The general public who own a few Australian Miniature Goats just for pets probably think shows are for the “big breeders”. WRONG!

Shows are every bit as much for all Mini Goat lovers as they are for Studs that use shows for promotion of their stock and to monitor the quality of their breeding stock.

You must be a member of the Miniature Goat Breeders Association (MGBA) and have up to date membership and your animals must have current registration certificates that are up to date for age. If you do not want to join a full membership the MGBA offers a social membership for $15 per year if you only want to show your pets.

If you have one or two pets it can be fun to show and be among other people that enjoy their Mini Goats as much as you do. You can learn alot from being in the show ring and it is also a great confidence booster for children being in front of people as well as the public ohhing and arhhhing over their loved pets. A ribbon or two and possibly a trophy to take to school for show and tell or just to show other family members is a sure way to make a childhood memory of a proud moment.

If you want to show an Australian Miniature Goat and are a breeder, you really need to do your homework. Research the breed standards for each breed. Read over the show rules. Come along to local show and see what is available and what winning show goats look like and how they are presented.
If you are only purchasing a goat to show, it would be recommend you get onto the Internet and learn as much as you can about goat conformation so when you find an animal for sale that you have some knowledge about what you need to look for. If you don't research and have the knowledge to back up your purchase then you may be disappointed.

I have my knowledge now where do I buy one from?

If you are ready to purchase a show goat, go to a local show, you can stay behind after the show to talk to breeders and find out if they have any show goats available for sale. If you want young stock because you want them to be raised with your family and are happy to take the risk of it not being suitable as an adult because you just want to have some fun, look for stock that has won in the show ring numerous times and look into purchasing his/her offspring.

You can contact breeders via the breeders list on the Miniature Goat Breeders Associations web site, E-mail breeders and ask if they have anything that would be suitable for the show ring. If a breeder has a goat available for sale, and it is close to a show date,ask them to bring it along to the next show and you might be lucky enough to have a judge go over it for you to see if it is suitable or not or have the breeder enter it into the show to see how it goes .

YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SHAVE YOUR ANIMAL TO ENTER A SHOW. MANY BREEDERS DO NOT CLIP THEIR GOATS. YOUR GOAT MUST BE IN GOOD CONDITION AND IS CLEAN AND TIDY. Here are the basic things we recommend to do for a show.

Start getting your goat used to leading around in preparation for the ring. Teach him to stand and allow you to run your hands over him.

* Wash and shave coat (smooth coats and cashmere).
* Trim hooves and cut and blend hair over hooves.
* Cut off any scraggly bits of hair and give your goat a general tidy up if you are not shaving.
* Most breeders shave the hair from inside the ears, any longer facial hairs on the face and muzzle area.
* If your doe has a beard remove it. Always leave a buck with a full beard.
* Give the tail a straight or rounded cut to the end.
* Clean hooves and rear ends.

Start getting your goat used to leading around in preparation for the ring. Teach him to stand and allow you to run your hands over him.

Contact the steward and find out if there is a pen available for your animal/s if not you will need to bring your own set up with panels

Checklist

[   ]SHOW KIT:  

[   ]Collars and Leads (black leads and dog choker chain with D Shackle clips to prevent the choker effect)

[   ]Grooming Equipment:  Brushes/Combs, Rags, Hoof Trimmers, battery operated trimmer

[   ]wipes for your hands or emergencies on your goats
[   ]scissors for last minute touch ups

[   ]Promotional:  Business Cards, Brochures, Name Tags, Pens and Pencils, Sales List

[   ]Copy of Goats Registration Papers to show steward

[   ]Health Papers/goat movement permit if necessary

[   ]Show Information

[   ]Bowls, Hay Feeders, Water Buckets

[   ]Feed, Hay, Scoop

[   ]Straw for Bedding  in pens

[   ]Temporary Pens if no pens available

[   ] Hay to feed during the day

[   ] Grain or show mix (optional)

The most important thing you need to take in the ring with you is the knowledge and the mind-set that a show is nothing more than one person's opinion on that particular day. Another judge a week later may see something entirely different. Remember also that different judges value different characteristics. Some may not value good body as much as height; some may value reproduction over a good top line. As this industry progresses and becomes less dependent upon the opinions of a few ''revered experts'' and breeders begin to depend upon their own opinions, being cognizant of the breeding goals and needs of their own herds, it may not be the grand champion that is the highest selling animal in the breed.

SHOW STANCE is ideally a moderately stretched position with all four feet placed at the corners of an imaginary rectangle, with legs as straight as possible. The head should be held high and the tail arched gracefully over the back. The goat should be aware but relaxed, and so should the exhibitor.

