The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Blinkers on July 05, 2011, 10:53:21 am
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Well, I've decided to have a go at showing a Sheep :o :o I've had a lesson in how to hold it, how to stand it, how to lead it, how to tidy it up, how to trim its tail and its face............and I've actually just posted off my entry - and now I'm getting excited/scared/worried all at the same time, and the show isn't until the end of the month :P
Any futher tips gratefully received ;D ;D
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No idea.... find a nice white coat, and have fun :D
Might be an idea after the class, if judges/other exhibitors have time, to ask for some feedback? Show you're keen and all that?
Good luck and let us know how you go on :sheep:
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Where are you going to?
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Thanks Yorkshirelass ;)
VSS - well for starters - Cardigan as its local.....and then I thought maybe Pembs County :o :o ACtually I've just been reminded that there is a good section in your hubby's book (My Bible) about showing - so need to go and have a read ;D ;D
Off to the countrystore to get a white coat and a decent halter tomorrow :D and did a bit of halter/leadrein training with a couple of Ewes today ;D
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Pembrokeshire is a pretty big show - but a really good ryeland turnout. Have the entries not closed?
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Entries close this Saturday......and I'm taking a Greyface Dartmoor ;D ;D I thought I'd be less conspicuous ;)
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That's crafty! What about your Ryelands? The people who show them won't bite, they love a bit of friendly competion and are extremely helpful.
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Entries close this Saturday......and I'm taking a Greyface Dartmoor
::)
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That's crafty! What about your Ryelands? The people who show them won't bite, they love a bit of friendly competion and are extremely helpful.
Coward, that's me. ::) I'm thinking I won't turn mine out as beautifully as them, so thought I'd just stay incognito in the background. Once I've got used to what's what, who does what, what goes where, etc etc.....I'll bring out a Ryeland ;)
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Good luck with your showing Blinkers! It really is great and exhausting fun. At least with pigs it is, haven't been to any shows with our sheep yet this year.
Allison
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Good luck, it's sooo much fun, we've got the New Forest Show soon. I just love it, they've laid on a stockman's dinner for the first time this year.
I think they've Just realised we all get hungry!!
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Fair play blinkers and the very best of luck to you ;D ;D.......do let us know how you get on :sheep:
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That's crafty! What about your Ryelands? The people who show them won't bite, they love a bit of friendly competion and are extremely helpful.
Coward, that's me. ::) I'm thinking I won't turn mine out as beautifully as them, so thought I'd just stay incognito in the background. Once I've got used to what's what, who does what, what goes where, etc etc.....I'll bring out a Ryeland ;)
Try the Tivyside show next year. That is a small show and probably an ideal one to start with the Ryelands as it is not too far from yourselves, also try searching for Ryeland show etiquette as quite a good article written by a Ryeland shower on what the judges are looking for.
Best of luck anyway and expect to see you showing them Ryelands later on.
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Awwww... thanks guys ;D and I certainly will let you know how I get on {{gulp}}. I've now sent off my entry for Pembs County Show too.....with a little note inside apologising if I've got anything wrong....talk about confusing....adding in the AML1 forms too :-\ :-\ etc etc.
Kaz - thanks ever so for that tip - I will DEFO look out for that show and make it my first Ryeland show ;) .... maybe I'll even have a decent lamb out of 'Karen' (sorry, we had to call her that :D :D :D) and will be able to enter him/her. I've got a copy on the PC somewhere about Showing Etiquette, written by the Masters ;) ;D and am going to dig that out too as it may be useful for these first ones.
I've now got my new white coat ::) ::) and even got away with a Child's Large size{{laughing}} and also a new sparkling white halter as my others are somewhat.....ummm....discoloured.
