[plumseverywhere]

A few of you have mentioned using a head collar on your sheep when performing tasks such as dagging etc.
I was wondering where you buy a head collar and how do you get the right size/use it etc? Is it just a simple pony type?
I am trying to be as independent as possible (ie. have to do it all on my own!) so am liking the sound of this 
ps if anyone has any pictures they would be willing to share of a sheep in a headcollar having something done it would be gratefully received so I can get an idea of what I'd be hoping to acheive - thank you!

[kaz]

Could be a head harness as in showing, or a head stand which can be bought from companies like Peasridge, (their trimming stand) but they are quite expensive around the £139 , but I would not be without mine as it is invaluable when working by yourself. I can dag my sheep by putting the stand on a hurdle right in the corner of one of two hurdles so they can't dance around or even stand astride the animal and work upside down basically.
With a harness you will need to tie it tightly against a gate or hurdle to stop the animal moving around.

[SallyintNorth]

I use the soft cotton halter sold in my local agri merchants for use on sheep and calves, yes, just like a pony halter.

Then tie it to a fence or similar, and if you are on your own and need it pinned more than by your knee in behind its shoulder, or this isn't practical for what you're doing, then strap a hurdle along its body to stop it swinging about.

A headgate setup would be more ideal, but the halter-and-knee-or-hurdle works ok.

[Bionic]

The headcollar I have just bought sounds just like the one Sally is talking about. Its for use on sheep or calves. Basically it looks like a bit of soft roap tied in a particular way. Mine cost £3.99 but to be honest it is money for old roap (sorry for the pun). You could get a bit of soft roap and tie one yourself quite easily. 
 
the other Sally

[kaz]

We actually give those harnesses away when we sell a ram at the Ryeland show & sale and have been known to do the same for any ewes sold there as well.
The softer rope ones are better than the proper hemp looking ones which can burn as any rope can. I put mine through the washing machine in an old pillow case when they get a bit dirty (along with raddle harnesses) and they come up as good as new. Don't forget to put the harness on the right way up.

[plumseverywhere]

Thanks everyone - I know the ones you mean, I think I've seen people showing sheep with them, it all makes sense now. I shall do some shopping!!

[jaykay]

I suppose the other possibility, if a simple head rope isn't enough,  is a harness, a bit like people use to walk some big dogs. So it goes round the neck and under the front legs and round the body. Then you'd tie it to the fence.

If you're going to be working on your own now, you might want to consider the breed of sheep you keep?

I moved from Rough Fells (huge hill sheep) to Shetlands for just this reason. I can squish a Shetland into the corner and hold it with my legs while I dag it, and I can just pick them up to sit them on their bottoms. So whilst I completely love Roughs, I couldn't handle them without good sheep handling race/turnover crate which I don't have, whereas dealing with the Shetlands is a pleasure. And they're quite cute and are bucket training well 

[in the hills]

We bought a halter and lead from the Smallholders Show at Builth. Think you would describe it as a type of nylon    - like some dog leads. It cost about £13 and was designed specifically for Soay ewes. They had halters to fit Soay rams and just about everything else, I guess.    They said that if it didnt fit they would alter it free of charge.

[plumseverywhere]

Good point Jaykay.


These are texel crosses - 3 are texelXsuffolks, 1 LleynXtexel and 1 wiltshireXtexel.   All are soppy tame but just very large and muscular! I'm being assured that I don't have to do this alone but me being me, I like to make sure that if I needed to, I still could.


How do you think this one looks?


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tiny-Halter-Welsh-A-Mini-Shetland-Pony-Foal-Sheep-Goat-/120451772639?pt=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item1c0b7c30df#ht_880wt_754

[jaykay]

That's the sort of thing I've got to halter train my sheep  for the shows this summer.

[princesspiggy]

our harbro country store sell them for sheep and cattle etc, for showing etc. just remember when fitting it, it tightens under the jaw not on the nose. 

[YorkshireLass]

Looks okay, make sure the nose piece is long/short enough so that you can adequately tighten underneath the jaw.


Um, let me find a pic!



Where 1 goes round the back of the head, 2 over the nose, and 3 under the jaw. When you're tying yourself in knots to get the halter the right way up, just remember that the nosepiece is the short length between the two knots/rings!



A slightly unconvinced model.... 

[YorkshireLass]

 





You can see that a minimum muzzle size is formed when your two knots/rings meet in the middle of the jaw. Luckily this pup has a chunky nose  [size=78%]  [/size]

[plumseverywhere]

Thank you so much Yorkshire lass!! the pictures are so well detailed so thank you for taking the time to take and post them.
The unconvinced model has made me giggle too 

[goosepimple]