The ideal show stick length is not a kept secret, yet so many seem to make the mistake of buying the wrong size. Why do they make that mistake? Simple, the choice they’ve made perfectly logical.
The Secret
Here’s the trick…show stick length is more about the size of the cattle than the showman… most of the time. Particularly when the showman is little.
The Dilemma
You’re at a show, standing in front of the supply trailer while looking at the mass of show sticks all wrapped in plastic. Next, you think, “I don’t even know where to start.”
I’ve seen this process many times while waiting to grab a can of paint or glue. It can be daunting, mainly because many parents are unsure of what size or color to bring back to the stalls.
Young Showman
Picture this 9-year-old little blonde headed girl showing her Hereford heifer. We have all seen her. She’s in the show ring, just cute as a button. Someone has meticulously braided her hair, she’s wearing a cute little sweater, pressed jeans and cute little boots.
Her number harness is adjusted to fit her skinny little frame. Not an easy task by the way. In short, she out there to do her best and looking the part. Her heifer, while a little stubborn because she’s a Hereford, is perfectly behaved for her.
All the details of her presentation have been considered, right down to her cute little show stick. Wait…What? Cute little show stick? That’s where it all falls apart. For her, what is the ideal show stick length?
Everybody Grows
What we haven’t addressed it is the fact that her heifer is a Fall yearling that our little girl is showing in the Spring. Of course, when our little blonde showman got this heifer, that show stick seemed right and honestly, it worked okay because everyone was little.
But as they’ll do, the heifer started growing and left her little showman behind in her 70-pound frame. Do you still not see the problem? Let’s go back to the show ring.
Our showman knows she needs to set her heifer’s hind leg back. She leans and stretches in order to reach that leg with her show stick that is too short. As she does that, she pulls the heifer’s head with her.
Best case scenario, it’s just an unattractive picture to have the heifer’s head pulled around to the little girl while she reaches for that leg. However, it’s more likely that the heifer will respond as she’s been trained…When she is pulled in a direction, her body will follow. Most likely she will either step her front end out of line or swing her hip out of line. Either way, we’ve set this little showman up for unnecessary frustration.
Ideal Show Stick Length
A show stick for any given showman should be long enough that they can comfortably reach the hind legs of the cattle they are showing. Our boys haven’t ever shown with a stick smaller than a large. Agreed, it is a little unwieldy at first, but they adjust to what they are given. Realistically, when they are little they may not even hold on to the rubber handle part of the stick while scratching.
Like a baseball bat, when they are little, they just have to choke up. In fact, as they choke up on the stick, it balances the weight more, making it easier to manage. I like the carbon fiber sticks for the simple fact that you can get the additional length in a stick with a nominal addition in weight.
Big Showman
Perhaps worse our frustrated little blonde showman is the awkward picture of a stout young man showing with a medium-sized show stick. Gosh, I hate to quote Tommy Boy, but I can’t shake the comparison of “fat man in a little coat.”
Even if he is a basketball player with arms long enough to reach with that little stick, he just looks funny. That boy needs an extra-large show stick. Mom and Dad, please go get him a new stick!
I’m only 5’7” and I always show with an extra-large stick. I’m certain that so many small and medium sticks are sold because it seems logical when we get them “cute little” of everything else, it stands to reason that the stick is the same. Not the case.
Interested in more tips? Check out
Dress For Show Ring Success
If you like this or any of other stories, please subscribe to our email list at the top of the page to receive notification of our stories or videos…you never know if Facebook is going to tell you there is something new. Good luck out there!
