Author Topic: Horn Training/Shaping? (Read 5219 times)

dokki · « **on:** April 28, 2015, 03:55:47 am »

I have a couple sheep with uneven horns and they drive me crazy! I have been researching ways to shape/train them to grow the way I want, but Ive not been able to find much info on the subject. Just a vague mention here and there. These are not breeding animals, so Im not worried about passing on bad horns. Theyre just my boys who I would like to look a little prettier! Though, one has a horn growing near his face and needs to be dealt with at some point (its been hovering at about an inch away for several years). The other has wide, non curling horns (so far) and they are cockeyed... his face is gorgeous! I want his horns to match his face!

Does anyone know anything about this kind of thing?

Jas

nimbusllama · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2015, 08:20:21 am »

I have no experience of this, but you might like to look at this.....If you google 'bending horn tim tyne' you will see a link to page 174 of the The Sheep Book for Smallholders which might help.....

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2015, 10:21:05 am »

They used to train cattle horns by strapping weights to the tips so they grew evenly but I think sheep would have a lot of fun finding ways to lose them. I chose our current Badger Face tup from a group of six similar ones - the farmer told me he'd never known anyone choose with so little fuss but the clincher for me was that the horns were clearly going to grow fairly wideswept so I wouldn't have to worry about them going into the eyes.

Fleecewife · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2015, 11:26:42 am »

It sounds as if your sheep are mature, and I'm not sure how well reshaping the hornset would be. When they are young, you can soften the horn with a blow torch, apparently, while being VERY careful not to burn the sheep, then reshape as it cools down. I would imagine you would have to repeat that several times. The old fashioned way was to apply a very hot turnip/neep/swede to the out of line horn, then manipulate it while hot and hold it til it cools.
I emphasise that I've never used either of these techniques. Because we breed breeding stock, misplaced horns go in the meat queue.
For the animal with a horn growing inwards towards his eye, if it's stayed static for several years, then it's extremely unlikely to reach his eye. For that situation we would crop the offending end of the horn, but obviously that's not something you would want.

Whatever method you choose, please remember that horns are sensitive, both directly and by pressure, and can be torn completely off. So think very carefully before you subject your boys to this.

Why not just accept that they have quirky horns, which adds to their charm

Treud na Mara · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2015, 12:23:08 pm »

'apply a very hot turnip/neep/swede to the out of line horn'

That conjures such a picture ! I must tell some of my gullible family/friends that I'm going to try this, just so I can watch their faces

Fleecewife · « **Reply #5 on:** April 29, 2015, 03:29:45 pm »

Quote from: Treud na Mara on April 29, 2015, 12:23:08 pm

'apply a very hot turnip/neep/swede to the out of line horn'

That conjures such a picture ! I must tell some of my gullible family/friends that I'm going to try this, just so I can watch their faces

But that is really what they do/did. Mad I know, but safer than the blow torch option.

harmony · « **Reply #6 on:** April 29, 2015, 04:02:06 pm »

Unless there is a need in the best interests of the sheep why bother just because it bothers you? You already said they were gorgeous and lets face it none of us are perfect.

Fleecewife · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2015, 05:07:41 pm »

Quote from: harmony on April 29, 2015, 04:02:06 pm

Unless there is a need in the best interests of the sheep why bother just because it bothers you? You already said they were gorgeous and lets face it none of us are perfect.

My horns are small but perfectly formed