The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Small Farmer on June 06, 2012, 01:48:28 pm

Title: Sheep transport
Post by: Small Farmer on June 06, 2012, 01:48:28 pm
Most onlookers thought they were goats.   I'm guessing they're Zwartbles?
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: Gunnermark on June 06, 2012, 06:23:21 pm
I have seen it all now lol!!!
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: jaykay on June 06, 2012, 06:38:32 pm
They are - how interesting.
Not unheard of for goat wethers to pull carts but never seen sheep doing it before  ;D
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: Fleecewife on June 06, 2012, 06:50:10 pm
I always thought zwartbles were too big for their own good  :innocent:
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: bigchicken on June 06, 2012, 07:05:05 pm
Yes fantastic would love to see this in the flesh, I wonder if they are fully trained or on a lead rein I feel a google coming on.   Baa boys on u tube have a look very strange but fascinating
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: Small Farmer on June 06, 2012, 07:43:56 pm
Saw this in a demonstration at the end of the Herts County show on sunday.  All I gleaned was that it was part of a horse rescue charity which had driven down from Scotland.  The sheep were called This and That


The sheep did indeed pull the cart with a driver, albeit a little reluctantly.  She was also jumping a pony cart, something else I've never seen. 
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: jaykay on June 06, 2012, 07:45:19 pm
Quote
She was also jumping a pony cart

Weird, sounds both uncomfortable to the pony and pointless  :-\
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: Small Farmer on June 06, 2012, 07:55:43 pm
Definitely weird.  OH has found the programme now


Chariots of Fire Display Team (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3beoF3hHxQE#)
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: zwartbles on June 06, 2012, 08:19:02 pm
Well, Fleecewife, as we zwartbles keepers know they are in fact small ponies. Just sheared they resemble black and white quarter-horses. Still taste all right though !!
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: bigchicken on June 06, 2012, 09:01:28 pm
Very disturbed by this film, Brave Brave pony's and stupid people ! Why Why Why. In my eyes this constitutes animal cruelty
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: Mallows Flock on June 06, 2012, 09:02:15 pm
LOL... and I was pleased with my sheep just walking on a dog collar and lead... ! Clever Zwartbles
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: deepinthewoods on June 06, 2012, 09:21:57 pm
Very disturbed by this film, Brave Brave pony's and stupid people ! Why Why Why. In my eyes this constitutes animal cruelty

 
its only what royal horse artillery have done for yonkers.
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: jaykay on June 06, 2012, 09:34:28 pm
Well I suppose once upon a time the horses of the Royal Artillery did have to cope with noise, smoke and fire in battle.
Whether or not it should be used as entertainment is a different matter I think.
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: deepinthewoods on June 06, 2012, 09:40:55 pm
i see your point, but couldnt you easily say the same about horse riding or jumping tho?
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: bigchicken on June 06, 2012, 09:48:39 pm
 
 At one time bull terriers would have to be brave to face a bull. At one time a strong dog would have to be brave to battle with a bear.  Pit bull terriers have to be brave to battle. Bull have to be brave for bullfighting I could go on.  Fire jumping pony's yes that's ok and is very useful for somethink, O its for the entertainment of  people. CRUELTY nothing less
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: jaykay on June 06, 2012, 10:10:00 pm
Quote
I see your point, but couldnt you easily say the same about horse riding or jumping tho?

I've assumed that the ponies/horses are quite frightened of fire and therefore rather a lot of force has gone into making them do what they do - and that they probably remain frightened?

I don't know enough about how horses seem to feel about riding and jumping. Certainly they seem wary at first - do they get to like it or not mind it? I don't know?
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: SallyintNorth on June 07, 2012, 12:10:57 am
Ach, ponies/horses are quite frightened of lots of things - their own shadow, a paper bag, a polythene bag, a stick, a wheelbarrow, tractor, a person in a fluorescent jacket, silage wrap, a balloon - the list is quite literally endless.  They learn through repetition that these things don't hurt them and become calm when passing them.  I would imagine that no coercion but repetitive pressure-and-release type techniques have been used to acclimatise the ponies to the flames, which don't hurt them.  No way would they go through them if they thought they would hurt them.

Generally, horses that have been trained using coercion are pretty bad-tempered and unpredictable.  Not ones I would expect anyone to trust pulling a cart at speed over jumps between flaming poles.

Or perhaps I am all rather rosy-bespectacled about it all...
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: deepinthewoods on June 07, 2012, 08:31:16 am
well i dont think its at all cruel.
more an excellent example of how a true bond of trust can be built between a horse and rider. well done them. good to see old skills being kept alive. :horse:
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: jaykay on June 07, 2012, 08:41:07 am
Quote
true bond of trust can be built between a horse and rider
That's generally how I see horse riding etc. so am happy to believe the horses trust their people enough to overcome their fear of whatever.
Title: Re: Sheep transport
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on June 07, 2012, 10:27:03 am
I think this thread has gorn a bit off topic from sheep transport.... ;D