First Place:  1

Entry number: 739

Exhibitor: ARLambs

State: AR

Website: www.cgfarmsclublambs.com

Profile:  This young man is demonstrating correct showmanship techniques for the profile view.  First, he has the neck fully extended, creating a right angle with the neck-shoulder placement.  He is using correct hand placement by placing both hands directly below the animals ears, with the head and neck held straight, muzzle held level.  Notice he has his left forearm placed directly under the animal’s lower jaw, therefore, creating a comfort zone for himself in holding the muzzle level.

As I transverse down the top line/spine I notice how level and balanced this lamb appears. Part of this is due to genetics, however, the biggest part is due to having all four feet and legs placed squarely under the corners.  Normally, if this young man was older and taller I would want to square his body up by him standing with his heels about 6-8 inches apart, creating a right angle, with the animals breast plate/neck resting against the exhibitors inside left thigh. For this young exhibitor, due to his size and stature, he’s presenting his animal in a correct manner that fits his physical size.

Rear: From the rear he again has the neck extended holding both the neck and head straight.  Again, this promotes a balanced look for his lamb.  The front feet are placed square and the rear feet and legs are set square, straight, and wide.  His hand placement is correct on the animals head.  His body placement is correct with the lamb bracing into the exhibitor's left inner thigh and both the exhibitor and his animal are bracing (pushing) into each other.  By doing this, the exhibitor is giving the judge a visual appraisal of the squareness and shape of the muscle over the rack, loin, and muscle through the leg, especially the lower third/stifle area.  Again, notice the level muzzle.

Front: From the front the exhibitor is standing on his animals left side.  He has his body and feet positioned correctly and his body is positioned evenly with the animals left shoulder.  Notice, his body is positioned behind the lamb's left shoulder points where he should be positioned.  He has the front legs set straight and square under the points.  This enables the judge to fully appraise the width of the chest floor.  Again, notice the neck and head are extended, held straight and the muzzle is level.

Second Place:  2

Entry number: 822

Exhibitor: 1AnimalCrazyKid

State: TX

Profile: Notice this young exhibitor has the neck fully extended, with the head and neck held straight and the muzzle held level.  The young lady has her hands placed correctly under the animal’s ears and she is using her left forearm to assist in holding the neck and head up and extended with the muzzle level.  She has all four feet and legs set squarely under the points.  Although her animal is not naturally as level in the top line as exhibitor's 1, 3 and 4, she is doing everything an exhibitor should do to make her animal look as good on the profile as it can look.  If she was taller, I would want her front feet and heels to be placed creating a right angle with the lamb bracing into her inner left thigh, however, because of her physical size she is exhibiting her lamb using the correct feet placement for her size and age. One minor adjustment to her feet and leg placement is she should have the lambs left rear foot and leg set back about 2-3 inches to square up with the right rear leg placement.  This would help with the overall balance of her lamb.

Rear: From the rear she is using correct hand and body placement with her hands under the ears, neck fully extended, with both neck and head held level and muzzle is level.  She has rear feet/legs set square under the corners and she is applying the proper brace pressure causing the muscle to express itself over the rack, loin and leg.

Front: From the front she is standing to the left side of her lamb’s body.  She has both hands held underneath the jaw of the lamb, lifting up and extending the neck with the muzzle level.  Ideally, she needs to use her right hand, arm to square up the head and neck as those two areas are pointing slightly to the left of center from the judges perspective.  She does have her animal’s front feet, legs set square and wide.  Ideally, I would like for her to have her right front feet/leg set more even with her left because I like for the exhibito'rs body to be positioned even right behind the lamb's left shoulder. 

Third Place:  3

Entry number: 1206

The final two contestants appear to be older than the first two.  This could cause me to look at their presentation a little different, however, they will be judged on the merits of presenting their animal in a style that brings out the animals most positive features.

