This Year has proven to be one of the most challenging years for me personally within the SAGPS. The agenda's of individuals can so often stifle the achievement of the targeted goals within the SAGPS.
These are a few or part of the bigger frustrations that are real on a daily basis, that need to be accepted and planned around going forward, without loosing the momentum of the club as it grows into the next decade. The 2015 Judges Course
This month we kick off with the 2015 Judges course which will be leading into our first SAGPS show for 2015. The judges course is divided into two training sessions; first being the self and non self, agouti and the second Rough and long coat with written exams and a practical exam for both. These sessions spread over the whole of March. It is not without a sense of conviction that one runs this type of course, with so many questions and comparisons to international standards with an overwhelming feeling that we are not as qualified, or as legit as the overseas judges and their intense years of training courses. I think if we look back to the original idea behind starting the SAGPS and the values for instance like: no elite judges panel; general knowledge to be shared amongst breeders and judges alike; getting rid of levels of hierarchy that causes so much unnecessary politics. So what does this have to do with actual judging? Well I say everything. The best way to learn to judge is to actually judge. Touch, look and see, feel the animal. Theory can only take you so far. I have seen so many times, judges doing well in theory and when actually coming into the judges space to judge actually are clueless. Open up the channels and allow judges and Judge/breeder alike to explore and learn the definitions of great type, texture and density. It is only through multiple experiences and after a few years that judges really get an understanding of the different breeds. Remembering that at SAGPS it is essential to judge the cavies with not only a silent opinion, however the vocal expression of the thoughts of judges as they go over the cavy are essential to the success of the SAGPS ethos of judging methods. Interaction without persuasion is also encouraged from the owners of the cavies. Remembering always to respect the final decision of the judge and allow for their opinion to actually challenge rather than demotivate owners. Well, looking forward to the judges course, I do hope that this blog motivates and helps prepare candidates for this wonderful experience. What an exciting 2015 show season that lies ahead, we have the possibility of three international judges coming to South Africa to judge our pigs! What an incredible achievement.
I was sharing the story with some acquaintances, and as I was sharing it actually dawned on me on exactly how great it actually is for such a new society to have the input of one international judge let alone the possibility of three. This year will bring the largest variety of breeds to the show bench. Well looking forward to 2015 and with the introduction of Junior pig of the year... so much more fun. This is an invitation to all to join us, I almost forgot the judges course for 2015.... we will be training five new judges and up-skilling all our existing judges. 2014 was a difficult year for SAGPS as it experienced in the beginning of the year a massive split, it seems so long ago that one can bearly remember the reasons behind it, yet it has happened and SAGPS survived and I believe is stronger than ever.
SAGPS has experienced a small growth in members locally, but we can say "quality" is much better than quantity, and thats exactly what we have experienced a small but quality growth in members for 2014. Internationally we have grown strong with Travis in USA, Pierce in Canada and Rita in Germany, and again what quality people to have on our side. As I write this it still saddens me that people will always find reason to justify agenda, but hey that is the way of the world. My hope for 2015 is that we put the Guinea Pig first and keep it there no matter what. The one basic rule we have at the "SAGPS" is that noone talks behind another members back, and it still happens regardless, that we claim to belong to a society that has ethics yet as a member we do not adhere to the one simple basic rule. I want to encourage all SAGPS members when looking for that new years resolution.... "think of our one basic rule" lets try harder in 2015 to applying this rule. The show season this year has been "wicked" what an awesome year for the long coated pigs in SA! Winning pig of the year 2014 is Kim Lyrix a Alpaca tri-colour sow, bred by Kim a friend of mine in the UK, and shown by one of our Judges Angelique. This sow really deserved the win, as she was well shown and always well presented. The runner up is my own pig Jara Lord Geldorf of Geldaline a chocolate and white Peruvian boar. The interesting thing about this boar he is the son of SA Grand Champion Jara Sir Lancelot 2010 & 2011 SAGPS pig of the year, so really great for Jara Cavies. In third place is SA Champion Jara Carsynthia a fantastic agouti tri-colour Peruvian sow, bred by myself but wonderfully shown and exhibited by member/Judge Stacy. Pet of the year went to "Bubbles". 2014 also brought about an article representing us in Media through "Animal Talk" thank you again guys you really have been wonderful all the way. In 2014 SAGPS also experienced the launch of a new club "Skinny Jim Cavy Club" SJCC. They held their first show and what a great show it was. Well 2014 what a great year and if 2015 is anything the same, I do believe that SAGPS will be one of the all time "great" "54" clubs to belong to. 2015 launches the 7th Edition of the Breed standard here in SA, and also a new judges training course.Very exciting with lots of new learner judges playing an active part in the process. Cannot wait to get started! So I would like to in this blog extend my warmest thanks to each and every member of the SAGPS and their support. A special thanks to my friend and Chairlady of SAGPS, Roberta for an excellent job well done. Thankyou In 2008 I established the Guinea Pig judges forum in South Africa. With being introduced at the early age of 13 to the show world of animals and being a cat judge myself, it was quiet easy to identify what I did not want to recreate. That was another extended self important group of people with the exclusivity of knowing more about Guinea Pigs than anyone else. Much like I had grown up with, which over time the exclusivity of judges and their bearing silent secret opinions on the very animal that you love was simply a load of bullshit.
