Preparing your Sheep for Showing Season
- 12 Mar 2025
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Show season is well and truly on us, and many of us will be starting to get our sheep show ready. Not only do you want your prize ewe to look its best, you also want to highlight its best qualities.
Preparing the wool for showing is an art and can be perfected through trial and error. Everybody has their preferred way of preparing their sheep but here are some tips we have found.
Timescale
- 4 weeks before the show - wash your sheep
- 7-10 days before the show- card and trim your sheep
- 4 days before the show- wash sheep legs and face, and spray the legs white
- Show day - finishing touching with spray, carding brush and dagging shears
Washing
Begin by washing your sheep with white shampoo and warm water. Do this around a month before the sheep show to allow their coat to dry naturally. Make sure you wash them thoroughly to get rid of any deep dirt.
Carding and Trimming
A week to ten days before the sheep showing, card your sheep hard all over, making sure you get every curl and fibre. Damp the wool with water and card again. This will make the wool ‘fluffy’ and ready for trimming.
When it comes to trimming, most people find it best to use dagging shears. This makes a more defined cut. Press the dagging shears down onto firm wool to keep the shape you want in the end. Trim little by little to make sure you don’t cut off too much. The key to trimming is not how much you cut off; it’s how much you leave on. The aim of trimming is to make the sheep as wide and broad as possible, and you can use their wool to create the desired shape. You may need to card and trim two or three times before you get a good ‘face’ on the wool.
The Finishing Touches
Once you’ve created your desired shape, wash the legs and face, ensuring they’re clean. Then, spray the legs with white or black spray to cover any stains or marks, making them stand out.
A few days before the show, go back over your sheep making sure the desired shape is still intact and the legs are white. You may want to spray the sheep again.
Showing Shopping List
Having the right tools is essential to ensure your sheep looks its best in the show. The following products will help you get your sheep show-ready:
- White Showing Coat
- Dagging Shears
- White/black Spray
- Carding Brushes
- Shampoo / Coat Wash
- Sheep halter
Once you’ve created your desired shape, wash the legs and face, making sure they’re clean. Then, spray the legs with white or black spray to cover any stains or marks, making them stand out.
A few days before the show, go back over your sheep making sure the desired shape is still intact and the legs are white. You may want to spray them again.
Resources-
https://ssgf.uk/exhibitors/beginners-guide-to-showing-sheep/
https://www.clunforestsheep.org.uk/showing-tips.html#
https://www.smallholder.co.uk/news/833600.showing-sheep-a-beginners-guide/
Shop Showing Essentials
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Razor Cordless Sheep Clippers£270.00 £225.00available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Lister Skorpion HandpieceSpecial Price £357.60 £298.00 Was £370.80 £309.00available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Lister R15 Clipper Oil - 250ml£8.71 £7.26available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Burgon & Ball Serrated Footrot Shear£33.00 £27.50 Price from: £30.36available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Burgon & Ball Supersharp Footrot Shear£14.76 £12.30available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Jakoti Hand Shears£39.24 £32.70available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Burgon & Ball Single Bow Sheep Shears£30.60 £25.50available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Burgon & Ball Double Bow Dagging Sheep Shears£28.80 £24.00available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Heiniger Evo 3 Speed Motor Only£633.43 £527.86available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Horner Knucklesaver Screwdriver£7.80 £6.50available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Lister R15 Clipper Oil 500ml£12.22 £10.18available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Shearcordless 2 (3 Batteries)£333.60 £278.00available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
B&B Super Sharp Foot Rot Shear Serrated£18.60 £15.50available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at - New
Lister Fusion Sheep Shear 240VSpecial Price £358.80 £299.00 Was £384.00 £320.00available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Horner Suregrip Handpiece - Pin Drive£303.60 £253.00available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Myti-Lyte Footrot Shears Mark 2£21.48 £17.90available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Lister Inner Shaft/Bare£45.60 £38.00available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Wahl Oatmeal Shampoo - 500ml£10.00 £8.33available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at -
Wahl Aloe Soothe Shampoo - 5Lt£26.10 £21.75available for collection fromPlease select a Branch to view stock levelsPlease select all required options to show stock at
