Showmanship Clinic

Most showmanship books are written for the kid just starting out, and by thesecond season that kid has outgrown the book. The other half of the problem isharder to see. A 17 year old who has never shown needs the basics just as muchas the 9 year old does.This one does both at once. Every chapter runs in two marked tiers.Foundations covers leading, setting feet, the show stick, watching the judge,and the ring etiquette every breed association expects. Next Level is forshowmen who have been through a couple of full seasons and are ready for thethings that separate the top of a class.Seven chapters take it in order. The partnership between you and the animal.Knowing your animal. Ring strategy and reading the judge. Setting the feet andholding the pose. Practice, energy, and staying calm. Show day from sunrise toring. Answering the judge's questions. Then the reference half: show divisionsby breed association, a glossary of show ring terms, the parts of the beefanimal, the mistakes judges actually see, and a word written for the parentsand advisors standing at the rail.Donna Minton Williams started showing at 18, on halter horses, and came tocattle through her daughters. She writes the way she teaches, and the bookdraws on the breed associations, university extension publications, and judgesand showmen who have spent their lives at it. Sources are cited.