It was a beautiful day to go to the show. Sun and farmland always puts me in a good mood. The showgrounds were charming with old cabins conveniently placed around to change into your white pants.
I really hate white pants.
I showed Cora Belle and the goatfarmer showed a very uncooperative Buttons. She (Buttons, not the goatfarmer) did not want to be there. She thought this was a very bad idea. But with some professional handling she got herself third place in her class of nine. She is as cute as a button.
Cora Belle was once again all business. She was all nervous and whiny until we walked into the ring, then she settled in and chewed her cud. She's a showgirl...with a lop-sided udder. A big no no in milk goats. Two out of the three judges liked her and admired her dairy character and had a whole lot of nice things to say about her but couldn't get over her lack of symmetry and awarded her fourth place in a class of nine beautiful does.
It was exciting to see Notty's mom in Cora Belle's class...and then she won all three classes and was Champion in one ring only to be beaten out the other two times by a beautiful doe that is the mother of.....goatfarmer's new buckling.
Cora Belle and Buttons were so happy to be home and the babies were happy to see their udders, lop-sided or not.
Now read this account of Buttons' performance.
10 comments:
Sounds like a grand time!
I see that your goats travel in dog crates. I have to take Caper to the vet for x-rays (he's got a persistent, unexplained limp.) I'll have to take Pip, too, as these brothers have never been separated. The last time they were in crates was when they weighed 8 pounds - they're now big boys and would have to scrunch down to get into a large dog crate. We could put a tarp down in the back of the minivan, and I could hold onto their leashes, though I imagine that might be chaos. Suggestions?
Congratulations! 3rd and 4th place out of nine is not bad!
Sounds like a lot of fun!
Terry, I'd have them scrunch down in a large crate or leave Pip at home. Just lock him in the barn. Sure he'll be upset but once you're back all will be well again. It won't hurt them to scrunch down for awhile. They will probably just lie down.
Let me know what you find out, I hate a persistent anything.
Okay, he'll scrunch. I'm a horse person, so I checked for heat, swelling, signs of thrush-like yuckiness. Trimmed the hoof and couldn't find a bruise. The vet did a house call and couldn't find a thing. Gave a shot of banamine, which didn't relieve the limping. He's not just limping - he's holding his hoof up and waving it around. Quite the sympathy getter. So, he's scheduled for x-rays. Sigh.
Okay. I'm glad CoraBelle did not give the judges the stink-eye. I now want to hear about the goatfarmer's new buckling. Is he as handsome as the Captain?
Sounds like a great day. I'm sure a lop-sided udder is just fine for kids, and they are more important judges than the ones giving the award!
I've loved looking at all your adorable goat photos, the goats are really cuties. My daughter and granddaughter are enjoying becoming the goat experts in the local 4-H club. And as grandparents we get to enjoy the goats without any of the chores in taking care of them. Life is good!
It sounds to me like they both did really well. Lopsided udders and all. Sweet goats. :-)
We have taken goats to the vet in the back of a mini-van.
Leave in the back seat. A tarp, draped over the back of the bench seat with some shavings or bedding pellets works well. You will need somebody to sit in the back to keep the goats from coming forward to sit with you while you drive. You might try the separator thing they use for dogs, but it didn't work as well as a person for us.
Ahhhh, those were the crazy days when we had goats, but not a truck and trailer.
Thanks Mom for letting me put my goats in your mini-van!
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