A Small Word...

As you may be aware I have been involved in showing various species of livestock all my life, and I find it amazing just how many fellow ‘fanciers’ also show other livestock.

- Gabbie Franklin

In fact it does seem that poultry and horses or poultry and dogs go so very well together - even though many would think them poles apart!

Of course, with a chicken one doesn’t have to wait for hours for your class or worry about striking offon the incorrect leg during your individual show, but there are so many similarities. I wasn’t going to write this, I was concerned that it may turn into a ‘rant’ but here goes!..

Prompted by a post on Social Media about your showing superstitions in which a few people commented that they pen their favourite bird last, I agreed, but then thought that this (although may be classed as a superstition) is actually inadvertently ‘showmanship’ or ‘ring craft’ especially if you have more than two pens in the class, as then you can choose where you place your bird amongst the others in the class to show it off to it’s best.

Closely linked to such ‘showmanship’ would therefore be ‘show etiquette’. I think this subject of ‘etiquette’ would be one of the most difficult and controversial subjects pertaining to the world of ‘showing’ no matter whether it is a marrow or a goldfish. It is something that is often touched on and sometimes mentioned or alluded to, but never actually taught (as such) and all too often completely and totally ignored.