It’s important that when you show your animal that you train them and practice these steps over and over before show time. First impressions are important when showing livestock, grooming your lamb properly before the show is a must. Follow the steps below and you will be sure to succeed!

To move the lamb, stand on its left side, grasp it under its chin with your left hand and put your right hand on its dock. Guide the lamb with your left hand and move it by pressing on its dock with your right hand. Never work your lamb for long periods of time or it will become restless and stubborn

In the show ring, the lamb should stand quietly with the front and hind legs squared beneath them and the head should be held up. Be sure to remember to always work on the side of the lamb opposite to the judge.

Bracing is a term that means having the lamb hold its back rigid and hind saddle flexed when someone touches it. Stand in front of your lamb and cup its chin in your hands. Pull downward with your hands and apply enough backward pressure to the lamb’s brisket to cause the lamb to arch or bend its back. Do not choke the lamb or grasp so hard that you hurt the animal.

Depending on the type of sheep you are showing will determine the amount of grooming needed. There are wool breeds and short wool breeds, both of which require different grooming techniques.

Wool breeds are not shorn, they are shown in full fleece. Long wool breed lambs should not be washed because oils in the fleece are a natural form of protection. Full fleeced lamb should be dampened, and chaff picked out and locks separated. Part wool down the center of the back. Trim dock, chest and wool tips.

In Short Wool Breeds shearing is done six to eight weeks before show time. This will eliminate most of the work of cutting wool to proper length by trimming. Wash your lamb one week before a show. Washing your sheep with FlexTran’s Ring Out Shampoo will ensure you are show ready! This makes trimming easier and protects your lamb from harmful fungi and parasites while also revitalizing their coat at the same time! About three hours work is required to trim market lamb if it was shorn early in the project.

Leave enough space between your sheep and the next sheep. If your sheep has a lot of space around it, it will stand out to the judge. 

 If the judge is in the center of the ring walk slowly around the ring, maintaining your distance from the other exhibitors. The sheep should move at a fairly slow and even pace with its back level and head in normal position. If the judge is at the side of the ring, walk around the circle but as you approach the judge turn the sheep`s head in towards your stomach and switch hands. This will give the judge a 360 degree view of your animal and will move you to the other side of the animal so that when you walk in front of the judge your back is not facing them. Once you have passed in front of the judge, switch back to the other side of the animal and continue around the circle. 

-Judge asks you, the exhibitor, to move sheep or bring sheep to the front. 

You should be on the opposite side of sheep from judge. If you are on the sheep's left side, your left hand should be under the sheep's chin, well out towards muzzle, not choking him off in the throat. Your right hand, with fingers closed, should be on the sheep's dock. It would be considered very poor showmanship to grasp the wool with an open-fingered hand at any time. While it is fairly "showy" to move the sheep without touching its dock, this often results in loss of control and would not be considered good showmanship. The sheep should move at a fairly slow and even pace with its back level and head in normal position. Stop the sheep a few feet from the judge and pose it correctly.