Watching the post every morning now for my.......whatever 8) 8) 8)...tickets/entry passes
Getting nervous now {{take another sip of wine}}
:sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep:
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Practice with the sheep, getting him/her to stand nicely. I say this from the humiliation of not being able to hold my badly behaved shearling once ;)
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i am surprised that you have not been overwhelmed with advice other than coat halter and getting them to stand correctly handle them as much as possible some can be led with your hand under there chin
your aml 1 should go with you and your sheep on the day do you have an approved isolation facility :sheep: :farmer:
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i am surprised that you have not been overwhelmed with advice other than coat halter and getting them to stand correctly handle them as much as possible some can be led with your hand under there chin
your aml 1 should go with you and your sheep on the day do you have an approved isolation facility :sheep: :farmer:
Yep - been shown how to hold them under the chin - never knew about that little trick ;). Isolation unit for pigs only. Would I need one for the occasional show, or is it a 'must'? They asked for the AML forms to go with the entry "to speed things up" :-\ :-\ :o
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The AML form has to travel in the vehicle with you and the animals.
An isolation unit is only necessary if you want to avoid standstills from each show you attend.
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my understanding of the isolation unit it is a separate facility within the main unit when animals are within that unit the rest of your stock is not subject to shut down only the animals contained in that facilityare subject to 6 days standstill you cant just invent an isolation unit you have to apply and be approved and have the paperwork confirming such
like other legislation this COULD vary from area to area again this is only the interpretation of the written words contained within the documents sent following approval :farmer:
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Kaz - thanks ever so for that tip - I will DEFO look out for that show and make it my first Ryeland show ;) .... maybe I'll even have a decent lamb out of 'Karen' (sorry, we had to call her that :D :D :D) and will be able to enter him/her. I've got a copy on the PC somewhere about Showing Etiquette, written by the Masters ;) ;D and am going to dig that out too as it may be useful for these first ones.
Had a couple of real nice ewe lambs out of Karen's sister Kate this year.
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I am having a try out with my Black Welsh Mountains for the first time at Cardigan as well so you won't be alone among the first timers. Shown cattle before but never sheep and the training is feeling really strange at the moment. Also doing Fishguard and Pembroke County but avoiding Martletwy because a very kind judge has taken pity on me and invited me to stand in the ring with him and listen to explanations about why he is placing each sheep where. Not sure how many breeds they will judge at the same time at Cardigan but maybe we can wave at each other. Hmmm I'm getting nervous now just thinking about it :)
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Oh weyhey - great stuff Fronhaul - will defo have to keep a look out for each other. I've got the Fishguard Schedule here, and not made up my mind yet - but maybe I'll go for it now that I know a TAS person is also gonna be there ;D
robbert waddell - yeah, we have an isolation unit for the pigs as we have a boar who moves on and off and we have weaners going off very often too - so all official in that department. We won't be doing any back-to-back showing with the sheep, so don't think I'll worry about an isolation unit for the sheeps at this stage ;)
Kaz - sadly, Karen was GOT AT by my Lleyn Ram who busted throught the wooden gate and made a bee line for her last October....despite the Ryeland Ram being in there too.....who looked on rather sadly :-\ We were just in the middle of swapping rams around to put them with their respective little gangs of wives, only Po decided he wasn't going to wait (devil). Don't have the Lleyns anymore as much prefer the woolley sheep.....although the shearer doesnt {{{snigger snigger}}}. Fingers crossed for next year ::)
Fleecewife - the AML stuff was a rather odd arrangement, so maybe I've misunderstood.....but no doubt they'll ring or send it back if I've got it wrong. I'm going to take another set with me to be on the safe side.
Did a bit more lead rein training yesterday. The ewe I'm going to show is doing quite well, but her mate whom I'm taking along as a companion, isn't quite so keen and seems to spend a lot of time either with all 4 feet way up in the air or else lying down on the ground :sheep: :sheep:
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Yes your isolation unit is necessary if you want to prevent a 6 day shutdown form moving animals off your holding. not a problem if you get back from a show then don't move anything for 6 days. We use it because we sometimes have shows very close together and also need to keep taking our stock to market. ( the animals within the unit are not shut down for 6 days)
The isolation unit has to be approved via your vet who sends the forms to DEFRA, these units need to be separated from other stock ie; no stock that can touch nose to nose through a fence and you should have a change of clothes there for dealing with the stock in them.
