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Author Archives: Lynsee

Now that your Pig is HOME! Part 8

By Lynsee | Published May 30, 2013

This week I want to focus back on showmanship and preparing your hog for the show. Before I get into detail about showmanship again, I want to encourage you to constantly be evaluating your hog. It is important that we know what we like about our pig and what needs changed about our pig. If you are uncomfortable about evaluating your pig, ask a friend or 4-H advisor that you trust to come evaluate. Just like in sports, it is important that we keep improving our pig daily. This means if the pig is not changing, maybe you need to be switching feeds. (Not necessarily brands, just the specific feed you are on)

Today I really want to focus on how to get to the next level of showmanship. We have talked about the basics of keeping your hog moving, keeping a good 10-15ft. from [ … ]

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Now that your Pig is HOME! Part 7

By Lynsee | Published May 23, 2013

For most of you school is or almost out for the summer!!!! Hurray! Now is the time to really start to focus on your show pigs. As we have discussed in previous blogs, especially week 4, walking twice a day will become a must at this point. In the morning make sure you are out and finished walking before the heat sets in, usually 9am. In the afternoon practice showing like you’re in the show ring, refer to blog #5.

Today I want to talk about clipping and show pig.

Clipping

At this time in the show pig industry, clipping is HIGHLY recommended. It makes your pig look more presentable and cleaner. I always recommend practicing clipping at least one more time before you officially do it for fair. Practicing about a month before will give time for the hair to grow back if you happen [ … ]

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Now that your Pig is HOME! Part 6

By Lynsee | Published May 16, 2013

Finally we are having nice weather for working with our pigs (or at least in the Midwest)! We have spent a lot of time over the last 5 weeks preparing ourselves and pigs for the show! I hope all of you that are following the blog are very happy with your results! As always any questions that you have along the way, feel free to contact us and simply ask.

*Remember to keep walking your pig daily and practice your showmanship skills as much as possible. The bigger your pig gets the more important it is to keep them exercised so their joints stay loose. **Now that it is getting hot out, be very careful not to overheat your pig. Taking your pig to the wash rack (or simply hose them off) before and after you walk will work wonders keeping them cool.

As we are [ … ]

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Now that your Pig is HOME! Part 5

By Lynsee | Published May 10, 2013

Now that have spent the first 4 weeks training your pig, let’s focus this week on training the showman! It is important to work on ourselves just as much as we practice with the pigs. So today I am going to go over the basics of showmanship and “social protocols” in the show ring. Even if you are not planning on doing showmanship (Which I strongly encourage everyone to try) it is important that you know the basics of showing, to get the best look of your pig in the show ring. A judge will take you more seriously, if you take showing seriously.

*Keep referring to the previous blogs and continue to walk and train your pig daily! About this time it can get tiring to do the same thing every day, but I promise it WILL pay off!

Basics

Keep the pig moving at all [ … ]

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Now that your Pig is HOME! Part 4

By Lynsee | Published May 2, 2013

Today I want to spend some time talking more in detail about building endurance in your show pig.  Whether you are serious about being competitive in showmanship or just want to do well in class you have to have a hog that can “go the distance”.  From a judge’s opinion, it is much easier to pick a winner that is still walking and not looking tired compared to a pig in the corner that is panting and foaming.

I know that most of you are still in school and the plan I’m about to give you will require walking early in the morning.  It is up to you whether or not you want to start walking in the morning now or once you get out of school.

Building Endurance:

Just like an athlete will train multiple times a day, so does your show pig.  A great way is to walk morning and night.  [ … ]

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Now that your Pig is HOME! Part 3

By Lynsee | Published April 25, 2013

I hope to find everyone that has been reading the blog happy with the progression of their show pig!  If you are still having trouble training or have any questions please feel free to ask!

Now we are starting the third week of training and I would like to stress the importance of repetition.  Pigs like most of us, like to follow a daily routine.  I understand there is a lot going on for many of you with school, sports, band, work, and whatever else, but we need to make sure that we are still walking our pig daily!  This is to continue to train them for show day, plus to provide exercise.  Exercising daily will keep their joints loose so they will stay sound, increase appetite, and allow regular bowel movements.

Today we are going to start talking about the tricks of the trade.  Common questions we get are how do [ … ]

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Now that your Pig is HOME! Part 2

By Lynsee | Published April 18, 2013

After a week of your show pig learning how to walk in and out of the barn and is comfortable in the yard, you can begin to work them a little more.  The next step is to teach
them how to turn and walk by using only your show utensil.  Just like before, it will not be easy the first day you try this.

** Try to use the whip or pipe that you will show with.  Pigs like a consistent routine, so if you start with a whip use it the whole time.  A pipe and a whip feel different than each other.  Also, remain calm and just have fun with your pig in the yard.  We still have plenty of time before the show so if your pig is being stubborn, keep a herder board out in the yard with you to help.  The more your pig is out the [ … ]

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Now that your Pig is HOME! Part 1

By Lynsee | Published April 11, 2013

First of all, thank you to everyone who has or is planning on purchasing a show pig from Shaffer’s Gold Rush. We really appreciate your time and business with us!

I am going to start a weekly series, Now that your Pig is HOME, to help guide you on the training of your show pigs and preparing them for the show.

PART 1:

As spring is coming around and the weather is warming up, it is VERY IMPORTANT to be getting your pig out in the yard! It is never too early to start walking and training your pig. Obviously, your pig will not be trained by day one. They are either going to run everywhere or not move at all! This is why it is crucial to get your pig out now, while you weigh more than your pig! The pig is still small enough that [ … ]

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