HALTER TRAINING

Almost a week of halter training and the four lambs are still wiggling and twisting and throwing themselves around! I have recruited 12 year old Minty to help. She is entered in the Young Handler class at the Melplash Show and will help me show my sheep on the day, too. Very keen and very good with the lambs, they are calmer with her than they are with me! Melplash Show is our local agricultural show, in a beautiful setting at West Bay by Bridport. It is definitely my favourite show to attend.


Minty and I went to the New Forest Show last Thursday. I was going to show but Dan unable to help, so I cancelled. But Minty and I had a good look at the competition and she was able to watch the sheep being shown. She thinks our lambs are already walking as well as some in the show, very badly!


MInty has also now officially named us the ‘Evil Twin Sisters’. I am actually flattered by this as Minty is only 12 and very pretty. I am neither of those. And we are probably the least evil halter trainers there are, the lambs even get a gently kiss on the nose when we release them!


After our training session today we found another grey squirrel in my trap, set up by the hen run. I am on a personal mission to eliminate Lewesdon Hill of every one of those nasty invaders from North America.  (Although I amy be viewed in the same way but some people!) And I am on my way, must have trapped at least 15 since I started my project in early July. A biscuit with a blob of nutella and peanut butter is my bait, so they have a tasty last supper. Once caught, a quick shot in the head with the air gun…and it’s bye-bye grey squirrel.