Sometimes as in the case of ours, the unit has a separate holding number.
Your AML1 form should travel with you and your sheep on the day as this has a arrival and departure time on it.
Don't worry if it's your first time everyone will be fairly chilled about it and will soon put you right.
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Tivyside show on this weekend if you want to have a look. I know there is Ryelands there so if you get time it might be worth a look to see how well trimmed up they are. I think the judging is at 11.00. Can't make it myself as son coming this weekend to do some tasks I haven't been able to and can't put him off as he has been trying to come for the last 3 months to help.
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Cool - thanks Kaz. I've just given someone your phone number. They're looking for Coloured Ryelands and I've already sold more than I intended ::) ::) and I've just got two Ram Lambs left that I'm going to register as both are good, good mouths and lovely fleeces already as by a cracking ram who won wool on the hoof a couple of years ago. ;)
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If you see a mad fat female with two small black sheep (a shearling ewe and a ram lamb) and possibly a shearling Jacob ram if his head heals after a butting match come and yell at me. David Thomas the small flock shearer has bravely agreed to come along if husband chickens out (and he hates shows so probably will). Cardigan is a trial run for me and I am beginning to think I must be completely bonkers bearing in mind the ram lamb wasn't really handled until two weeks ago but I am assured that practice for him this season will stand him in good stead for next. I know I need the practice that is for sure!
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If you see a mad fat female with two small black sheep (a shearling ewe and a ram lamb) and possibly a shearling Jacob ram if his head heals after a butting match come and yell at me. David Thomas the small flock shearer has bravely agreed to come along if husband chickens out (and he hates shows so probably will). Cardigan is a trial run for me and I am beginning to think I must be completely bonkers bearing in mind the ram lamb wasn't really handled until two weeks ago but I am assured that practice for him this season will stand him in good stead for next. I know I need the practice that is for sure!
;D ;D ;D Snap, my hubbys not keen either, but will still be there although may disappear after the class as there will be a lot of hanging around ..... which he doesn't do ::) ::). Trial run for me too. I've entered the same ewe AND a Ram lamb for Pembs and he hasn't had a hand put on him yet other than to vaccinate him twice and worm him......so probably not gonna be keen to be caught up. I did a bit more practicing today and we're getting a bit better, although she's still difficult to catch, but then again, as long as she doesn't escape from the pen, I shouldn't have to worry about that ;D ;D
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Did you manage Tivyside today?
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We've decided to take a supplementary flock book, ram lamb to the RFB show & sale. Should be interesting as haven't taken anything there for years and are probably going to show him. ::) ::)
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Did you manage Tivyside today?
Sadly no, we took advantage of the sudden dry warm day to catch up on some jobs that were oerdue following the last 5 days of wet ::) Did you go?
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No couldn't make it as son came up from Cardiff to tag my lambs as couldn't do it myself because I'm still awaiting physio on my hand, (it's got degeneration) so can't grip the tagger tight enough without causing the lambs anymore pain thean necessary.
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I am having a try out with my Black Welsh Mountains for the first time at Cardigan as well so you won't be alone among the first timers. Shown cattle before but never sheep and the training is feeling really strange at the moment. Also doing Fishguard and Pembroke County but avoiding Martletwy because a very kind judge has taken pity on me and invited me to stand in the ring with him and listen to explanations about why he is placing each sheep where. Not sure how many breeds they will judge at the same time at Cardigan but maybe we can wave at each other. Hmmm I'm getting nervous now just thinking about it :)
OK Fronhaul, have now entered Fishguard too....and so doing the same 3 shows as you and hopefully should see you at at least one of them ;D ;D Mind you, a lot depends on haymaking ::) ::) How's the training going?
