Five Tips for Fitting | Tips from Stock Show University®
By: Tess Mittag, Manager of Stock Show University®
Let’s admit it—one of the most exciting things to happen at a show is when you start fitting your animal for the show ring. During this “Tips from Stock Show University®” article, we will be explaining our top 5 tips for fitting that you need to know before show day!
Timing is Key — This is a common question that most exhibitors and their families ask. The rule of thumb is that you should allow approximately two minutes per head. You will need to count the number of head that show before you to determine what time you will approximately show. For example, if your animal is the 65th head in the show order, you will need to take 65 and multiply it by 2 minutes. This will get you the total amount of minutes that it will take from the beginning of the show until you will be in the show ring.(65 × 2 = 130 minutes) Now, say the show starts at 8:00am. It is safe to say that you will be showing around 10:15 a.m. Knowing that information, you should give yourself at least one hour before you show to fit your dry, clean animal. Do modify the one hour before time depending on how many people will be helping you fit. So for the example that was previously used, you will need to put your clean, dry animal in the chute around 9:00 a.m.
Are YOU ready? — Like mentioned before, fitting can be one of the most exciting things that happens at a show. But this time of the show can be overwhelming. A good way to stay on top of things is to be prepared before the calf walks into the chute. This means having all your cans of adhesive and touch-up paint ready to go, making sure you have power available near your fitting area, ensuring combs and scissors are cleaned, designating someone to watch the show to keep you updated on where they are in the show, and last but not least, having your animal clean and dry. Being unprepared will create wasted time while your animal is in the chute. Tip from James Sullivan, Director of Marketing and Stock Show University® Professor:“ Always put your show halter on first, so you can spend more time at the end putting on the final touches versus worrying about putting the show halter on.”
“Less is More” — We have all been there when we might have put a little too much glue into a leg. Stock Show University® likes to use the saying “less is more” when it comes to spraying adhesive into the legs, tailhead, or wherever you are spraying adhesive onto the animal. Spraying too much adhesive on the area you are fitting will make it more difficult for you to clip and shape into the “perfect leg.”. It is easier to gradually add more adhesive to an area if needed. From Sullivan Supply, there are two types of adhesives that we recommend to our trusted customers: Tail Adhesive and Prime Time Adhesive. When comparing the two adhesives, Tail Adhesive is the highest-strength adhesive. It has unmatched holding power for flat lying, hard-to-hold hair on legs, and when shaping the tail ball. You can depend on Tail Adhesive to dry completely and hold its firm shape in all types of weather, with no fall-down when Touch-Ups are applied. Prime Time is our strongest show-day leg adhesive with holding power that is ideal for medium-length, thinner hair types. It creates body and volume with a clear, natural look. Prime Time will also perform in all types of weather, such as winter, spring, summer, or fall. It holds hair firmly in place and will not “wilt” or fall down in humidity. Sullivan’s Prime Time is formulated to be lighter, more flexible, and clear in a pure form of adhesive. So if you are just learning to fit, Prime Time Adhesive might be your go-to product, as it is lighter and more forgiving. For more experienced fitters, Stock Show University recommends the Tail Adhesive as your go-to adhesive.
Color Match like a Pro — Now that you have your animal fit, it is time to get the areas that were fit with adhesive and Powder’Ful back to the calf’s natural, desired color. Touch-up paints are designed to help with this task, but it can sometimes be tricky to obtain that natural, desired color you are aiming for. If you are dealing with an animal that has a unique color, Stock Show University advises you to color match your animal at home. This allows you to explore and test colors on your animal to create that natural, desired color before show day — as some animals do not match perfectly to the touch-up colors. Another tip from Stock Show University® to keep in mind is that painting your animal does take time. Allow time for the touch-up paint to dry, adding more as needed. Touch-up paint on your animal also needs to be checked after you back it out of the fitting area, as you might need to add more paint to your animal due to the lighting that you had in your fitting area or areas that are more exposed when your animal is in motion.
Don’t forget about the hair — Even though most people will focus the majority of their time in the chute on the legs, topline, or belly line, it is essential not to forget about the body hair. Give your animal’s hair the lift and volume it needs to stand out with Sullivan’s Game Changer. Not only does it penetrate deeply, forcing the hair to stand out, but it also gives a deeper, more amplified look to the hair while adding shine without any oil residue that weighs the hair down. To work Game Changer into the hair properly, simply spray it on clean, dry hair. Be sure to comb in and go, but for extra volume, blow in for 10+ minutes after using the product. Tip from Tess Mittag, Manager of Stock Show University®:“ Working hair might not be a fun and flashy job, but it’s very important—even before you start fitting on show day. Be sure you are utilizing your Staggered Roto Brush or Roto Fluffer Brush on show morning before you start fitting.”
For more tips and video tutorials from Stock Show University®, visit https://www.sullivansupply.com/stock-show-u/online/
