CHAPTER IX. 

 FITTING SHEEP FOR THE SHOW RING. 



While fitting and showing is pursued by com- 

 paratively few of the thousands of flockmasters, it 

 may be helpful to outline briefly the principal de- 

 tails of the business for the benefit of the man who 

 is thinking of taking up show fitting work. A num- 

 ber of shepherds have become famous and have 

 gained a national reputation for themselves and 

 their employers in the show ring. Many of these 

 experts are well along in years now, and others 

 must be trained in this work to take the place of 

 the older men who will retire. It is to assist those 

 who are beginners in fitting show sheep that the 

 writer takes up the subject. But fitting show sheep 

 can scarcely be learned from books to the point 

 of becoming an expert, because no writer is able 

 to put down all the small details which he follows 

 and which have to be observed to be successful in 

 the show ring. Therefore, after reading all one 

 can find about fitting show sheep, the beginner 

 should not expect to be as successful at the start 

 as the man with many years of experience. 



Some of the main obstacles for beginners may 

 be avoided by learning from the experience of 



12 (177) 



