322 LIVE-STOCK JUDGING 



order to enable them to stand well. Too long a toe, for 

 instance, will throw an animal down on his dew claws, put- 

 ting every joint on a tension and the leg in an unnatural 

 position. 



327. Sheep are led by placing the left hand under or 

 partly around the neck, with the right tickling the 

 tail just enough to induce them to step forward, standing, 

 of course, on the left side, the same as in handling any 

 other animal. They are held by one hand under the jaw, 

 the other free to be passed to the back of the head or to 

 the dock, in case it becomes necessary to steady the 

 sheep, or to assist, in any other way, keeping him in pose. 



Trimming is the universal practice among shepherds 

 and is defended on the ground that there is no deception 

 practiced, since none but a most incompetent judge 

 would be influenced by the appearance of the clipped 

 fleece, while it does have the advantage of greatly improv- 

 ing the looks of the sheep while on exhibition. It has 

 been suggested by one of our leading authorities ' that it 

 is as becoming for sheep to be trimmed as for " Men and 

 women to wear their best clothes when going to a party." 

 Some shepherds display great cleverness in the trimming 

 of their sheep, overcoming the appearance of a low back 

 or a light hindquarter, for instance, in a most ingenious 

 way. 



The fleece is washed before trimming, then dried out 

 to render it fluffy and bright. Cotted portions may 

 be combed out after having been softened with olive 

 oil. After the fleece of the sheep has been carefully pre- 

 pared for the show ring by washing and trimming it is 

 usually protected by a duck blanket, hood and all, in the 

 case of those breeds which are wooled on the face. 

 1 Kleinheinz, " Sheep Management." 



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