CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR. 



HANDLING SHOW HERD WHILE IN THE RING. 



The proper fitting and handling of the show herd before 

 it starts out on the circuit, will prevent much trouble in 

 handling the animals in the ring. 



With the herd properly trained, there is nothing with 

 which to handle them compared with a buggy whip, in the 

 hands of a man who has sense enough not to whip the hogs, 

 but quietly touch them on either side of the head to place 

 them where he wishes. As a matter of fact this has been my 

 experience in the many years of handling show hogs. I 

 never need a hurdle with our hogs. With some breeds 

 it is absolutely necessary to have a hurdle in handling 

 a mature boar even though he is supposed to be well 

 mannered and docile, but there is no excuse in using a 

 hurdle with a bunch of sows if they are half way prepared 

 before starting on the circuit. When a hurdle must be 

 used, let it be a light one and made so that the hog cannot 

 see through it. Don't make it of narrow slats a few inches 

 apart, but cover it with heavy material, or else make it of 

 boards tightly matched so there can be no seeing through 

 it. When in the ring with the herd or a single animal, 

 show to the best possible advantage. The showman has 

 this privilege. 



Be Careful About the Feeding While on the Show Circuit. 



Many exhibitors seem to think that when they start out 

 on the show circuit they must stuff the animals with all the 

 feed possible, not only during the time they are on the cars 

 going to and from the shows but each day while on the 

 grounds. It has been our experience that the man who 

 follows this custom generally arrives home with his hogs 

 much lighter in weight than when he started out, while if 

 the hogs had been given only water to drink while enroute 

 to the shows and fed lightly for the first day after arriving 



