What is said and what is done are two different things
'Straight off the hill' is clearly open to a wide variety of interpretations.
We never washed ours - it spoils the look of the fleece, although the face and legs can be washed. I don't think anyone does that, but they do give a bit of a judicious trim under the belly or any other straggly bits. Definitely don't brush or comb the fleece - it's a disqualifying mistake.
Hand shear, as I know you intend to do. Some showers shear very early in the year, but we found that hand shearing goes through the rise anyway, so they have a good covering of fleece. However, as yours are mature ewes with lambs at foot they will not be shorn, as you say. Sometimes the fleece will be matted and will start to lift - just leave it be, but ask Jeff or Vicky or any of the old hands what they advise. Anyone will help and support you in your first show.
It can be a good idea to oil the horns with a
clear horse hoof product a few times in the run-up to the show, but no closer than a week before or they just look plastic. Some people use black polish, not advised as your white coat will rapidly become black, and your naughty secret will be out.
The old hands will be seen spraying an oil/water mix onto the fleece to make it blacker, but that can come back and bite you, as I've seen sheep with a wet fleece disqualified
. Maybe wipe over the fleece with a clear oily rag to give it a bit of a gloss.
Although Hebs at the Highland are supposed to be shown off the halter I have a feeling this may have changed in the last year or so as the judges up from England are scared of the mayhem which can result. It's great fun though, the odd bust up between tups, or trying to catch up your sheep after they've run free
. It's worth halter training your ewes, if only to make it easier to get them from the pen to the ring.
A general tip is to get there well before time on show day, or you'll be stuck in traffic for an hour and miss the show. Unless you're staying over when it's not a problem.
The show provides haylage which is usually good quality but one year had huge patches of mould once the bales were open - collect your supply early or it will all be gone. One year we had to take in water and grass/wild plants for our sheep as they wouldn't touch the stuff the show provided and their sides collapsed in.
I think I've covered everything, but there is a 'Guide to showing' somewhere on the website.