of my son's steer, the steer stepped back into his original spot and stood perfectly.  He won showmanship that year!  Guess what he taught his steer to do the next year????
 

vc

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Jul 24, 2007
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1,811
Location
So-Cal
You still need to practice with the stick, not for the feet, but to find the spot that gets them to loin, and find that spot that makes them relax, for some calves it could be the chest, some the belly or others the brisket, find their spot at home so at the show you know where to go to calm them down.

My youngest had a knack with the show stick, if he found the calves sweet spot with the stick he could go out in the pasture and halter one by just scratching them, really helps when their still green. He seldom if ever touched the feet but could put one to sleep with a stick when he wanted.

You and the calf need to be on the same page, the more you practice at home the better you can anticipate when your animal is about to have issues, and correct or change the situation before it occurs.

I think what gets to a calf more than anything is when you are constantly messing with them, we told the boys if you get them close, leave them alone, that 1/4 inch to an inch off is not worth getting the steer all worked up, if he is close your good.
 

scotland

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Joined
Sep 12, 2009
Messages
214
Location
pilger saskatchewan
a very simple method of halter and shoulder to place the animals feet.  Slight pressure to the halter, (fore or back) slight push on the point of the shoulder will place the feet were they need to be. Practise each time you lead the beast and soon they will be on auto foot placement. When I judge showmanship classes , one of the disciplines ... 'drop your show stick', ring stewart picks them the sticks, and you are asked to move an place your beast.
 

sizzler14

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Jan 17, 2012
Messages
868
Everybody is right, teaching your calf to walk into it is the key. It also allows their front end to look right because they're standing comfortable. A thing we do that also helps a calf to know how to stand when in the ring is when we are blowing and combing every single day, we will use our feet to move the calfs feet and make the calf stand in show position. if you start about 60 days prior to the show, and your rinsing and blowing twice a day for about an hour a calf. thats 120 hours of standing in show position. thats a lot of muscle memory. also makes clipping a whole lot easier! good luck!
 
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