Show Ring appearance

Hey everyone! My fair is next weekend. My steer is a Simmi, Maine Cross out of Walks Alone and weighs 1400 and is the biggest bone, longest sided and heaviest muscled calf that I have ever owned!!! He catches your eye when you walk into the showring because he is a red and white steer and everytime I show him I am always in the top three. I have one question though.... How do I hide the slight dip right behind his shoulders? That is this steers only fault and it is my last year showing and so i want to do the best I can with him. Thanks!!

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Alrighty! Thanks!

Well yes a picture would be nice, but there are a couple things you can try that may or may not work.  When you set him up make sure he is not spread out to far...that might help.  Also, when you do have him set up if he tends to get slouchy rake your stick on his belly a little harder than you typically might.  This may help him pop that back up.  My sons steer was a little that way this year and actually the more my son tried to manhandle his steer the worse it made the problem.  So just roll with it and Good Luck!

Thank you !

When you clip him can you leave alittle extra behind the shoulder? Alot of times you can hide a steers faults with hair. Just depends on the way you clip him. That would be my suggestion. try it and see what happens if you cant then the advice above would be your best option

Robbins Show Cattle said:

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right on.

Agree that leaving a little extra hair in there can help - you can even use a little light adhesive to keep that hair up... But before you clip it in you need to practice setting him up and find the way that minimizes it the best.  Try what willow suggested - try scratching different places on his belly and using different pressures to see if you can find a spot that makes him hold his top better, or I'd suggest using your showstick to pull his loin down (by making a firm stroke across the top of his loin) - although this may seem like it would make the top look weaker, it actually usually has the effect of making them pull their top up into their shoulders a little better.  Either way, whether you're pulling up or pushing down, be sure you hold his head up - this also helps smooth out the top of the shoulders. After you find the way to set him up to minimize the weakness the most, then make sure he's set that way while his top is being clipped, so you'll be able to clip the top accordingly. Good luck.

willow said:

Well yes a picture would be nice, but there are a couple things you can try that may or may not work.  When you set him up make sure he is not spread out to far...that might help.  Also, when you do have him set up if he tends to get slouchy rake your stick on his belly a little harder than you typically might.  This may help him pop that back up.   My sons steer was a little that way this year and actually the more my son tried to manhandle his steer the worse it made the problem.  So just roll with it and Good Luck!

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My steer does this too, and I use my showstick and rake him just behind his front legs, and he pulls it up.  But DEFINITELY try to clip him to hide this problem!

All of these are good suggestions IF u have any hair & if u can get him to respond to these stick techniques. Another thing that may help more than anything, depending on how level ur fair barn's show ring is, NEVER stop him with his front lower than his hindquarters. If the ground isn't perfectly level, pay attention to where u park & make sure u park him standing as uphill as possible. Practice this at home & notice how much difference just a slight difference will make. Think about most picture taking areas at bigger cattle shows...they're all built up under the front feet...that's to raise the front end & level the top. They ALWAYS look better walking or standing slightly uphill. If u can't park him UPhill...just make sure u don't put his front in a hole! It'll exaggerate the problem ur trying to hide.

Good luck!

Don't let him drink a lot of water on show day.  Fill him with something else.  The added weight of the water will break his top.  Also, let him lay or keep him down as mush as possible the day of show.  The longer he stands the weaker his top will get so wait till the last minute to get him up for fitting.  This along with with the tips already provided is about all you can do at this point. G-Luck