Whats best?

Jamie · Post by **Jamie** » Wed May 27, 2009 5:30 pm

What's best for showing - a short legged, a medium or a long legged?

LISA · Post by **LISA** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:49 pm

A QUALITY animal, CORRECT TO BREED STANDARD is best for showing.
The short legged and non short legged are of EQUAL merit in the showring.
If it is correct in the OPINION of that judge ON THAT DAY it will win,long or short.

strawberriesclint · Post by **strawberriesclint** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:00 pm

Hi

I have been to quite a few shows as a spectater only and on several occasions people have entered a non-shorts and they have been some nice animals but they never win which i think is very wrong as showing should be promoting the whole breed not just a choice few.

My question is why can't they have a short dexter class and a non-short dexter class as long as they are within the breed standard, i dont see a problem.

cyndy

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Thu May 28, 2009 8:46 am

Having two classes would be a no no in my opinion, they are the same breed and there should be no division. The problem with judging is that most judges breed shorts, so are used to looking at their own cattle and will place animals better that are close to what they keep. I am not being critical of judges, I just believe it is human nature. There are more non shorts being placed now. A few years ago you would not see a non short in the ring, so things are getting better.

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Thu May 28, 2009 9:11 am

Also, some of the shorts you see may not be carriers, they are just physically short. One bull I can think in particular who I was convinced was a shortie, is a tested non-carrier. If there were separate classes, where would short non-shorts go?

Edited By Broomcroft on 1243498359

carole · Post by **carole** » Thu May 28, 2009 11:44 pm

Having recently returned from a trip to Australia and visited two herds in Victoria, I have to tell you that contrary to the way of things in this country, its the non shorts which tend to be shown the most and win.

So its the total opposite you may say to this country, but then we are upside down compared to the australian view of things.

My thanks to both Rick Elliot at Mirboo and John O'Brien at Elgin Park dexters if they are reading this

Regards Phil

Buryhill Dexters · Post by **Buryhill Dexters** » Sat May 30, 2009 5:27 pm

We are fairly new to the showing scene, have attended just one show last year, so far this season we have been to six and have taken several animals to each show, one that has been to all 6 shows this year is a 13 month old non short heifer - the placings for this heifer have varied dramatically in the past 4 weeks:

On her 1st outing she was the only non short and was placed last (although in my eyes her condition and conformation was far better than a good number of those ahead of her & the judges only comment was that she was too big),
The second show she was 2nd (amongst a much better looking bunch),
3rd outing last again,
4th show 6th (after being moved up the line after closer inspection by the judge & the highest placed non short)
At the most recent show again 6th (after closer inspection by the judge who again moved her up a few places in the line up).

All judges have commented that she is a very nice heifer, with a nice level topline, nicely placed teats and is in very nice condition.

In my limited experience I do think that the smaller animals and shorts are still more appealling to the judges eye, although some judges are more inclined to place non shorts than others.

At the end of the day though beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I like this little heifer a lot and she is very well behaved & easy to handle so we will continue to take her to shows and see how we get on.

ann · Post by **ann** » Sat May 30, 2009 9:36 pm

some judges will always give a nice non short a look in, however some will not even consider them and the answer to this is not to waste your money showing under then, unless it is your local show. Sadly they should all be judged on their merit and shame on the judges who never consider them as at the end of the day the best animal should win long or short.

Ref the comment about australia, they have some of the best non shorts I have ever seem, however because of their breeding policies of prefering the non shorts it is obvious that by breeding non short to non short they have a much better choice of animals to choose from as they are breeding like to like and thus reducing the odds down to 50% for the chance of a nice heifer at each breeding against the odds of 25% when you only like shorts and breed shorts to non shorts.

Elgin park had some lovely animals when I was out there. a great country with some lovely dexters.