fitting

[HeiferShower14]

who all practices fitting at home, and is it a good thing?

 

[Bawndoh]

I dont have time to practice...were only lucky enough to hit one or two shows a year.  Of coarse its a good thing to practice though!!  You can just undo what you did, and try all over again at home...no luxury of that at a show.

 

[HeiferShower14]

thanks for the reply. wow i got to like 10 a year

 

[shortyjock89]

We probably go to...anywhere from 15 to 20 in a year...not saying that I show at all of them, but I fit at all of them.  I like to fit at home before big shows though, and get the legs clipped out..but not as tight as if I were at the show.  Fitting is honestly one of my favorite things to do, and if you have the time to do it, you can learn a lot by doing it at home.

 

[doubled]

I cant fit but my son does and he just practiced -practiced-practiced at home and mostly at shows when he was 13-14 we were going to 30 shows a year and that really
turned him into an excellent groomer and clipper, I knew he finally had learned the right thing when others started to ask him for help even at a kid of 16,
he started out watching the best and learning and asking questions of others, it takes time and some talent but its his favorite thing to do.

 

[HeiferShower14]

fittings my favortive thing to do to

 

[Bawndoh]

thanks for the reply. wow i got to like 10 a year

Up in the great north, we dont have nearly as many shows as you guys do.  Lots of people dont even know what "club calves" are, and shunn them becuause they are not "realiztic/productive" cattle in their minds.  I think its a shame, but what can I do.  Also, wherever there is a prospect show, there is a sale.  You dont typically have the option to just show your calf and then take him home.  There are only fat steer shows in the eastern provinces in the fall time...and western provinces show fats til about early August.  Im sure JIT could elaborate more on this, but I dont think he will read the post.  I sure to wish there were more clubby breeders and shows up here, as we do have some great cattle.  I have a lot more whining to do...but Im just going to go get a cup of coffee instead!

 

[Cattledog]

I practice all the time.  When I try new products I definitely give it a whirl at home before going to the show.  By practicing you can figure out what works and what doesn't.  When I first started showing cattle I really didn't have anyone to show me how to clip or fit.  When I look at back at some of the pictures you can tell I was a beginner by the butcher jobs and just lack of polish.  I guess you could call me kind of fearless but I was never intimidated by the people that had the most expensive and best groomed animals.  I would ask them all sorts of questions.  I would ask them what I did well and what I did wrong.  At the beginning I didn't have a very possitive response of my skills.  I would take their advice and go home and try to do the things they told me to do.  Now, I get asked for help by some of these guys.  I remember the first time I was asked, I was so shocked and I couldn't say yes fast enough!  I still have a long way to go but practice, practice, practice!

Also, don't underestimate how willing people are to give you advice.  Most people are more than willing to give you nuggets of knowledge.

 

[AAOK]

This usually comes up with questions about what-to-do suggestions to win at Showmanship.  I always tell the Junior exhibitors that Showmanship is won at home, not during the Showmanship contest.  The same goes with fitting.  Your daily routine; rinsing, brushing, blowing, clipping, etc. is what will make you a first-rate fitter.  As Cattledog points out, practice is what strenghtens your skills.  It's no different from shooting free throws; the more you shoot, the better you'll get.  When our family started showing, none of us had a clue about what we needed to do, or how to go about it.  Most people are very willing to share information, and many times even lend a hand to teach you what and how.  I will say though, that just like any sport, and have to go against the very best, if you ever intend to get good enough to beat them.  County shows just won't cut it!  The National shows are where you really learn the tricks of the trade.

In response to Bawndoh:  If you don't have enough of the right kind of shows to attend, start your own.  Five of us started a Prospect Steer and Heifer show in Feb. 2007.  This year we added Market Steers.  We met 5 or 6 times over the course of about 6 months to determine the what, when, where, and how of our show.  Our show is a LLC and 501 C3 which files our State and Federal taxes each year.  This year we passed out over $8000 in cash and prizes to 134 Junior exhibitors with 187 entries.  No one left the ring with less than $5, and 100% of entry fees were paid back in winnings.  We also added a little Farm Show for our $500 and over supporters.  It's really not that hard to do if you have a few people who don't mind asking for sponsorships, and will work show day.

 

[Diamond]

clip everything in site once the show year is over, that's the best advise I was given. I practiced every shot I got even on calves just going to the sale barn (though it surprised me that the one I spent a whole week clipping ((and that was my first real try))was the high seller  by more that .30 extra per pound) I started with tiny little clippers and just etched around and spent a ton of time. I find that clipping was an acquired taste, the more I did it and the better I became, and the more I liked doing it. don't be afraid to be bold ether, if your working on the off season it wont matter if they come out looking like a zebra, the great thing about hair is that it grows back just make sure you leave ample time for it to or work on a non show animal the first few goes. 