Profile:  Neck is fully extended, creating the proper 90 degree angle to the top of the shoulder.  Both neck and head are held straight and muzzle level, however, ideally the end of the muzzle would be about an inch lower.  She is applying enough brace that it keeps the lamb’s top line, spine, straight and level.  I believe the front feet are set square under the points as well as the rear feet and legs.  She has correct hand placement under the ears.  Because of her height and size she does not have to have her left forearm placed under the animals jaw, however, if she did, probably the muzzle would be completely level.  From a judge's preference I would like to change the position of her feet and legs.  I would like for her to square up her body by standing with her heels/feet about 6-8 inches apart crating a right angle with her left inner thigh pressed firmly against and into her lamb’s breast plate/ neck line.  By doing this her left leg/foot would not extend past her lambs right shoulder point, knee, and foot.  This blocks the view of a critical area the judge is evaluating. (Note-in an actual show when judge is placing animal, not the exhibitor, it’s wise to hide an animal's fault as long as the judge will permit the exhibitor to do so, just not in a showmanship class.)

Rear:  Neck is fully extended, with both head and neck held straight.  Hand placement, especially the exhibitor’s left hand is placed correctly under the animal's ear.  Again, I would like to square up the exhibitor’s body by changing her feet to heel creating more of a right angle.  By doing this the animal is bracing square into the exhibitors left thigh creating a more even distribution of pressure forces.  The animal’s front feet, leg placement look correct.  Ideally, I would like to lessen the width of the rear leg/feet placement by moving each one in about an inch.  By doing so it would square up the shape of the leg muscle, especially the stifle area.

Front:  Neck fully extended, with neck, head held straight.  Again, I would like to drop the tip of the muzzle about an inch.  When the muzzle is held to straight up, especially when bracing, it usually creates a break at the hip/loin juncture, making the animal to look weak over the loin.  The feet/leg placement of both front and rear look correct.  I believe the exhibitor's feet/legs are pretty square with each other, however,  ideally for me, I would want her standing forward about 2-3 inches, but, not past the points.

Fourth Place:  4

Entry number: 1213

Profile:  Neck fully extended, correct angle with top of shoulder.  I would change the exhibitor's hand placement by placing them under the ear and at an angle where the hand and forearm are more under the jaw of the animal.  I would like to drop the end of the muzzle a tad.  I have to assume the animals front feet are set square and under the points, but, due to the exhibitor’s body placement, especially the left leg, foot, I cannot really tell. The amount of brace the exhibitor is applying is correct as the animals top line is level, thus creating an appearance of balance. Ideally, the exhibitor needs to place the left rear leg of the animal straight back about three inches.   This would help create more correctness to the balance of the lamb.   As was the case in contestant 3, I would like to change the position of the exhibitors feet/ heel placement by standing at an approximately 90 degree angle with the heels about 6-8 inches apart with the lamb leaning squarely into the exhibitors inner left thigh and the exhibitors left leg/foot not standing past the breast plate/ right shoulder point.

Rear:  Neck is fully extended, however, I get the impression the exhibitor is pushing the head/ neck to far back.  If so, in lambs that are close to being under finished over the loin it can emphasize that weakness.  The lamb's left leg placement is correct as far as being straight, however, one of the two, either the left or the right, the placement needs to be adjusted because they are not even and the right leg is set too far out and needs to be moved in about one or two inches.

Front:. Neck fully extended. Head needs to be moved to the left about an inch.  I would change hand/finger placement more directly underneath the jaw bone of the lamb.  Exhibito'rs feet/ heel placement is good.  I would just move both feet about 2-3 inches forward but not extend past lambs shoulder points. 

Again, I would like to thank all four exhibitors for their willingness in participating in this showmanship contest.  I hope each will take any negative criticism on my part as my attempt to aid each of them to strive for perfection in showmanship.

Now, for the hard part. My placing of class 278 showmanship under fifteen years is: 1-2-3-4 with cuts of 2-1-1.

To you exhibitors, parents and leaders, again I want to point out showmanship style is a judges preference.  If you think this in depth critique will help you as an exhibitor, parent, leader, use it for its intended purpose which is to improve showmanship abilities and techniques.

Crystal. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to judge this showmanship class.  I know you realize how I feel about the importance of showmanship technique.

OG