Showmanship

Showmanship is the art of showing cattle. It is a skill that takes development, honing, and a lot of practice to master.

When showing cattle, the goal is to disappear. Not literally, of course, because someone needs to handle the animals, but figuratively speaking. The optimal showperson is the one that is never noticed. Showmanship in the showring is all about displaying the animal to the absolute best of its natural ability. This means that the handler knows where the animal’s feet look the best, what the best speed is for the animal to walk, and how to improve little things with the stroke of a show cane or the pinch of a dewlap.



A typical Showmanship Class is not based on animal
conformation, but is designed to test the showmen. Note the
staggered back feet on the shorthorn heifer.



On the initial profile, cattle usually stand with their back feet staggered. This creates an illusion of length in steers and also displays the udder and testicles, in cows and bulls respectively. The amount of stagger is dependant on the animal, and where they look their best. It is best to allow the animal to walk into their preferred stance, as that is where they tend to appear most comfortable and natural. Sometimes, it is necessary to manually place the animal's feet, which is accomplished with a device called a show cane. Manual placement uses valuable time, and should also never be done when the judge is appraising the animal as it distracts his or her analysis.

Sometimes, after the initial calls and the placement of the cattle side by each, the judge decides to switch two animals. When this happens, there is a very specific pattern that must be followed by the competitors. The animal in the lower spot pulls out first, turns in front of his original spot, and keyholes back through his space. The higher placed animal pulls out slightly after the lower, to avoid crowding, and follws the lower placed animal through the lower positioned hole. The new higher placed animal moves into its appropriate spot. Showmanship is half rules, and half presence. While it is important for the conformation judge to not notice you, the showmanship judge(s) are watching your every move. It is important that you appear calm, even in the most trying circumstances, and never look nervous or angry. Some people feel that the smiley, bubble showman is the best, a side I disagree with. While it is important not to look surely and ill-tempered, it looks ridiculous when a showperson is smiling for no real reason. And, furthermore, a show is a competition. It is important to have fun, but game faces are important too.

The last and most important feature of showmanship is dividing your attention up appropriately between the judge, your animal and the situation around you. A 60-30-10 ratio should be used in the showring. ^0% of the time spent should be watching the judge. His whereabouts, actions, and instructions are of the utmost importance. 30% of the time should be devoted to the animal. Ensuring that the feet are properly placed, the hair is looking as it should, and the animal is calm are essential to placing well in the class. Finally, 10% or less time should be spent watching the situations around you. Don't be so bent on watching the judge that you don't notice the animal in front of you has stopped, or so intent on proper feet placement that you miss the judge's call. Communicate what is essential with your ringmen and fellow exhibitors, in order to keep things smooth and safe for the animals and the handlers. Showmanship is 70 parts skill and 20 parts instinct, with 10 parts common sense mixed in.

Reserve Champion Intermediate Female Showman at the Canadian Western Junior Limousin Show. I have the heifer second from the right. A photo of one of the numerous Showmanship competitions I have placed well in, a product of a lot of homework.