Gently does it, the shears are sharp, the sheep will feel the sweet relief of the weight of her fleece falling as she relaxes into the rhythm of the blades. There’s no fear, no force, only soft acquiescence as the sheep yields to my movements in an intuitive flow, something like that which comes between a horse and rider. This is my fourth year with some of these ewes now, and they know the drill better than I do, dropping themselves into the positions with just the lightest touch.
Belly first, then open up the neck and down her side. Long strokes up her back (she likes that bit as she can have a little snooze or reach for a nibble at the grass if I’m shearing on the field), and around and down the other side.
Shearing is high summer work, best done when the sun is high, the wool is warm and dry and the lanolin has risen. I have been given a rain reprieve to write this, and I’m glad of the rest. I clip my sheep by hand using blade shears, the old fashioned way. It’s a skill I’ve had to …
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