Before you begin showing make sure your animal is suitably fit and healthy to be shown. It goes without saying that it should be free from illnesses , diseases , cuts , wounds, etc.
Also MAKE SURE that your donkeys hooves are correctly trimmed and not overgrown or distorted. This is essential as a judge will mark you down for neglected hooves.
Advice on Judging
Firstly don’t arrive late – this is bad manners and reflects badly on you – if you cannot manage your time!
Always lead a donkey on the nearside and always enter the ring on the right rein (i.e. walking in a clockwise direction) so that you are not obstructing the judges view of the donkey.
Don’t get to close to the animal in front. Give yourself plenty of room even if this means circling around the arena to find an area with more room. Always circle out of sight of the judge.
The preparation for the in-hand donkey begins at home. The show ring is not the place to begin educating a donkey because once in the ring the animal’s attention will be absorbed by the sights and sounds surrounding him.Ensure that the animal walks forward as naturally as possible alongside the handler , neither hanging back nor shooting forward. This will allow the judge to evaluate his paces.Donkeys must also trot forward freely when asked to do so. Practise this at home with the help of an assistant who can help to ‘sho’ him forward if necessary.When called out to ‘present’ your animal. Make sure he is standing with his four legs evenly. Do not let him rest a leg or stand crookedly. Make sure you are standing confidently too and not slouching or chatting to fellow competitors!Stand facing his head and try to get his attention so that he pricks his hears forward. You want to create the image of an alert and responsive animal.
Dress smartly and discreetly as a mark of RESPECT to the judge. Suits/ties , tweed jackets , slacks , caps for the men. And for the ladies trouser suits , long skirts /smart jacket and or tweed jacket and discreetly coloured trousers. Hats and gloves do give a nice finishing touch to the overall picture.
Use a smart bridle , and bit your animal correctly (the bit should be CLEAN! And neither to big or small for the donkeys mouth. Also too often with donkeys we see bits hanging low on the donkeys teeth , make sure it is properly positioned so that it creates a wrinkle or two at the side of the mouth.No driving bits and no blinkers on the bridle.
Manners are of paramount importance to the in-hand judge. Usually judges will penalise bad behaviour if they feel they cannot judge the animal as a consequence if it. Do not think well it is only a ‘donkey class’ and this is the way donkeys behave. This only encourages the stereotypical image of donkeys as ‘thran’ and stupid. Think of the image you are creating to the public and how it is reflecting on on you as a handler.
Do not leave the ring until motioned to do so by the steward.
Always try to congratulate those around you and be polite to both judges and stewards who have given up their time to be here , it is good manners. Some exhibitors forget that they are in the ring for the judges opinion of their animal and sulk when that view does not coincide with their own. Showing results depend on the opinion of that judge on that day and at another show things may well be different.