Fitting Sheep for the Show Ring. 193 



kets before starting out to the fairs. This will keep 

 the fleeces in good shape, will prevent them from 

 getting roughened up in transit, and will further- 

 more to a certain extent stop the fingering and 

 spoiling of the appearances of the fleeces by peo- 

 ple who thoughtlessly handle the sheep. Blan- 

 kets, if not adjusted to fit the sheep smoothly, 

 often disfigure it by cutting into the wool at one 

 place or another, especially around the neck of 

 the sheep. 



TRAINING SHEEP FOR THE SHOW. 



While trimming is being done it is a good idea 

 to have the sheep practice standing right or posing 

 for the judge when in the ring. Many sheep have 

 been found to act very wild and to stand in queer 

 positions in the ring when the judge is to pass on 

 them. On account of their unwieldy conduct and 

 unnatural standing position some prizes have been 

 lost to the owner. If properly handled and given 

 frequent lessons on correct standing they soon 

 learn what is expected of them, and they will not 

 then disappoint their master in the ring at a mo- 

 ment when all little details may bring success or 

 take away prize money from him. Sheep may be 

 trained to follow their master like a dog. Of 

 course, the master must be the one to accomplish 

 these results. As said before, the rough, coarse, 



13 



