Now all four rams are halter broke. They stand calmly–sometimes. Though it might seem shocking, Red Boy isn’t climbing the fence today. I am ready for phase two of showing sheep training to begin. A “show” sheep will be able to walk, with its handler by the sheep’s shoulder, at a slow and steady pace. Walk and walk and walk wherever it needs to go. Slow and steady.
The Song
A song keeps popping into my mind that my daughter and I sang to our first Brittany, Rowdy, as he aged. He would shuffle his feet slow and steady wherever he would go. Rowdy would help my little girl find Easter eggs in the field surrounding our Colorado home. That amazing dog would sniff out the eggs and Katt would gather them up. They made a good team. This old dog could walk on at a leisurely pace with this little girl for hours.
“Slow and steady. Slow and steady. He walks and he walks and he never ever stops. He’s slow and steady, slow and steady.” These are words from a children’s song about the Tortise and the Hare that we would sing. This is how I picture my sheep in the show ring. Slow and steady.
Walk On Pretty Boy
So eenie meenie miney mo. Who do I dare to take on the first walk? Since I can’t decide who to walk, Gerrit takes on Pretty Boy. This ram has been Gerrit’s favorite for quite a while. He unties the halter’s lead rope from the fence. Out of the barn and into the pasture they go. A little tug on the halter is all Pretty Boy needs to move forward. Such a good boy!
Off they saunter. What pros. No issues going down the hill. Walk on. They move slow and steady.
Just as the team rounds the corner to head back to the barn, the ram decides to misbehave. “Enough of this halter stuff. I’m doing my own thing.” First, the lead rope becomes tight. Then the legs start to dance. Next a twist to the right and then to the left. Gerrit tugs back as Pretty Boy pulls him up the hill and back into the barn. One down. Three to go.
Dragging Around Chucky…Or Me?
Taking in the action, I try to figure out who I want to tackle. It turns out to be a game of literally who is tackling who. At 220 pounds, Chucky is the next victim.
Chucky is like a NFL nose tackle; “Big wide body who can hold the point of attack and force double teams by the guard and the center.” This ram is strong. I do not have a double team to help me.
Chucky has no idea that I am supposed to be walking him, not the other way around. His strength is quite impressive. My arm is yanked almost out of the socket as he literally drags me through the field. OMG I’m going to be killed! I speed up my pace and try to reverse the situation.
And then, all of a sudden, we jolt to a stop. Chucky will not budge. Now why would he? It’s so much easier to just stand in the field and sightsee than to walk on with me. All the ewes in the upper field sure look pretty. I wrench his head forward. I try to turn his head this way and that, but to no avail. The beast pushes and pulls back, not moving a foot. I cannot let Chucky win. He is not the boss. What can I do?
The Light Goes On
Duh, I think. Hmm. I’m a smart woman. How did I get these rams to move in the barn? Duh, food! So I fill my pockets with grain and go at it again. Chucky loves it!
Wow! I have his undivided attention now. See Chucky walk? Walk on Chucky. Walk on!
It sure looks like Chucky will do anything for food. Just like training a dog. Heel Chucky. Slow Chucky. Steady Chucky. Stand Chucky. Baaa Chucky. (I wish!)
Keep in mind this sheep really does weigh 220 pounds and has a mind of his own. When the food runs out we are back to ground zero. Except this time he knows where the food comes from. Now the smarty pants crosses in front of me to make me stop and so he can put his nose in my pocket rooting out any grain that he can. I can’t go forward. I can’t go back. No walking on. Once again at a standstill.
That’s it! I’m done. Too much fun for one day. I don’t know how Chucky feels, but I’m physically and mentally exhausted. Can’t wait to get out of here as Chucky hauls me back to his pen for his meal.
Only two more sheep to lead around, to walk on. No way. I’m done for the day.
What’s Next?
In case you were wondering, future training plans include walking on twice a day with four unruly rams. We’ll walk rams while imitating the sounds of a show: radios blaring, tarps blowing, metal clanging. Walking on with one sheep leading and one following. It has to get better. Right?
After all of that, what’s the next phase for showing sheep? Grooming, of course. Follow our journey to the show ring and you will get the “real” story of grooming Red Boy, Pretty Boy, Chucky, and Boss Man at Rowdy Mountain Farm. You might even get a laugh or two.
Coming up…..Showing Sheep 101: Grooming.
