Ashlee likes to ‘moo-ve’ it, ‘moo-ve’ it
The talented Waterfall resident adores animals and encourages the youngsters from the Highway area to join her in the young stockmen challenge at the Royal Show this year.
ASHLEE Taylor is the epitome of the perfect lady but can just as easily don a pair of gumboots and go traipsing through the mud with one of her beloved farm animals.
The nine-year-old first took part in the youth show for young stockmen four years ago and absolutely fell in love with the competition. She competes in the junior section, which is for littlies between the ages of three and nine years old.
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The young stockmen contest sees children walking either a calf, goat or sheep around an arena while they are scored by two judges.
“I love working with animals,” said Ashlee. She currently cares for two calves, Chocolate, who is five weeks old and Sweetie, the newest addition to her farm family. She also has three dogs and three cats. “
The calves normally arrive before the competition starts. I like to be there with them and make sure they are okay and settled in,” said the caring Kloof Senior Primary School learner.
Before the competition begins all of the competitors gather and walk their chosen animal around the arena. Once this is over they will head back to the stable area and do prep, which Ashlee said is when she gets the chance to make her calf look pretty. This is followed by arena judging and questions on the Saturday. On the Sunday they will do washing, prep and judged again on a different set of criteria.
“You can choose to walk sheep, goats and cows but I only do cows as it is easier for me. They are so playful and I normally work with ones that aren’t stronger than me so that if they get scared, I can hold them and help them to feel safe.”
Since she first competed she has grown in prowess and confidence and has received numerous certificates and rosettes. Ashlee has a deep knowledge of cows and was eager to impart a few of her favourite facts about the grass-munching animal.
“Did you know that cows only have teeth on the bottom jaw, and at the back of their top jaw and no front teeth at all? They also have four stomachs,” she said.
At school she enjoys art and natural science and hopes to one day be a judge at the Royal Show and possibly become a live stock farmer. When she isn’t doing her schoolwork she can be found watching TV or playing with her friends.
Before the interview was over, Ashlee shared an exciting titbit of information. “After the show, if there is still time, children who have never walked or worked with animals before are also given the opportunity to walk them around the arena,” smiled Ashlee.
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