How to Shear Your Sheep for a Show

Even though sheep are one of the most common livestock animals in the world, few people are aware that sheep shows exist. Sheep are shown to determine their market value and how well they fit their breed standard. Proper grooming be the difference between winning and losing a sheep show. Brushing and bathing will get your sheep clean, but the coat must be sheared to give your animal a winning edge.

Things You'll Need

  • Sheep halter and lead rope
  • Wool card
  • Shampoo
  • Bucket
  • Stiff brush
  • Clippers
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Read the hosting organization's rulebook regarding grooming for your sheep breed. Each hosting body has different regulations regarding the length of the wool on show animals. If no specific lengths are listed, call the show chairman for clarification.

    • 2

      Halter the sheep and lead it to the grooming area. If you have grooming stocks, load the sheep into the stocks and close the gate. If you don't have stocks, tie the sheep to a sturdy fence post.

    • 3

      Brush the sheep from head to tail with a wool card. A wool card is a sturdy brush with short metal teeth that unravels the coat and leaves the sheep looking full and fluffy. Brush the way the hair grows, taking care to brush down the legs and under the belly. It is essential to brush the entire coat for even shearing.

    • 4

      Drizzle one capful of livestock shampoo in a bucket of water. Dip a stiff brush in the bucket and scrub the sheep, starting at the face and working along the back. Scrub the shampoo down into the coat, pouring a little soapy water directly on the animal to penetrate to the skin. Rinse well, and tie the sheep up until the wool is completely dry. Clean wool shaves easier than dirty wool, resulting in a smooth, close shave.

    • 5

      Untie the sheep, then back it into the sitting position. If the animal won't sit back on its own, place your foot directly behind the sheep's hind legs and move it backwards until it sits down. Ask a helper to hold the sheep in the sitting position so you can shear off the belly wool.

    • 6

      Attach a 4-point blade with a 20-tooth goat or sheep clipper guard. Shave the belly from chest to hind legs. Work slowly, pulling the skin taught around the sheath or udders to prevent cuts. Pull shorn hair from the guard to keep the clippers from binding on excess wool.

    • 7

      Stand the sheep in the show position and make two shearing passes from the center of the front leg up to the point of the shoulder. This elongates the shoulder, making the muscles appear more defined and pronounced. Move to the other side and shave the opposite shoulder in the same manner. Leave the hair intact below the knee.

    • 8

      Shave from the withers up towards the neck, positioning the sheep's neck parallel to the ground. The objective while shearing the neck is to give the appearance of length, so make long, smooth strokes up to the base of the ears. Leave the hair on the face and topknot intact.

    • 9

      Shear the body in long, even strokes from chest to tail. Work slowly over the contours of the shoulder and hip, taking off as much wool as possible to make the muscling below stand out. Shave from the hocks up toward the rump, but leave the hair from the hock to the ground unshaven to give the appearance of thick, substantial bone.