After a hearty breakfast at the hotel we were off to the barns to check on our animals. Brooklyn and Manhattan had fared nicely overnight, but their new fan wasn't working at all. I contacted the facilities department and they had it fixed in a jiffy.

According to the day's schedule, it looked like I might get a chance to show Manhattan, but more than likely she would have to wait until Saturday. However, Kris and Albert were kind enought to let me get my feet wet by showing their Black Pearl. We took a fifth place ribbon my first time in the ring -- I was so excited!


First Timers Q&A

Before this show, as with most shows, the judges held a question and answer session for new participants. ATTEND THIS! There you will learn:

• The flow of the show -- How you will be asked to walk into the ring, when to do so, and what to do if your animal doesn't want to!


• What the judge will be looking for during each inspection period -- Gate, posture, size of reproductive organs, teeth, fleece consistency, and crimp consistency.


• What to do if your animal doesn't behave -- And there are always those! Believe it or not, this may not be marked against you as long as the judge can view all of the characteristics listed above. If your animal is stressed to such a degree that they pose a danger, however, you may be asked to leave no matter how high the animal's quality.


• What to do if your animal wins -- It would seem self explanatory, but it is not. If your animal wins first or second in its division, for instance, it will then compete for best in class. This means instead of going to celebrate your win, you must wait to be judged again against others in the class.

The Q&A sessions are also a great time to ask questions of the judges and other participants. What is the best way to steady an animal who doesn't want someone feeling around under their tail? What is the best way to show teeth? Etc....

Practice Makes Perfect

Having now been through the experience, one more bit of advice I can offer is to practice. Practice with yourself, practice with your animal. Halter train. Get them used to being followed by other animals, and leading other animals. Get them used to, or at least tolerant of, being touched in sensitive areas with "pat" exercises.

Friday night was the big dinner in downtown Puyallup. During dinner there was an auction to support the education of a university student specializing in camelids. After dinner we went for a quick check on the animals and exhausted, went to bed.