Ian Comes To Shear The Sheep

The  first thing that happens when Ian comes to shear the sheep is he brings all his equipment into the pole barn and sets it up.  I had the extension cord strung across the roof and in place for Ian to plug his clippers into.

Asher and Issachar are always curious.  Above Asher is saying hello to Ian while Ian changes into  his shearing shoes.

Fate stood outside the gate keeping an eye on it all the whole time.

We used to let her into the barn, but she just makes the sheep and herself more nervous.  Not a typical Border Collie, both Fate is more comfortable outside the barn.

Kim was first.

I noticed it last fall when Ian sheared the sheep, but even more so yesterday, how much calmer and more confident he was.   It was three or four years ago that Ian came to shear our sheep on his own.  Before that he assisted his grandfather, who then retired.

I was less sure of myself then too.  I’ve worked with  four different shearers over the years and they each have their own way of doing things.

It took a few shearing before I understood that Ian prefers I wait for him to be completely done shearing before bagging the wool.

I guess we didn’t communicate as well back then.

But Ian has become our friend as well as our shearer, so we’re easier with each other. And I’ve learned a lot about being with sheep in the past few years too.  I’m calmer too and I’m sure the ease and trust between me and Ian is something the sheep pick up on.

As usual Constance gave Ian a hard time when he was trying to round her up for shearing.  I knew she was going to be trouble, she always is.  As the sheep ran from one corner of the barn to the other trying to avoid Ian, I found they had gathered around me.

“Why don’t you just grab her,” Ian said to me since I was standing right next to Constance.  So I did. I held onto her and Ian came over and moved her onto the shearing mat.

Once she was on her back, she was gave in and was the quickest sheep to shear.

I did the same when it was Ashers turn.  I just circled my arm under around his neck and pulled back on his head.  When their heads are up they are less likely to move.

When Asher was as done, Issachar walked right onto the shearing mat and stood there waiting.  Once again I held him around the neck then Ian took over.

After that it wasn’t as easy.

Lori and Robin who huddled in the corner the whole time, didn’t let me get near them.  Robin was a bit agitated but below the buzzing of the electric clippers I could hear Ian singing to him.

I couldn’t hear the words, but later Ian told me he was singing the old song Mad Tom Of Bedlam.  I’d never heard it before. It’s a song from the early 1700s he learned from his grandfather while shearing.

When he’s done shearing each sheep, Ian trims each of their  hooves making sure they are healthy.

Lori was the last sheep and by then it was so dark in the barn I had to hold the light, following the clippers, so Ian could see what he was doing.

And because Lori’s wool is so sticky she is a difficult sheep to shear.  It happens every time, while the rest of the sheep have an even layer of wool left on their bodies, Lori has tufts and stragglers.

Next time I’ll try to remember to shear Lori early on and save Constance, who is easy to shear once you catch,  for last.

It was too dark to get a picture or video of all the sheep shorn but below is their wool bagged up and ready for me to skirt.  I’ll bring it to the mill in June.