Getting ready for our sheepdog trial
We've been busting our butts for the past couple of weeks getting our place ready for a 3 day sheepdog trial on our farm.
We put up the set-out pen a few weekends ago.
Last weekend we put in 22hrs of mowing (some of the grass seed heads were taller than the dogs), burned a brush pile, put in a few wooden fence posts to better secure the fence line, put up a new gate and a 5' of 4 board fence to secure the opening to our vegetable garden area, and harvested and canned tomatoes (before they spoil).
This week we've been deworming the lambs and trimming the hooves of the adult ewes. We still need to finish setting up the trial course, use a weed trimmer to clear areas the mower cannot get, put up a temporary fence line, finish the pre-trial paperwork, and sort off the sheep we will not run during the trial.
Our dogs have love the sheep chores. They're getting lots of practice moving the entire flock, shedding off a group of about 20 or so for treatment, packing the group in a barn stall, stopping lambs from trying to escape from the packed group, etc.
After yesterday we will not be trimming any more sheep hooves before the trial even though there are some that still need it. I had a small accident. While trimming one ewe she kicked at the wrong moment causing me to stab the base of my thumb with the point of the trimmer. See the link for what I was doing.
hoof trimming 101
There was lots of blood and surprisingly no cursing. My hand is swollen, my thumb hurts to move, and I'm on antibiotics (sheep manure was on the trimmer).
I will still have to finish other jobs in order for the trial to go on; I just won't be trimming more feet.
We put up the set-out pen a few weekends ago.
Last weekend we put in 22hrs of mowing (some of the grass seed heads were taller than the dogs), burned a brush pile, put in a few wooden fence posts to better secure the fence line, put up a new gate and a 5' of 4 board fence to secure the opening to our vegetable garden area, and harvested and canned tomatoes (before they spoil).
This week we've been deworming the lambs and trimming the hooves of the adult ewes. We still need to finish setting up the trial course, use a weed trimmer to clear areas the mower cannot get, put up a temporary fence line, finish the pre-trial paperwork, and sort off the sheep we will not run during the trial.
Our dogs have love the sheep chores. They're getting lots of practice moving the entire flock, shedding off a group of about 20 or so for treatment, packing the group in a barn stall, stopping lambs from trying to escape from the packed group, etc.
After yesterday we will not be trimming any more sheep hooves before the trial even though there are some that still need it. I had a small accident. While trimming one ewe she kicked at the wrong moment causing me to stab the base of my thumb with the point of the trimmer. See the link for what I was doing.
hoof trimming 101
There was lots of blood and surprisingly no cursing. My hand is swollen, my thumb hurts to move, and I'm on antibiotics (sheep manure was on the trimmer).
I will still have to finish other jobs in order for the trial to go on; I just won't be trimming more feet.
