[Ann and Rob]

We would like to show our gorgeous OSB Margot this year. Does anybody know of any local to peterborough shows that we can go to?  Have just found out that east of england arent doing pigs this year 

[kja]

  newark & norfolk is now our nearest show's.

there is also lincoln and wayland (a one day show in norfolk).

the schedules are our for newark, lincoln & norfolk.

[Ann and Rob]

Thank you.  We are definately going to the newark and notts

[kja]

  see you there i sent entries off a couple of weeks ago.

just ploughing through south of england entries now. still waiting for stafford schedule.

you could look at suffolk too we are not going there as its the same dates as stafford but my parents will be at suffolk with their goats.

[Fowgill Farm]

Ann & Rob
Not wanting to put you off but a big county show is a big first step if you haven't shown before.
Go to the GOS website forum where we have a show page http://www.oldspots.org.uk/forum.htm
You may find some of the stuff there helpful. This is part of an article i wrote for the GOS magazine but is relevant to all breeds.
Planning for showing usually starts in the previous year picking out any possible superstars from your July & September litters and then in February when you pick out your possible Januaries and the first of the show schedules start to drop through the letterbox.  Show dates are usually available well in advance from websites likewww.asao.co.uk/eventswhich lists many of the agricultural shows large and small around the UK so there’s bound to be a pig show near you.
At most shows with GOS pigs, there are usually depending on the time of year a selection of the following classes:-

1. July boar born between 1 July and previous December 31.
2. January boar from same year as shown.
3. Sow born before previous 1 July in pig.
4. Female born between 1^st January and 30^th June previous year
5. Gilt born between previous 1 July and 31 August.
6. Gilt born between the previous 1 September and 31 December.
7. Gilt born after January same year.

This is why we mention that your planning starts a long time before the actual show with preparing your farrowing times in advance to coincide with these classes. Make sure you birth notify your litters and register any show pigs before the show.

At smaller local shows you may see different class headings; GOS generally come under coloured or traditional breeds classes and do not have their own classes at smaller shows, with a wider age range of pig so you may see
1.    Any coloured breed sow
2.    Any coloured breed gilt born on or after 1^st July of the show year
3.    Any coloured breed gilt born on or after 1^st January of the show year
4.    Any coloured breed boar born on or after 1^st January of the show year
You will also see classes for ‘maiden gilts’, gilt -in-pig, pork & bacon pigs, pairs, progeny etc if you have any queries about these please get in touch with a member of the GOS committee who will be happy to explain them to you.
Make sure you read the schedule of the show relating to pigs, some shows have rules about sows having had so many litters, gilts being in pig and boars to have fathered X amount of litters so read up the rules page, there will also be information regarding the identification of your pigs and about the AML requirements. You will generally find all this information just before the list of classes. The larger county shows may seem over awing at first and you may prefer to just visit these and watch and then start at a couple of your local one day shows where the classes are a bit less formal but no less serious and you can gain experience without the added pressure of being away from your holding/farm for a few days.
Once you’ve decided which show and which of your pigs you would like to enter, you will need to fill in the entry form; some shows now allow you to do this on-line, whilst others use a paper entry form. Check the entry closing dates carefully so as not to miss them, lots of people make their entries close to the wire so as to maximize their choice of pigs but most of us know well in advance which pigs we will be using for the forthcoming season. When you fill in the forms you will need to have at hand your pig’s pedigree name, its date of birth, its registration & ear number and also those of its parents. Not all shows ask for the same information so it’s worth making a ‘show file’ in which you can have copies of pedigrees, keep all your show schedules and to keep all your tickets, directions, vehicle passes, numbers & programmes in when they start to arrive a couple of weeks before each show. We use a binder filled with clear wallets and slide each show into an individual wallet, label it and that way we don’t get mixed up. Once your entry form is filled in, check over it and make out the appropriate cheque or pay by card on-line, make a copy for yourself so you know what you’ve entered or print off from an on-line entry and add to your growing file.
Now you’ve made those entries it’s time to start training those pigs! Each showman will have their own method of training pigs and when they start with them. We first of all separate our selected show pigs from the rest of their siblings. If you’re going to do a lot of shows you will need to speak to your vet regarding an isolation unit (we use a separate stable block and yard for ours) and your show team will live in there throughout the season. Our show pigs also get a slightly increased ration of food (full 6lb per day + extra veg/fruit) as judges like to see them quite rounded; exercising helps them produce muscle and strengthen their legs.
We keep our show pigs in pairs and start walking them out individually at about 12wks old, we usually have our board and stick with us but for the main part it’s just used as an occasional stop board or for gentle guidance, at this stage we just want them to get used to walking alone with us, most of the time we lead and they trot along behind often chewing our stick or have a gloriously giddy gallop off into the horizon! As time progresses set up a miniature show ring if you can and get your team walking in a clockwise direction, you need to be on their left side with your board and your stick in the right hand (a bit of a nuisance if you’re left handed!), both tools are for guiding and controlling your pig. Practice walking out as often as you can, a sharp tap of the stick under the chin or on the shoulder will keep them in line so they learn that you are boss. We do not use or approve the use of punishment as a tool to teach pigs. We train our pigs in fairly short sessions as the pigs get bored or decide to riot! Twenty minutes two or three times a day if you can for each pig you plan to show and don’t forget  boars requires two competent handlers to show them.
Starting with just a July and a January gilt is a good idea until you feel more confident.  It is time consuming and can be frustrating, some pigs just don’t like showing but we find by spending time with our show team and fussing them, ours all have pet names, they do become more socialized and enjoy the attention. Ours are also trained to the rattle of the feed bucket so that if they do decide to make a run for it during a show they can always be coaxed back by the sound of the bucket!
99% of all training should be before the show rather than expecting the pig to learn at the show though tolerance towards January born pigs is usually exercised. You do learn as you show and at most shows the judge may come to you to tell you why your pig won/failed, in his/her opinion, which is usually good, impartial criticism and useful for future shows. The main thing is to enjoy your showing and go in at a level that suits you.
 
