Saturday Les and Kay borrowed a sheep/goat holder that raises up into the air with the animal on it tied into place. So that Kay and Les can trim the sheep’s feet and or doctor a sheep if it needs it. Our neighbor Todd McLeoid loaned it to us. I did not get to go along to pick it up because they have a Great Pyrenees Dog named “Paws” that is mean to other dogs, so I stayed home!
I heard Kay call Reba and Richard Stegall Saturday evening and ask them to come up and show her how to trim sheep feet. Richard said they could come Sunday before lunch and Kay said” Great!” Reba and Richard have maintained a goat flock for years and “know things”.
So today they arrived and we all went around to the back of the barn to the Sheep Stall where the sheep were waiting (little did they know!) and everyone one was figuring out where to position the contraption soon enough they all figured it out , then got the hoof trimming tools together.
That was interesting…Kay drug out hand held bush trimmers, Reba brought the same things just a different color. A horse hoof rasp was brought out along with a hoof pick, a hoof knife (dull) and a pocket knife. By this time I was glad I did not have hooves! This whole project did not look so promising to me!
Kay and Les went into the stall and Kay caught a sheep by the hind foot (closest one to her I bet!) and then Les took the collar and put it round the sheep’s neck and Kay blocked the other sheep from following as Les brought the sheep out to the contraption! I could see none of this was pretty work! They did it but it lacked expertise I could tell (stock dog that I am) anyway what they lacked in expertise they made up for in effort and fun! I could tell they were having a great time with all of it!
Mean while Abilene (heavy with my pups) , Amarillo and I laid within 3 feet of the work and watched.(I napped) they did not have a lot to show me I could tell. Besides I had to save my strength in case my help was needed. I have learned by now that Kay’s farm work requires one to be ready in case and to be “there” if I am needed!
Poor, poor sheep! I felt real bad for them even if I am just a dog! Those sheep had no idea what was going on and they were scared I could tell!! Les, Kay, Richard and Reba worked and worked and cut hooves, then they doctored hooves when they cut too close ( only 3 times). I could tell Kay was trying to get the hang of cutting when Les said “Let me do it” and then he did! He is stronger and better at it, plus faster. Now don’t get me wrong I would want Kay to do me if I were a sheep. She is slower and real careful like! I heard someone allow there was not enough daylight if Kay was to do all seven of the sheep!
Each time a sheep was let down on to the ground and turned loose the sheep had to walk right by my girls and me. We laid still because that is all that was required of us. The sheep were pleased to be able to walk and go over in the yard and graze and wait on the rest of flock.
I will post some video and photos latter…Soon as Kay figures out how to get it into a file!
Maple Grove Farm’s Rimrock Drover (stock dog!)