So the Guinea Pig Judges forum is for everyone “the Community” of breeders themselves. The ones paying the money to feed their beloved pets, the very ones that in other societies would be sitting waiting anxiously for the “opinion” from the great expensive to fly “expert”, almost like another form of church, only this time the preacher was or is the “judge” and the one you wanted to go home with was not the “son of the preacher man” but his opinion of who is Best in Show! My response is and always will be “Oh hell to the No”. It’s the community that has the interest and why should the community breeders not be trained to have the knowledge to judge and compare everyone of the Guinea Pigs at the show? It is with this self empowerment and developing of everyone in the community that creates respect for how each and every individual judges, with their personality flaws being displayed in their judging and the excelerated personal development in understanding type and fairness when coming to having to evaluate the communities Guinea Pigs and themselves in the bigger picture. Being accountable for what you doing with your opinion being counted publically as a breeder! So has this idea worked? Well I still go to the shows 34 years later and the same people are there. Its always great to see them, but it’s the same people year after year sitting in the darkness waiting for a decision from a complete stranger, who someone sitting at the side of one of those rings is taking to the Krugar Park next week after the show weekend for an all expenses paid experience. Without accountability, as just as the stranger with his silent opinion arrived so will he/she leave… in silence! And some fools are left standing on the side of the ring completely in the dark as to why they lost. The community judging the community does not only allow for discussion and friction, but this enables bonding and growth and the result of a “real” experience. Yes there are risks, but in making a list of the above proposed way versus the traditional way, leaves one wondering are the risks really risks or simply “life”. The average age at our shows in South Africa is late 20’s, the average human age at the societies still doing it the old colonial way? I rest my case. i was born on a farm so I never remember purchasing my first animal,
I do however remember having many. It was only later as a teenager that I started in the show world with dogs, then moved onto Cats becoming a judge. It was in these places at times in my life that I started to question the motivation for people to own animals, which in turn is a question I asked myself way too late in life. Societies split, countless dog registers, three cat societies and two Guinea Pig societies in South Africa. Not that I am suggesting that this is a bad thing or a good one for that matter. But it is through relationships with people that we grow and develop. The animals bring us together. At some point there was an emotion that drove the connection between the animal and person, and we all share in that same emotion, bringing together like minded and interested people. Every person carries pain. guaranteed, and without condition, or too many conditions? Numerous times I have heard "I am not here for the people... but the animals". This astounding comment leaves me breathless and wondering if the person saying it, has any idea of what they are saying? One question. How would there be animals without people? If we are truly committed to the animal (well being and survival) we have to extend ourselves far and beyond our comfort zones, this includes allowing people around us to grow and discovery there own ideas with owning the same animal that I have chosen, without judgement or transferal of self opinion, but rather choosing the gentle option of coaching and transferring my experiences with love (YES Love!) What are we without love? What are we without our animals? So what I am proposing here? How can we claim to love animals if we have no self love or love to give others? If your answer is still I don't need people I have my animals... This is an impossible and dangerous notion that we would choose, leaving destruction and harm to the very animal we set out to love. So the question remains... Did you really love the animal from the start or was the purchase for another reason, a reason to perhaps fill a painful gap instead of seeking a good life coach... The choice of an innocent animal and the local society that promoted its well being will all got to destruct in the wake of the simple avoidance of dealing with your own shit! There has been so much debate on the "RIGHT" age to breed a sow.
We have been told in no uncertain terms... she must be bred with by 6 months or she will die of fused pelvis... I decided to start testing the theory myself... I suggest that you breed your sow at the proper age of 8-11 months old, when they are well developed and a good weight in proportion to their size. The concept of a fused pelvis known as dystocia is more than likely a myth. The pelvis does not fuse in mature and older sows, it stiffens making first delivery at over the age of one year more of a difficult birthing process. Difficult births are very common and more likely to occur in over weight sows. When breeding your sow at a younger age you will have a whole new set of complications, for instance weaker babies, size loss, slow development rate ect. Both in overweight and young sows the difficulty in birth may well result in death. It is important to balance your breeding programme and ensure that you are more than comfortable with the mating date of your sow. Boars should be bred with from the age of 7 months or older. |
AuthorI am the co founder of the South African Guinea Pig Society (SAGPS) and the founder of the SAGPR (register). My passion for Guinea Pigs goes far and beyond Reason... I ask you be unreasonable with me! Archives
May 2021
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