Really late to this discussion and I'm totally confused. Our state rules clearly state that goats cannot be braced. There was a huge deal made about getting this rule in place last fall. Yet every jackpot we've gone to this spring, they have been bracing the goats and they've been rewarded for this by a higher placement. At one show, the judge even mentioned it in his reasons for his showmanship placement that it looks better to brace... So I have a big problem in that if we are going to have a rule, either enforce it or get rid of it.. As it happens, all the judges that we've had have out of state roots so its more than likely ok to brace whereever they are from but if a judge is going to judge a show. .they need to be made aware of the rules we made in this state. The other problem is as Jill says.. we can't brace in our state shows but when tehy go to the majors, bracing is allowed. One more thing for the kids to have to keep in mind when they are in the ring.. plus you need animals that can be trained both ways or a different set of goats. IMO.. I think our state should drop the No Brace rule.
