Keeping Kids Clean on Show Day

2/18/2019

A showman walks into the show ring with his cow all clean, fitted and looking fine.

The showman isn't looking too shabby himself with his crisp, clean shirt, fancy show jeans, cowboy hat and boots to match.

But getting to the show ring looking like a million bucks is easier said than done.

You see...there is a whole lot of poop going on back in those barns...

And it is no easy feat keeping the poop where it is supposed to be and not all over the kid.

Kids and barns...

Cleanliness is a loosing battle.

Summer shows are easy. Just let them get dirtier than dirty all day long. Then, right before the show...and right after the cow is all ready to go...make them run over to the bathroom and put on a whole new set of clean show clothes.

And the clean clothes cover up all the dirt still left on the kid underneath.

If you have to worry about keeping your clothes clean, you have to twist and contort into all kinds of weird positions, just to keep those knees off the ground.

But the winter shows...

Clothing is a whole different story.

Most of the time the bathrooms have been heated just enough to keep the pipes from freezing. Which means, who in their right mind wants to strip down and change clothes in a freezing cold bathroom?

Not to mention the bathrooms are rarely very clean to begin with.

So, we had to come up with a new plan.

Each show day, Isaac and Walker leave the house or hotel room in their show apparel.

They have their show jeans, show shirt and show belt and buckle on.

They usually have a t-shirt or Under Armour on under the show shirt for extra warmth... and just in case they need to do an emergency shirt change in the middle of the barn. Then, they throw on a hoodie and are almost set for the day.

Right before leaving, they put on their fitting pants and winter coat and head out the door.

Our boys have two kinds of "fitting pants". Above, Walker is wearing his Weaver wash pants. These are light weight and perfect for those heated barns or summer days.

They keep his pants dry and his knees clean without making him sweat.

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When the weather is colder, they all have some form of snow or ski pants to wear.

We loved the Stock Show U fitting pants, but they don't make them any more. Daniel wore his as long as he could, but we had to give them up when almost every seam ripped out.

Daniel ended up getting a pair Under Armour storm pants, similar to these, for Christmas. He really likes them because they aren't bulky like traditional snow pants, but still have plenty of insulation for that extra warmth.

Take a look at Walker and you can see why fitting pants are a must.

Or when you have a kid that thinks it is completely appropriate to take a nap on the barn floor.

Then when it is time to show, all they have to do is strip down...

Change boots.

Grab their back number, show stick and cowboy hat...

And off they go to the show ring.

They throw their coat at Dad as they enter the ring, and no one even knows about all the poop back at the barns.

Oh...and the reason for the importance of this post today...someone left the house this weekend in full show gear...except his fitting pants.

I won't name any names...

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