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OK, tomorrows the BIG day ;D :sheep: :sheep: Trailer is loaded with all the bits n pieces that MIGHT be needed as well as those that WILL be needed - except the sheep that is. Been practicing the 'leading' malarky and the girl in question is coming along albeit somewhat reluctantly - I;m just hoping I can get inbetween other people in the hopes she walks out a bit more ::). Been snipping here and there, but am informed that Dartmoors aren't washed and preened, just tidied up :D suits me :farmer: Weather forcast is continuing lovely weather and so OH will no doubt drop me, the girls and the trailer off at the show ground and then have to come back and carry on hayturning (we cut last Saturday), but hopefully he'll be able to take a few pics at some point. Will keep you posted.
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Bon Chance :)
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Bon Chance :)
Merci beaucoup :wave:
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Have a good day, enjoy and keep an eye out for the ryelands. Best of luck. ;D
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Have a good day, enjoy and keep an eye out for the ryelands. Best of luck. ;D
I'll definately go check out the Ryelands whilst I'm there ;) :sheep:
Cheers Kaz :wave:
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So how did it go? I bet everyone was friendly and willing to help and that you are now exhausted, as it can seems quite a long day when doing anything like that.
Are you taking anything to Ludlow this year?
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Well, we had a fantastic day at Cardigan Show yesterday. Not only was the weather perfect - blue skies, lovely and warm but with a gentle breeze, but the location is simply stunning too. We set off early and were probably about the 3rd sheepy people to arrive, and were surrounded by lots and lots of empty pens. However by 9.30am there was a constant stream of vehicles and trailers off loading sheep of all colours, shapes, sizes, breeds and ages and all those pens very quickly filled up and people all around were snipping away with their dagging shears, polishing horns, spraying ??something onto the faces....not sure what, could have been water, :-\.. and busily titivating their sheep. Our girls were to be shown 'naturally' so didn't have to worry about too much fussing over ours (although we were only showing one, as the other one had just come along as companion :D). All of sudden the classes seemed to commence all around us and I donned my new white coat and put my number on ready. We were in a class of 4 ewes in the Rare and Minority Breeds and against 2 Coloured Ryelands and a little Balwen. Much deliberation by the judge and lots of inspecting and we were called in 2nd. Absolutely overjoyed with this result and grinned from ear to ear. Steward then told us to be ready to come back fairly soon for the Championship. I didn't understand that one at all. Why would we come back when we were a 2nd place???? Anyway about 20 mins later we were called back and asked to wait on the sidelines. I then got to probe the steward a bit more and he explained that if the one that was placed 1st in my class was given the Champion, then one of the other 1st placers would automatically be picked as Reserve. But, if one of the others was placed 1st then I would be put into the line-up too. Hmmmmm.....oh well, we stood and watched more deliberation and then the judge made her decision and placed the Ram as Champion. She then turned to me and indicated to me to join the line up. After what seemed like only a few moments, she came over and gave us RESERVE - OMG - so excited. The judge clearly liked her and in fact said "she's beautiful and has a lovely top line". WELL, what a result. We're clearly hooked now and can't wait for the next show, although we do realise that the next judge may take one look and think she's rubbish ;D ;D but that's their choice and decision. Brilliant, brilliant day. :sheep: :love: :sheep: :love::sheep: :love: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :wave:
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So how did it go? I bet everyone was friendly and willing to help and that you are now exhausted, as it can seems quite a long day when doing anything like that.
Are you taking anything to Ludlow this year?
I can't tell you how helpful people were and came and gave us lots of help and advice and tips and then came and congratulated us afterwards. Spoke to Penny Mee whom I understand is your 'judge' at your first probationary show ;) She was great and made us feel very welcome.
The general public were amazing. We had sooooooo many people come up and ask about the sheep. They were clearly a hit because of their very curly fleeces and little black noses :sheep:.
Not entering anything for Ludlow, but wouldn't mind going along to view and actually could do with another white Tup this year......not that Hywel will ever leave here, unless his feet are in the air ::) but do need another blood line now. How about you?
