You have spent months preparing for the show at home and now it is time for the big day! Here’s a few last minute, fine-tuning tips that will help you accomplish your showmanship goals!

AT THE SHOW

First you need to make sure that you and your pig are ready to go. You need to be dressed properly. You need a clean/nice pair of jeans on, a belt, and a nice ‘show shirt’.  You also need a nice pair of shoes to wear such cowboy boots or Twisted x’s. There is a big trend in the show ring right for showman to wear tennis shoes or Hey Dudes in the ring. While I personally prefer for you to have on a leather shoe, I won’t dock you if you don’t. However, you need to do some research on the judge before going to a show, to see if they do have a preference. Your pig also needs to be clean and ready to go.  Make sure you have your show whip, pocket brush and show number ready to go as well.  

Before showmanship begins, you also need to check out the show ring to see how it works. Where are the in and out gates? How will you flow into the ring? How do the placing pens work? How do the placing pens open? Is there a pole or any other obstacles in the ring? My boys are younger and we will go out into the ring and open the gates and discuss our game plan, if allowed.  

If you are not in the first class, it is very beneficial to come up and watch it. You can get a feel for what the judge is looking for, their habits such as do they walk a lot or do they stand still more? How are they pulling showman out of the pens?  How long do they watch you as you are coming out of the holding pen? All of these things can help you formulate a game plan when it is your turn in the ring.   

While strategizing a game plan is important, do not forget the basics. Every judge has their own style and type of showman that they like. Some judges want a real intense showman, others want a laid-back showman, while others are more in between.  However, there is one thing that all judges look for… and that is the basics that you have practiced at home already! If you haven't practiced much at home, we suggest going back to read the first blog, Showpig Showmanship is Won in the Work at Home, before continuing on.

SHOW RING BASICS

• Always keep the pig in between you and the judge. For younger showman, I always tell them to think of it like a ham sandwich. You and the judge are the pieces of bread and the pig is the ham. You don’t eat a sandwich that is layered  bread, bread, ham; but always bread, ham, bread. This is a simple, yet easy way to remember this. Prior to the show, practice different transitions of moving around the pig at home.  

• Try to stay 10 to 15 feet in front of the judge. When the judge is standing looking at the ring, this is the area that is best in their vision, so that is where you want to be. If you are too close, the judge could be looking over or past you, if you are too far away the judge may not see you easily. Ring size, number of pigs in the class, and how packed the ring is can all play a role in adjusting this number.

• Eye Contact is very important. Always look at the judge and know where they are and what they are doing. You also need to be paying attention to your pig and you need to know what other showmen are doing in the ring. This is so you can find the holes and stand out. I personally love it when a showman will stare a hole right through me.  

• Keep your pig moving. Not much needs to be said, hopefully all of the training at home will help this not be an issue. However, sometimes when a pig is on a new surface their natural instinct is to put their head down, so be prepared for that. If you have practiced at home, you should be good to go here!

• Stay off the gates and away from the out gates. If your pig has been out of the out gate already a time or two, they will know that is how to get back to the barn.  Draw an imaginary line in the ring and keep your pig away from that out gate so they don’t get stuck at the out gate wanting to go back to the pen.  

Once you have the basics down, it is time to move on to standing out within the crowd.  This is finding the holes in the ring and getting to them with your pig. Also, you need to show multiple angles of the pig. These are the two best ways in my opinion to stand out in the crowd. If you have sports lovers showing, an easy way to think of the show ring is like a basketball court.  You have to be open in order to get the ball and shoot it. There is no way to do so if you are caught up in the crowd. Showing is the same way, it is hard to stand out in the crowd, so you need to make yourself stand out by reading the ring and getting open. To do this, if everyone is driving their pig to the left, you need to be going against the current, going right.  If everyone is going back and forth, you need to go out and cut down the middle, driving the pig straight at the judge. Learning to read the ring takes time and watching classes will help you get better at this skill. 

It is now your time to shine and show. First impressions are so important! Here is my judges’ perspective as you come into the ring:

• Be ready to go at the gate when it is your turn.  I currently prefer to have someone helping in the ring open the gate for that first initial show. This way you can come out of the holding pen, you are ready to go with a great first impression. Take those first 10 to 15 seconds to drive hard for the judge. This is driving out of the pen with authority and confidence. If possible, show 2 to 3 angles of the pig. This is the only time that you get the judges undivided attention in the show.  If you have to open the gate, have your pig at the front of the pen and your hand on the latch. When signaled out, open the gate, take a couple steps out, turn and close the pen, and then start your drive. This needs to be one big motion.  

• Once you are done and the judge turns to the next showman, stay out of the way of the judge. As the other pigs are entering the ring, this is the only time to not be in front of the judge. Be courteous to other showmen and give every person their 10-15 second entrance time. Slowly walk the pig back and forth behind the judge.  If it is a really big class, you can kneel down and stop your pig for a few moments as well (this is something to watch other classes and see if the judge likes this or not). It can be frustrating as a judge when a showman is trying to come in and they have to battle traffic to get into the ring. When judging, I make a mental note as you are coming out of the pen of where I think you will be in the class as far as top, bottom or middle of the class. That first impression is very important!  Showman, once that last pig is in the ring and the judge turns around, you need to be ready to go and show hard.  

• I like a showman that is intense, yet calm at the same time. This takes time and practice, but work on the style that works best for you and your pig. You can make adjustments based on the judge, but also be true to your style.  

• Now that you are showing, you need to put all of those showmanship skills on display. This is eye contact, standing out within the crowd, finding the open hole, showing different angles to get my attention, and anticipating what I/judge will do next. Be watching the judge, anticipating their next move. Showmanship is very competitive and it is very common for everyone to be in a big cluster in the middle of the ring. Stay calm, work on the basics, stand out in the crowd and you should be great.  

• If you get penned, drive your pig to the pen, open the gate and then drive your pig into the pen. 

• Expect the unexpected in the ring. Some judges like to shake showmanship up during a final drive. They may stand close to a gate and ask you to drive your pig between them and the gate, they may ask you to drive your pig to a corner and right back to them. Some judges may have you do a figure 8 or pattern in the ring. They may ask you to stop your pig in the ring or open the out gate and tell you to not cross the line. These are all things that are fun and generally break out in the older divisions, so always be ready to adapt. 

Showmanship is one of my favorite things about showing pigs. It doesn’t matter if you have the best pig in the barn or not because it is showing off the hard work and time you have put in at home. Remember it is also one person’s opinion on one day. If you don’t get the results you are looking for, use it as a learning experience as you prepare for the next show. GOOD LUCK!

Are you more of a visual learner? Head on over to our YOUTUBE channel to watch our #showpigshowmanship video series!