When entering the ring, you must line up facing the judge. Position yourself on the goat's left, with the lead in your right hand, coiling any slack in your left hand. The lead rope should be on the left of the halter. Stand your goat up nicely and pay attention as the judge will now ask you to walk your animals. Follow the goat in front of you, staying at a respectful distance and as you walk, keep the lead short and the goat at arm length for maximum control. If the person ahead of you is clearly deviating from the show steward's or judge’s instructions, do not follow, but pass on a course that follows instructions. Walk to the side, with space between yourself and the goat allowing the goat to walk in a normal and relaxed fashion and not bumping into your leg. Normally, the judge will position them self at a vantage point to observe the gait of each animal as it walks around the ring. Be aware of the judge's position and why he/she is there and present your goat in the best light possible at all times.

On returning to the original line up area, stand your goat so it is standing with four feet in show stance. After examining the line up from afar, the judge will then examine each individual starting at one end of the line. When you are lining the goats up side by side leave at least four feet between you and your neighbor so the judge can get an unobstructed view of your goat and has room to move around when going over your animal with their hands.

After all entries in the class are complete, the judge will survey the class front view and back view. Always keep your goat between you and the judge, turning to face the judge at all times in case they request something of you.

Sometimes the judge will ask you to walk away from her with your animal and return to the original spot. If your goat acts up, don't panic. Take a short and firm hold of the lead, stop and relax. The goat will take your cue and relax also. Move off again once the goat is back in control. On returning to your spot, gently set your goat in a show stance.

Sometimes the judge will make comments to you and these should be remembered. After all, it is the judge's opinion that you spent all that time and money to get. As the judge finishes their examination and steps back for a final look, encourage your animal to take up the show stance. Wait patiently as the judge completes examining the class. Do not slouch or gossip with your neighbors. Remember that the audience and other competitors/breeders are watching and they assume that you take this exercise seriously.

After examining the class, the judge may re-examine certain goats. Be aware of the judges' movements at all times and be ready to hold you goat if the Judge returns to you. Normally, the Judge will ask the top contenders to step forward and form a line in front of the original line up. The order of this line-up is not necessarily the order of placing or opinion.

Now the judging starts over again. Some judges will ask that the new top line-up that was brought forward be paraded in a circle around the ring or walk up and back in a line individually. Remember the Judge is watching for gait and freedom of movement. Try to give the judge an unobstructed view of the full front, back or side of your goat. Watch the judge and listen to the show steward's instructions if any.

Sometimes after a further examination of individuals, the judge will ask his first, second, third choices to step forward. Position your goat in the order indicated. Some judges give an eye movement or a quick hand signal to indicate placement, so take notice, it is not over yet. Even after this placement, the judge is still comparing points of the animals. Make no assumptions until the ribbons are placed on animals.

The judge will call the final places and present a ribbon to the top three animals starting with the first place. When the judge explains his placement, relax and listen. This is the time to observe other goats and to appreciate the judge's opinions. Even if you did not make the top 3, most judges will comment on most goats in the class and this is the best time to listen to comments made on each goat and the reasons for the placing, it is a fantastic time to learn your animals faults if any (sometimes an animal will not place due to lack of weight, playing up in the ring etc) and work on them.

It is also important to understand that a young animal will go through several body changes during its growth. Placement also depends on how the animal looks during each stage of growth, it may not place at this show because it has had a “growth spurt” and looks a little “out of proportion” however it may “clean-up” at the next show because it has filled out again.

It is easy to get caught up and sometimes leave a show feeling like your stock is not as good as you thought, but you have to remember, "IT IS ON THE DAY" and with ONE JUDGE so keep an open mind. Remember to that the judge can only choose ONE first place and often two animals that are almost perfect have to be separated by something as small as clean nostrils or you have your goat standing better than the other exhibitor.

Show your animals and get OPINIONS on them, if they are not placing at many shows under many different judges, leave them home for 6 months and bring them back when they are more mature and you will be surprised at what the outcome can be and how they can come up the line!

An important part of showing is also realising that sometimes show stock and breeding stock do not have to be the same. In the ideal world they have it all and some might already, but in the real world everything cannot be perfect and some animals do have small faults but have the height, colour, pedigree and other conformation traits that you need to select for. It is important that each breeder goes into the show ring remembering their ideal miniature stock and then work with what they have fixing any faults that might be pointed out on the day when they pair them to potential partners to breed with always pairing for the betterment of the breed. Chatting to a judge after the classes is a great tool for your stud to get professional opinions on your animals.

Showing itself is great for stud promotion and getting your animals out into the “public eye” and is a great place to have fun, enjoy your animals and the friend you make, coming home with a ribbon, red, white or blue is just an added bonus!!!!

By S. O’Brien

Good luck and see you in the ring !