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Taking a coloured ram lamb this year he is out of two white parents, one being Dolwen Kaiser, trouble is we have to leave here about 5.30 to get to Ludlow as it is all windy roads. Everything has to be penned by 8.30. Don't know how many will be there, but have entered him to show so that could be interesting.
So you met Pennie Mee. She's great and an ideal person to go out on my first judging expedition. ;D
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Oh forgot. Well done on your first time out showing. Hope it continues.
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Not entering anything for Ludlow, but wouldn't mind going along to view and actually could do with another white Tup this year......not that Hywel will ever leave here, unless his feet are in the air ::) but do need another blood line now.
You should go to Ludlow - you will not see such range and choice of Ryelands and Coloured Ryelands anywhere else. There is usually something for every budget.
Good social occasion too and a great opportunity to meet breeders form all over the UK.
Am I selling this to you????
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Talking about showing my Ryeland, anyone know someone who can card & trim him properly for me, or he'll have to have a harum scarum hairdo. Not really the thing for the RFBS show & sale. at Ludlow. :D :D
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Talking about showing my Ryeland, anyone know someone who can card & trim him properly for me, or he'll have to have a harum scarum hairdo. Not really the thing for the RFBS show & sale. at Ludlow. :D :D
Personally I'd go for the harum scarum - will show your individuality ;D
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Not entering anything for Ludlow, but wouldn't mind going along to view and actually could do with another white Tup this year......not that Hywel will ever leave here, unless his feet are in the air ::) but do need another blood line now.
You should go to Ludlow - you will not see such range and choice of Ryelands and Coloured Ryelands anywhere else. There is usually something for every budget.
Good social occasion too and a great opportunity to meet breeders form all over the UK.
Am I selling this to you????
I'd love to go - its just the time factor thing.......but I'm workin' on it ;)
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Talking about showing my Ryeland, anyone know someone who can card & trim him properly for me, or he'll have to have a harum scarum hairdo. Not really the thing for the RFBS show & sale. at Ludlow. :D :D
Personally I'd go for the harum scarum - will show your individuality ;D
It will match me than probably at that time of the morning.
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Very well done Blinkers. I am so jealous but the hay had to come first and we were baling and frantically trying to beat the rain. I guess 560 bales sitting snugly in the barn makes up for it a little but I am still upset I missed it. Going to try for Fishguard on Friday and hope nothing else happens in the meantime.
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Very well done Blinkers. I am so jealous but the hay had to come first and we were baling and frantically trying to beat the rain. I guess 560 bales sitting snugly in the barn makes up for it a little but I am still upset I missed it. Going to try for Fishguard on Friday and hope nothing else happens in the meantime.
Ohhhh....Fronhaul, I kept wondering if you were there - but yep, hay MUST come first. Will defo see you at Fishguard then ;D ;D ;D ..... and I've even just bought two dinky little jute jackets for my two ::) :D :D
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Third with one of mine and nothing with the other but I learnt a lot. And next time I move black and white sheep to a show in the same trailer one or the other is going to have to wear show coats. Picking white hairs out of a black sheep is not my favourite pastime.
Pembroke next. Now that is going to be seriously scarey but I have to say I am looking forward to it.
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Picking white hairs out of a black sheep is not my favourite pastime.
And vice versa ;)
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Snap - we got a 3rd too.......bu then again there were only 3 in the clasee ;D ;D ;D The Ram Lamb barely got a glance from the judge, but then again, they amalgamated us little Lowland Breeds with the SUFFOLKS :o :o :o, so wacking great big bruisers of Ram Lambs - ::) ::) - very nice though, even if I do say so myself. Like you Fronhaul, we learned more and got some great tips from a lovely lad who breeds Llanwenogs.
See you at Pembrokeshire :wave: :wave:
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I cheated so the other way round didn'tmatter VSS. The other breed I had in the trailer was a Jacob. Jacobs appear to be like pointers - they only shed white onto dark colours. Or is my life just a mass of conficting animals hair colours. Pembroke will be a different matter because I think the Shropshires are coming in the trailer with the blacks.