[Rhea]

We've been having problems getting our sheep shorn as early as we would like, so I'm thinking about learning to shear. Problem is, I'm a weedy 5'3" and not that confident with sheep yet so my husband thinks this is the stupidest idea ever (well, second to getting sheep in the first place  )

I've seen a basic crutching course on the BWB site I thought might be a good start, but they don't seem to actually run any, and the other courses seem to have pictures of people who look like semi-professionals having a go.

So.... do you think my husband is right, or could anyone recommend a course that is suitable for such a beginner?

[Dogwalker]

Depends a bit what kind of sheep they are.
Can you turn and hold a sheep to trim feet and dag them.

I'm 5'4" and not huge.
I can do my shetlands and some of the big sheep if they don't wriggle.
My neighbour does my big rams with big horns and my BFL x texel ewe.

[Black Sheep]

A number of people on the forum are interested in learning to blade (hand) shear. The BWMB will put on courses if there is enough demand and are compiling a list of interested parties - it would be worth you contacting them and getting on the list.

[DartmoorLiz]

Short is good.  Less bending to get to the action.  You do need to be a bit strong though.  If you were a 6 footer you'd be bent double and hurting your back to do the job.  I've tried shearing,  its the sort of thing that when you are good you don't have to use your strength so much and its not so bad on the back but when you are learning you need some strength to overcome the sheep's getting into a less than perfect position and then seeing an escape and struggling.  A low centre of gravity means you will be less likely to be thrown off your own feet.  I guess the ideal would be short legs and long arms because you do need to reach around the sheep.  I'll find a link to some stretching exercises you could do to help.


Good luck

[Red Merle]

Your husband is wrong. I am 5ft2 and have done 3 shearing courses and have my wool board bronze award in machine shearing.  People implied I couldn't shear. So I went and did it. 

The mistake I made was doing a course then not shearing for a year. I would do a course at the beginning of the season so you're still competent to shear your own.

Be aware though you say you can't get them done as early as you like, is that because they aren't ready to shear when you're wanting them done? Because that won't make for enjoyable shearing.

If it's because they are ready but the shearers aren't then that would make sense   

[Rhea]

That's the complete opposite of what I thought people were going to say 

Makes sense to learn just before you need to do it, and also gives me a year to practice on them a bit. Will contact thew BWMB later.

As we only have 6 sheep our normal shearer tries to group us together with others in the area to make it worth his while travelling, makes perfect sense but means we're never sure when he'll turn up. For some reason this year he's stopped returning our calls. We've been recommended someone else, but we're now contacting him so late he's booked up until the end of the month.

[Penninehillbilly]

I believe you should wait for the fleece to rise before shearing, is this point of growth obvious?  What are we looking for. I'm presuming say an inch(?)  Of new growth pushes the old fleece away from the body?

[Red Merle]

You'll be shown how to catch a sheep at the course but in the interim if you're going out to handle them to build your confidence you may find these videos helpful.

I tend not to have to push down on the rump as generally all the sheep sit for me just by pulling the head round. Unless it's a big ram.

I wouldn't attempt shearing just off the back of these videos.  It is not as easy as it looks.

https://youtu.be/ZY-QI87fJ6E

[Marti615]

I'd be interested in a shearing course, so can you update if you find something you like?

I absolutely cannot turn my sheep on my own--they are enormous Dorper x Wiltshire horns and overweight (they aren't lambed). I trim hooves standing up like ponies and I shear the same way. However, whenever we've decided we have turn them, it takes two of us to keep them in place!

Like you, I'm small. I'm going to try some smaller sheep next time but small sheep may wiggle more & I'd be very worried about cutting them (with hand or electric shears).

Some of my sheep lose their fleece themselves (mostly, not all, you always have to get off a little bit). I've used hand shears and they are really great (and they aren't noisy!) but wear gloves or you'll get blisters. Again, the most important thing is that the skin not get caught. By June my sheep's fleece has "lifted" so you can easily cut the fibres and not the skin. That isn't the case earlier in the year or around their necks where the wool stays close to the skin.

The sheep in the photo is really easy to "roo" by hand. As you can see, I've been slowly working on her. I have a video of rooing her if you are interested. My sheep REALLY hate to have their wool pulled so you have to be gentle, take little bits at a time, and scratch them where they itch if you really want them to like being roo'ed. This is practical for pet owners like me but I wouldn't begin to try this on a proper flock of sheep, LOL!

Again, please post if you find a good course!

[Me]

BWMB courses are very good. Cost circa £190 for two days, I would advise you had a basic level of fitness before going, I did and it was still very sore