Went to a show today...

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I've been to a couple of shows on the Island in a small hall type evnironment and found them pleasant and really friendly in fact my avator pig Bear who died last march was brought from there from a disabled lady in a wheelchair who adores her pigs, she run a rescue on the mainland and wanted to make room for more rescues along with bear i got Bertie who she hand raised and she wanted some one who would adore him as much as she did to have him, years ago I also brought a trio of lilac selfs from there for £5 no money was wanted for them but i offered it, all youngsters who I loved dearly until they died,
a lot more pet pigs are winning now a days,which means its done for fun rather then the more hard faced type breeders/showers
I would never show any pigs of mine as i have always said I know my pigs are 100% winners and anyone who said that something about them was not, would get a hefty kick in the shins,
one point i might add is that to be in shows the pig has to be 100% perfect health wise and very laid back for showing which to me says they have been handled and groomed thats not neglect, so I am 50/50 on shows for those reasons, I think again its another of those issues that is your own choice, but the shows I have seen have been friendly and very helpful in up to date information on illnesses and remedys health care bedding etc, rarely is breeding spoken about to people like me who doesn't breed to show, they will of course answer any questions if you ask, I find them nice piggy lovers, but accept some of the bigger shows might not be so nice , so will just stick to my 2 a year shows here, :)
 
hils78 said:
See I should be a diplomat - ;)
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very diplomatic thats the way we all should be when it comes to contraversial discussions thats why this forum is so great, put your point across BUT accept its not everyones choice nice one hils ;)
 
Piggies intended for exhibition are handled regularly from a young age and are trained to sit still and be shown. All you need do is sit them on a towel or something on a flat surface and if they move you gently put them back where you want them. They quickly learn to sit still. Piggies are only skittish if they aren't handled enough, yeah they will shoot off if something startles them but any animal would. I have some real docile pigs in my shed who I can do anything with.
The welfare of my pigs comes first and I don't want a reputation for being a bad breeder/exhibitor. There have been quite a few occasions where on the morning of a show I've felt that one of the pigs isn't 100% in some way and left it at home. I still have to pay its entry fees even if it doesn't go but I'm willing to do this as my piggy is more important than the entry fees.

Showing pet piggies is growing and growing with more and more people doing it. Provided your pigs are healthy, in good condition, clean with no passengers and are friendly and sociable no bad things will be said about them. They don't have a standard to meet, they're just pets.

Kat
 
hubby says can you imagine anyone saying one of my pigs had a wonky ear etc hes always said I'd be so upset and annoyed as i think my babies are soooooooo special and not to win would be so upsetting and somehow a slap in the face lol but to be honest I am fine going to see these well cared for and loved animals ( that I have seen) but wont put mine in despite a breeder asking to have one of my pigs for showing he was so stunning, ( the pig Alfie, the breeder was pug ugly) what about the others I said no just that one ... as if mate, my pigs are my pigs for ever, I dont part with any of them,
to be honest I would be showing off so much about how perfect my piggys are I'd drive them nuts at the shows, you see mine like all yours are perfect, wonky ears bald patches bad feet what ever,
I just think how can such well groomed and stunningly healthy pigs that sit still and are not skittish be anything but loved , so I'm fine if you want to show, but equally fine if you dont,
 
As there are no huge sums of money involved in showing guineas surely people who are going to go to all the time and effort of producing a pig in show condition (and they have to be in really good condition) aren't going to do it unless they have genuine affection for ther pigs? Its not like showing horses or dogs where the prize money can be huge and theres also sponsorship and then also the money-making potential of using the animals at stud.
Although the public can go into the halls where the shows are held most people there are guinea-pig lovers so who better to sell your stock too? My friend went to our local show with the express intention of buying another pig and bought a lovely little dutch girl. Probably not good enough as a show pig but she is already a much loved pet.
I bought my lovely Rodney from a guinea-pig rescue at our local agricultural show and this year they where there again with quite a few pigs available. Surely that has to be worse than buying from a guinea-pig show as the world and his wife turn up at the ag shows for a look and a poke at the animals.
Jo
 
jodie3 said:
I bought my lovely Rodney from a guinea-pig rescue at our local agricultural show and this year they where there again with quite a few pigs available.
Jo
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You bought him from an animal rescue at the show...just like that? That isn't good :-\

It's like a lot of things Jodie, it's important to look at the bigger issue.
Guinea pigs are sold from table tops, generally the breeders of said pigs are absent and not available to answer questions. By the same token they have no idea where there guinea pigs are going...

