What is Crowding?
If you’ve read our other articles, you’ve probably seen that crowding while showing is an incredibly common problem that I regularly address. I thought we’d jump into it in more detail to really explain the potential problems with crowding.
What do I mean by crowding? It’s simply getting too close to the calf, lamb, or goat in front of you. It happens all of the time and even the best showmen will revert to it from time to time. In our Show Smart showmanship videos we address this in more detail, but let’s explore it more right now. So what’s the big deal with crowding?
Room To Adjust
So guys… it’s not like parking a car. Cattle barely have brakes, let alone a park function. No matter the species, they have the ability and likelihood of moving out of line or even one crucial foot when you are showing. You need room to adjust for them moving and if you are crowded up on the calf, lamb, or goat in front of you it’s tough.
Obviously, it’s more challenging with cattle. You are left with two choices, circle or fight with their feet where they stand. There is a little more flexibility in the smaller species… except when the gal behind you crowded you too. Then you are just squished in line like a sardine.
Most livestock don’t look particularly appealing when they are squished in line like sardines. It’s pretty hard to get that great silhouette on the profile that way.
If the Animal in Front of You Won’t Walk
You won’t have to enter the show ring very many times before you end up behind somebody whose animal won’t lead. Shoot, maybe you are that guy! If you allow yourself some space, especially if the ring help is tailing the one ahead of you, you may be able to actually lead your own animal in a way that shows him off. Again with a traffic reference…stop and go is never a good look.
When Your Animal Wants to Ride
If you are not familiar with the term “ride,” it means when they jump on the animal in front of them. If you have a calf that is more inclined to try to ride, keep him further back from the calf in front of you. It’s dangerous to both you and the showman in front of you.
Cattle are almost always safer to be around when all four feet are on the ground.
I’ve noticed that calves who are raised by themselves are more likely to try this. Again, not a rule, just an observation. Maybe they are just happy to have friends!
Lambs and goats will do the same thing. You don’t run the same safety concerns as with cattle, but it’s a control issue and if you are in the hunt to win showmanship, you don’t want that to take you out of the running.
It Can Be Disrespectful or Dangerous For Your Judge
If you’ve crowded the fence in front of the cattle, it leaves little room for your judge to walk in front. It’s inconsiderate to jam your judge into the fence when he walks around the front of the stock. Worse than being inconsiderate, market judges handle the livestock.
If your calf wants to kick and you are sandwiched between two other calves, you are more likely to get your judge kicked. Take it from someone who gets kicked on a regular basis, that’s a great way to accomplish the task.
It’s the same story on the profile view…most judges will handle on the off-show side of the calf. Meaning, if you’ve crowded the fence, there is little room for your judge to get between the calf and the fence.
Crowding in the show ring… whether it is the animal in front of you or the fences around you is a problem.
Study the show ring before the show. Where are there potential problems? Plan while you are in the ring to stop your heifer, lamb, or goat in advance so you aren’t surprised when everyone hits the breaks. If everyone plans better, the show will run more smoothly.
Stock Show Stories is a passion project of mine. With over 30 years of showing experience, I hope to help you shorten your learning curve or give you tips to improve your performance in showing livestock. While most articles have a cattle slant…I mean, it’s what I do…the principles can be applied across species in many cases.
Please feel free to share with anyone who you feel would benefit.