 

[Bawndoh]

This usually comes up with questions about what-to-do suggestions to win at Showmanship.  I always tell the Junior exhibitors that Showmanship is won at home, not during the Showmanship contest.  The same goes with fitting.  Your daily routine; rinsing, brushing, blowing, clipping, etc. is what will make you a first-rate fitter.  As Cattledog points out, practice is what strenghtens your skills.  It's no different from shooting free throws; the more you shoot, the better you'll get.  When our family started showing, none of us had a clue about what we needed to do, or how to go about it.  Most people are very willing to share information, and many times even lend a hand to teach you what and how.  I will say though, that just like any sport, and have to go against the very best, if you ever intend to get good enough to beat them.  County shows just won't cut it!  The National shows are where you really learn the tricks of the trade.

In response to Bawndoh:  If you don't have enough of the right kind of shows to attend, start your own.  Five of us started a Prospect Steer and Heifer show in Feb. 2007.  This year we added Market Steers.  We met 5 or 6 times over the course of about 6 months to determine the what, when, where, and how of our show.  Our show is a LLC and 501 C3 which files our State and Federal taxes each year.  This year we passed out over $8000 in cash and prizes to 134 Junior exhibitors with 187 entries.  No one left the ring with less than $5, and 100% of entry fees were paid back in winnings.  We also added a little Farm Show for our $500 and over supporters.  It's really not that hard to do if you have a few people who don't mind asking for sponsorships, and will work show day.

That is definately something I want to do in the future.  Its a 5 year plan.  The whole lifestyle around here is difficult to work with though.  Its funny because I asked why they dont have a fat steer show at Agribition.  The only response I got was that there are no fat steers in the area in November.  I was like...pppfffttt.  It is a total crock.  Agribition used to have fat steer shows in the seventies.  I am just wondering why it stopped.  There are sure enought people that would bring AWESOME calves to town.  Besides that, yes I think we really need more jackpot shows around here...even 40 head shows.  Its a matter of commitment and loyalty of the cattlemen though.

 

[OH Breeder]

kind of crazy but we clip onthe weekends. Everyone gets clippers and a cow or calf. Even if it is last year's show heifers just to get the practice. The only way to learn is make mistakes and learn from them. I have had lots of ...OOPS... now there is a hole on the show side

 

[linnettejane]

im able to clip my whole herd(everything around here has been shown)...whenever i feel like brushing up on a particular area or trying something new, i just go out  in the field and grap one....

 

[farmerboy317]

i practice at home sometimes when i have time and it is fun because there is a new challenge every time and clipping is one of my favorite things to do

 

[Rocky Hill Simmental]

I'm not the greatest at clipping but I'm not too bad. I clipped the heifer in my avatar and she didn't look too bad. This year I bought a new pair of clippers. I used to have a small pair that I got for like $15. The new pair are huge and high quaility. I brought them to the shows and let other people use them too. They also liked them.

I got a suggestion to clip anything that's halter broke when you get the chance and to watch the professional fitters. It really does help.

I only go to 3 shows each year but after I turn 21 I'll only go to 2. There are some more shows north of us near St. Louis and in IL  but our trailer is too old to drive that far. If I had the chance to go to more shows I would.

 

[braunvieh]

I would be considered a rookie clipper and fitter at this point, but I still try to do as much as home as I can. If I am not sure how to clip a particular area, I wait for the show and then study other people's clip jobs and ask questions.
One of the most valuable pieces of advice I got from a fellow clipper was to start early! I peel the neck and shoulders 3-4 weeks before show and then if you do make a big oops, the hair has time to grow out, and also the hair is just the right length at show time. The hardest part I have is seeing the faults in my calf and learning to clip to fix them -- that is what the really good ones do best.

 

[worthabit]

thanks for the reply.  ;Dwow i got to like 10 a year

Up in the great north, we dont have nearly as many shows as you guys do.  Lots of people dont even know what "club calves" are, and shunn them becuause they are not "realiztic/productive" cattle in their minds.  I think its a shame, but what can I do.  Also, wherever there is a prospect show, there is a sale.  You dont typically have the option to just show your calf and then take him home.  There are only fat steer shows in the eastern provinces in the fall time...and western provinces show fats til about early August.  Im sure JIT could elaborate more on this, but I dont think he will read the post.  I sure to wish there were more clubby breeders and shows up here, as we do have some great cattle.  I have a lot more whining to do...but Im just going to go get a cup of coffee instead!

Bawndoh, you must be talking about Ontario being the "east" In the real east, our fat shows are in the spring. ;D

 

[Bawndoh]

Yuppers I am.  Either way, I feel like we get the shaft on this end.  You seem to have more leway and variety in things there.  Seems all that matters here are the purebreds...and that everyone starts calving January 1st.....if you know what I mean!