As mentioned at one show it was mainly boars for sale, sows are likely to be snapped up...but the boars that don't sell...what happens to them. As a welfare issue, showing is the tip of the iceberg in my mind and many others involved in guinea welfare.

But as always we are all entitled to our own thoughts.
I'd be interested to know whichrescue was selling guinea pihgs at a show? But probably best you don't post...

Barbara
 
totally disagree with rescues selling pigs at shows, but as already said shows can have good sides to them I dont think any one could find fault with the little islands shows twice a year, everyone is very nice and friendly, pigs are sometimes sold both sows and boars,but in my case i was given them as they were to be rehomed to some one nice, me, I fitted the bill, I only have nice things to say about the ones i've been too, again its a matter of personal choice and opinion, the pigs sold are normally to youngsters of pig showers who want to show a pet and we all get to see how well the pig has done every 6 months when shown, and believe me they know when one of their pigs are being shown 6 months after they sold or gave it away,
 
There isn't anyone actually manning the sale pens at shows. The breeder will place a notice on the pen stating what the pigs are, how old they are and what sex followed by their name or stud name. You buy the pig directly from the breeder thus are able to ask any questions and the breeder can see who the pigs are going to. Most of the time, any pigs that are sold go to other breeders.

Kat
 
i must say ive never yet meet any one who wasnt pig mad at shows, i dont always show but always go for a gossip & to admire the pigs, its known we rescue & people do ask us about it. as for pigs that arnt sold they go home with the breeder, its a bit sinister to suggest anything untoward happens, i say this as a couple of times i saw pigs i was intrested in but couldnt get hold of the breeder, for one reason or another so emailed them later & always got a reply about said pigs, no it isnt always boars avaible , ive bought sow's more often than not, & surely any one who is so against these shows will always big despite whats said by those for them , its as aslways a personal choice/matter, not all breeders ars sinster , evil cruela de vile types :D
 
At Harrogate show there was a rescue there where you could handle the rabbits and pigs but don't think they were actually letting you adopt them there and then. Well I walked past about 10 times in the day and the same amount was there every time ;)

Personally I wouldn't show mine even if they were "show quality" because they're all beautiful and winners to me. ;)
 
not all breeders ars sinster , evil cruela de vile types

totally agree I find these people pig lovers and very interesting to talk to I think I only gain from their experience ;)

Personally I wouldn't show mine even if they were "show quality" because they're all beautiful and winners to me.

my thoughts exactly, but do enjoy the chats and people I meet , ;)
 
bramble said:
i must say ive never yet meet any one who wasnt pig mad at shows, i dont always show but always go for a gossip & to admire the pigs, its known we rescue & people do ask us about it. as for pigs that arnt sold they go home with the breeder, its a bit sinister to suggest anything untoward happens, i say this as a couple of times i saw pigs i was intrested in but couldnt get hold of the breeder, for one reason or another so emailed them later & always got a reply about said pigs, no it isnt always boars avaible , ive bought sow's more often than not, & surely any one who is so against these shows will always big despite whats said by those for them , its as aslways a personal choice/matter, not all breeders ars sinster , evil cruela de vile types :D
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I agree i visited my first show this month, and i found it really interesting meeting people who were pig mad like me and seeing the beautiful piggies! There were piggies for sale and there were boars and sows. I found it a good experience and will go again :)
 
There are breeders who are sinister, but they're just that, breeders, nothing more, only out to make money. Breeders/exhibitors take great care in their pigs and are in the hobby for the enjoyment of breeding pigs and hopefully seeing them do well at shows. They aren't in it for money, there's very little money to be made at shows and you're lucky if you can win more than you paid in entry fees.

Kat
 
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