[Raspberry Pie]

Ok so I’m taking my Golden Guernsey to her first show - will make a total fool of myself as she refuses to walk on the lead after weeks of training and bribery - but it’s mainly just to connect with other goaty folks and to learn…
I need to shampoo and condition her coat - I mean to me it looks fine as it is, but I guess show standards are higher than mine! Can I use my own shampoo and conditioner on her, or do I need to buy specialist stuff? I’ve read a lot of conflicting info online!
I have a comb and a bristley brush
People go all out it seems, oiling hooves etc…

[Anke]

I brush my GG's (long-coated) with a "self-cleaning slicker brush" (from Showtime-supplies.co.uk) before bathing (any human hair brush works well too, don't cut out tangles, but brush them out, nothing looks worse than jaggeddy edges to their coat), and have found that Head&Shoulders 2-in-1 works brilliantly as a shampoo. Then coat on while still wet (with a towel underneath), and then a brush once at the show-ground (keep coat on until going into the ring), and a quick further brush when going into the ring.


When bathing pay attention to the knees - use brush to scrub clean), brisket (and underneath in general - also needs brushing out), top of the head and tail area. Often some poop dries on their hind legs if long-coated. Ear tags can be mucky too.


I cut their feet just after bathing (soft then!), and will give them a scrub with a brush (hard bristles) on the morning of the show.


Bathing a goat before the show is essential, but otherwise, just enjoy yourself.


Which show?

[Raspberry Pie]

Thanks Anke! Westmorland Show.
I don’t have a goat coat… and no chance really of getting one in time - is it for warmth after bathing, or for aesthetics? If the former I could make sure she’s towelled dry, and if the latter maybe brushing will help…

[Anke]

A coat helps with a) flatten the coat, they otherwise get quite frizzy and b) then keep them clean until they go into the ring and c) it will help keep them warm after the bath.


They will probably stay clean enough without a coat, and if you are handy with a sewing machine - a couple of towels sewn together with some strings attached will help. People have also used pillow cases.


But don't get het up about not having coats, if your goat has been bathed just before the show, the judge will know and you can get more stuff for next year if you get bitten by the bug....


I don't do Westmorland, as it is a mid-week show. Not able to get away...

[PipKelpy]

Thank you both for giving me a good chuckle!

Frizzy? That's me, had hair cut to cut out 6 months supply of split ends (looked really good too, hairdresser suggested foils to make most of my natural highlights - hairdresser talk for grey streaks intertwined with "blonde" sun bleached mousy brown hair!) Most of you probably experience the same, nice hair, go outside, heat, humidity, looks like we've stuck our fingers in the electric socket!

Bribery? Oh yes, but I've had the calves at full stretch glaring at me, determined NOT to walk, some even fall sideways and look at me from flat out, before giving up, getting up and trotting by my side "look at me mum, don't I look pretty?"

Fair do's to the show mob! Actually, fair do's to the animals who have to stand there, barely moving being poked and prodded. No wonder when you have a "naughty" one the crowds laugh!

[Raspberry Pie]

Well - she had her bath (more like hose down!) and didn't seem to mind it too much. Her coat does to be fair look and feel better. Have washed her lead and have got her a new fancy leather collar - so it's up to her now whether we end up being the comedy relief or not! Somebody has to come last though... I don't really mind 

[cans]

Being last in a class is an important place to be.......
The rest is the class needs to be propped up and someone has to do it.

That was always my philosophy when showing

Any placing higher up the class was a bonus 

[Raspberry Pie]

Well she won two first rosettes!!! 
(...and let's not dwell on her being the only goatling in her class thus winning by default haha)
I'm beyond excited about it, which I know is daft. The whole thing was brilliant fun. She refused to cooperate as predicted, but the judges and everyone there were so helpful and friendly. Whole thing was so welcoming. I made several faux pas too, but people were pretty good about it! (I barged into the shed during milking to feed my goat, not realising it's supposed to be completely closed, dumped my bags on the table (thinking it was clear so they were out of the way), only to find that they were TOTALLY in the way... and I was practising walking the goat round the shed, and let her say hello to the other goats as we passed - nope, not meant to do that!!  )

They said she was well turned out - so my spa treatment must've worked!  Thanks to all for the advice!

[Anke]

Goat shows have the most complicated set up I have ever seen... (well maybe some horse classes are worse), but we all start off somewhere and it took me a couple of years before I felt reasonably confident I knew what I was supposed to be doing and when... Most important thing is you enjoyed the show and are keen to go back!