Graphic courtesy of Tom Rucker, Buttin' Heads
A winter show clip is considered the most difficult clip, requiring more time and effort than the summer show or utility dairy clip. Think of the areas on the goat that a judge would need to see when evaluating an animal in the show ring, and clip in a way to enable a judge to see those areas.
When looking at the animal from the rear, the animal needs to be high and wide in the escutcheon area, be out-curing in the thigh, and wide set in the back legs.
From behind, clean the hair between the teats on a junior doe or clip the udder on a senior doe.
Bellies are usually clipped from the flank up through the front legs into the neck. Turn the clippers to blend as cleanly as possible.
Leave protective hair on the barrel, chest, and thighs. The clip should emphasize:
Mammary—front and side view
Feminine head
Flat bones on legs with clean knees and hocks
Strong topline
Incurving rear leg viewed from the side
Long neck
The key is to blend the short and long hair together. The end result should make a clean silhouette.
Remember that a show win is not worth a dead or sick goat.