Good luck
mandy
 

[kja]

trouble is there are no local small shows around here (with the exception of the peterborough autumn show in oct).

i find the bigger shows less hectic to the one day shows and there are always people on hand to help out should the need arise. most county shows are a shadow of what they used to be so far less daunting.

i say go for it the more competitors the better.

[Fowgill Farm]

trouble is there are no local small shows around here (with the exception of the peterborough autumn show in oct).

sorry Kim but i dispute that...........because of our location we call a local show any show that is within 2hrs travelling which means you could attend shows like Honley, Driffield, Penistone, and quite a few others check the ASAO website. It depends how far you deem local.
Mandy

[kja]

trouble is there are no local small shows around here (with the exception of the peterborough autumn show in oct).

sorry Kim but i dispute that...........because of our location we call a local show any show that is within 2hrs travelling which means you could attend shows like Honley, Driffield, Penistone, and quite a few others check the ASAO website. It depends how far you deem local.
Mandy

i agree with the 2 hours being local these days but if we were to travel to honley that would be a 2 hour 50 mins journey, penistone 2 hour 30 mins & driffield 3 hours. we have no shows on our doorstep but  we are lucky newark, lincoln, norfolk suffolk all come within striking distance we are planning going further this year, just waiting for some schedules.

[Hassle]

isnt there a show at market deeping?

[kja]

isnt there a show at market deeping?

yes. but they only have sheep cattle and equine. we used to do it 30+ years back with the goats.

[Tudful Tamworths]

Ann & Rob
Not wanting to put you off but a big county show is a big first step if you haven't shown before.
 

Sorry, but I have to disagree. If you want to try your hand at showing, just go for it. My first, a good few years ago now, was the Royal Welsh Smallholder Show (as it used to be known) - hardly a small show. My gilts were too old for the July class, so went into the sow class, but still came away with a 2nd and a 5th - and they weren't trained for the ring, either.
You'll find that most pig exhibitors are incredibly welcoming to newcomers, and you won't be short of help.
I'd recommend starting off with a sow, rather than younger, flightier pigs. January-born ones can be a nightmare - particularly if they're small enough to get under the barriers used to create the ring.
Good luck, and message me if you want copies of any of the stuff I've written on starting in showing for Country Smallholding magazine. Happy to help if I can.
 

[Hassle]

they had pigs last year 

[kja]

they had pigs on display but not in show classes. iirc they cancelled the cattle last year due to the rain. a friend of ours goes with his dexters.

[Hassle]

yes not enough for show but you can change that 

[kja]

yes not enough for show but you can change that 

deeping falls on the same weekend as rutland so parents will be away that weekend leaving us on farm sitting duties.