Author Topic: Sheep shearing stool (Read 5055 times)

bigchicken · « **on:** January 08, 2011, 11:27:39 pm »

Has anyone used or seen used a sheep shearing stool saw a picture of one in Katy Croppers book and thought it might be a usefull piece of equipment.

Fleecewife · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2011, 01:10:21 am »

You move around so much when shearing that I would think you wouldn't have time to sit on a stool

The Aussies use a suspended belt which helps to take the weight but allows you to move around. The only time I do use a stool is if I'm roo'ing using the 'small clump at a time' method, which takes ages, so sitting is essential then.

kanisha · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2011, 07:34:20 am »

I shear all my sheep sitting on a stool but they are small sheep I actually find it very helful and I move the sheep but I guess it would depend on what size sheep you were shearing.

bigchicken · « **Reply #3 on:** January 09, 2011, 03:43:59 pm »

The stool I am talking about is for the sheep as well as the person and was a well used method in many parts of the country when hand shearing was all the go. I have seen pictures some are slatted and some are sollid and are more pointed at one end than the other in the shape of a v. some are just table shaped and a little concave.

kanisha · « **Reply #4 on:** January 09, 2011, 03:49:35 pm »

I found a link to a picture of one http://valcorbettphotography.com/gallery/list/category/farming-and-environment/ scroll down until you get to handshearing a herdwick

bigchicken · « **Reply #5 on:** January 09, 2011, 04:05:50 pm »

Thats it well done. now has any one ever used one or know any old shepherds that used one.

VSS · « **Reply #6 on:** January 10, 2011, 01:37:12 pm »

Most of the old welsh shepherds used to use a stool before machine clipping took off.

bigchicken · « **Reply #7 on:** January 10, 2011, 10:32:37 pm »

Thats right they were used thoughout the country all be it in slightly differing forms. I have seen documents that tell of shearing stools being used in Cumbria, Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Now Wales, Must have been lots of them about at one time. I am going to make a shearing stool and try it out. I hand sheer my sheep and really enjoy hand shearing much better that the modern method in my oppinion. I feel much more of a connection to the sheep. It would be good to have seen one in action so I could learn the technique.