My first wack at exhibition,
lesson learned number one; a lovely natured agouti won't handle grooming well. Groom agouti's a little at a time leading up to the show.
Lesson learned number two: Character pigs aren't good for showing. Everyone loved giggles and her temperament but when it came to judging she must have been a nightmare. She's still playful and young so might settle down but she was having waaaay too much fun sitting on my shoulder and climbing through my hair.
Lesson learned number three, Selfs are easy. My naughty lilac boar took everything like a man. Didn't flinch during grooming, didn't fuss during bathing and was completely relaxed beside one of my lilac sows on the table. The comment was made by both judges how relaxed and comfortable they were.
Lesson four Satins have trust issues. Shogun was doing suprisingly well. He settled into the day and was showing nicely. Lots of people gave me compliments for him- as a satin golden agouti he had a particular brand of radiance. But all it took was one incident and he was shaken for the rest of the day. I had his awards in my left hand and used my right hand to correct the cavy next to me. He flinched and moved forward and without an extra hand available to stop him the woman on my left grabbed for him. He panicked and squealed as she returned him to me. I had to hold him for a moment before trying to return him to the showing board. For the rest of the day he was flinchy and i had other exhibitors commenting that i should be using the same wooden boards as they were "because they feel more secure". I know they were only trying to help but i felt a little hard pressed by it.
As much as I really want o exhibit Ronin i'm not sure i'm brave enough. He has far more personality than Giggles does and is far less predicatable than Shogun it.
On a side note, sadly the crested argente orphan passed away yesterday.
On another side note, positively Savannah is on the mend at last.
lesson learned number one; a lovely natured agouti won't handle grooming well. Groom agouti's a little at a time leading up to the show.
Lesson learned number two: Character pigs aren't good for showing. Everyone loved giggles and her temperament but when it came to judging she must have been a nightmare. She's still playful and young so might settle down but she was having waaaay too much fun sitting on my shoulder and climbing through my hair.
Lesson learned number three, Selfs are easy. My naughty lilac boar took everything like a man. Didn't flinch during grooming, didn't fuss during bathing and was completely relaxed beside one of my lilac sows on the table. The comment was made by both judges how relaxed and comfortable they were.
Lesson four Satins have trust issues. Shogun was doing suprisingly well. He settled into the day and was showing nicely. Lots of people gave me compliments for him- as a satin golden agouti he had a particular brand of radiance. But all it took was one incident and he was shaken for the rest of the day. I had his awards in my left hand and used my right hand to correct the cavy next to me. He flinched and moved forward and without an extra hand available to stop him the woman on my left grabbed for him. He panicked and squealed as she returned him to me. I had to hold him for a moment before trying to return him to the showing board. For the rest of the day he was flinchy and i had other exhibitors commenting that i should be using the same wooden boards as they were "because they feel more secure". I know they were only trying to help but i felt a little hard pressed by it.
As much as I really want o exhibit Ronin i'm not sure i'm brave enough. He has far more personality than Giggles does and is far less predicatable than Shogun it.
On a side note, sadly the crested argente orphan passed away yesterday.
On another side note, positively Savannah is on the mend at last.