Goat Show Day Supplies
Showing your goats can be an incredibly rewarding experience - learning more about your goats, meeting new people, and watching your goats perform at their best. But anyone who’s ever shown can tell you that it’s also a lot of work, whether it’s a one-day show, a weekend, or a week-long fair. One way to cut down on the workload and stress is to be well organized and have anything you may need on hand.
Paperwork - This is the most important thing to remember! Without your goat’s registration papers, your goat won’t be allowed to show, and you’ll have done a lot of prep work for nothing. If it’s an ADGA-sanctioned show, make sure you have all of your ADGA registrations in hand for check-in. If the show is out of state, you may also be required to provide a CVI (Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) upon check-in as well. Each show is a little different, so make sure you go over any paperwork you may need well beforehand. Also, be sure that while you’re getting paperwork together, you check your goat’s tattoos to make sure they match up and are easily read by a judge.
Goat show collar - When showing your goats, special collars are used that help to maintain control of your goats while they’re in the ring. Be sure to make sure you have enough collars in the correct sizes (most are adjustable) for the number of goats you have in each class you’re showing in. This isn’t a requirement per se, but your goats will look better with a proper show collar to display their neck and jawline at their best. It will also help you to maintain control of a nervous goat in the ring.
Show collar you can build yourself - If you don’t want to buy show collars for your goats, they’re pretty easy to make yourself. You can get any local hardware store to cut small chains into custom lengths for you. Just add a little hardware (clips, rings, etc.) and you’re good to go!
Show lead - A good lead makes your goats easier to lead from point A to point B, especially when things get hectic. Also, ADGA has recently approved the use of leads in junior classes for Nigerian Dwarf goats - a real savior for your back if you’ve ever attempted to walk a difficult goat kid in the ring.
Water from your farm - If you can, it’s often a good idea to bring several jugs of water from your home that your goats are used to drinking. This will encourage them to stay well hydrated and keep udders full for optimum showing.
Hose filter - A hose filter is an easy way to make sure you can have reliable clean water for your goats at any venue your show may be at. Most of these help remove any funky tastes that may put your goats off of drinking while at the show
Bluelite - This stuff has become a show ring standard for many breeders. The great taste of Bluelite encourages your goats to drink more water, which is incredibly important when your animals are stressed at a show. Oftentimes when you use water that your goats aren’t accustomed too, they’ll turn their noses up at it. Bluelite helps hide the taste of “strange” water. At a show that lasts several days, it helps your does maintain their milk production so they look their best in the ring.
Clippers - It’s inevitable that you’ll end up at a show and realize you need to do some touch up work on at least one goat. even though you’ve already clipped your goat for show. Always have clippers on hand just in case. I love to use the Oster Clipmaster for heavy body work and then a smaller set of clippers with fine blades for the real detail work. Keeping spare clippers in your show gear can save a lot of panic at show time.
Goat coat - If you’re going to a show that’s really early in the season or late in the season, your clipped goats can get chilly. A cold goat will tuck itself up tight and be a real challenge to show. To help with this, have some goat blankets on hand to keep your goats nice and warm when they’re not in the ring.
Show Sheen - This stuff is great to spritz on your goats right before they’re ready to show. It helps to keep the dust and debris off and keeps your goat’s coats looking shiny and healthy. A light spray and a quick brush through before the ring will make your goats look fabulous.
Temporary pen - Some shows provide pens, but some don’t. If you can, it’s always best to bring portable pens for your goats to be to practice good biosecurity
Canopy - Protection against the elements of your pen is a great thing to have. A good canopy will help keep your goats out of the rain or grueling sun.
Hoof trimmers - Last-minute hoof trims are sometimes needed - don’t let yourself be caught without the tool you need
Feeders - Hay nets, grain bowls, and water buckets are a must. A long day of showing means your goats will need to be fed and watered while they’re camped out before and after they’re in the ring.
A sturdy hay feeder keeps your goats happy and well fed in their pen
Milk bucket - Senior does will need to be milked out at the end of the day. A good milk pail is a bare minimum if you don’t have a portable milk machine or only a few does to hand milk.
Extension cords - Sometimes outlets are hard to find and you want to make sure your equipment (clippers, milk machine, etc.) can be used easily in your set-up area. make sure you have at least one good extension cord on hand
Zip ties - These are a true live saver. From putting up signs and banners to securing flimsy goat pens, don’t be without a handful of solid zip ties
Tarps - If you’re concerned about good biosecurity, putting taps on the ground of your pens and around the walls of your pens can help guard your goats against picking up parasites, ringworm, or other nasty diseases. It also makes for easier clean-up to drag your soiled bedding to the compost area at the end of the show.
Good tarps around your pen can help keep your goats safe from coming in contact with other animals, helping with biosecurity. And check out the custom goat blankets!
Shavings - Even though some shows may offer shavings, it’s always best to bring a few bags of your own just in case
Goat first aid kit - Ensure you keep the basics on hand for potential goat emergencies at the show. Vet wrap, probiotics, skin stapler, kaolin-pectin, and Banamine are just a few essentials to consider bringing along.
Portable stand - You will need a portable milking/fitting stand for your goats for last-minute clips, trims, and milkings. Make sure it folds nicely and is lightweight
Hoof bath - When it comes to good biosecurity practices, a hoof bath sterilizes your goat’s feet before they go back on your trailer and step back onto your property goes a long way. This is as simple as bringing a long, shallow plastic tub and pouring in some chlorhexidine and water for them to walk through. This can help cut down on parasites and germs traveling back with them to your farm.
Show whites - While it isn’t a strictly enforced rule, most shows require that you wear white pants or skirts and white tops with minimal writing or logos. Dressing in your best set of comfortable show whites will keep the judges from being distracted by what you’re wearing and focusing on your goat. Showmanship is important, and wearing the right attire helps show that you’re a serious showman.
Notebook - There are a million things you’re going to want to remember at any show - your placings, the name of a goat you really like, judges’ names, etc. A good notebook that lives in your show gear will make sure you can jot down anything you want to remember over the course of the hectic show day.
Supply case - With so many odds and ends to remember, having a place to contain and organize everything makes life a lot easier. A lot of people choose to use horse tack boxes or a basic cargo-style box with wheels. One of our best solutions is a stackable tool system with severable separate, stackable boxes, is on wheels, and is super easy to manage.
People snacks/water - Don’t forget to feed and hydrate yourself! Make sure you bring high-protein, easy-to-snag snacks to keep your energy up throughout the day. And don’t forget the water!
Hand wipes - Your hands will get disgusting. Period. Even if you’re used to eating sandwiches after shoveling the barn, the yuck you pick up at a show is a whole new yuck. Wet wipes help you keep your hands clean when you want a snack, or to help wipe some of the dirt off your show whites. And in a pinch, you can wipe down your goat!
Change of clothes - At the end of the day, you’re not going to want to go home in your dirty show whites. Pack yourself some comfy clothes you’ll be happy to drive home in.
Custom show gear - If you really want to stand out at a show, you can always get customized show gear with your herd name and/or logo. Not only does this look really classy, but it also keeps things from getting lost during a crazy hectic day.
