Trimming Demo and Dorset Workshop 2016

Show Preparation Workshop with Rob Hole

On a glorious Saturday afternoon in mid May, the N.I. Dorset Club organised a trimming workshop and demonstration for new and young breeders of Dorset sheep breeders Club at McClelland's Ballymena Mart where around 50 young breeders and new breed devotees turned out for an afternoon of education and hands on opportunity to learn the age old skill of show trimming for the show and sale rings.
The invited instructor and master trimmer was Mr Rob Hole, Sherborne Poll Dorset Flock, Dorset.
Rob is a very talented and experienced sheep trimmer who has done numerous master classes for various different breed societies throughout the length of the U.K. 
Rob Hole is also the grand son of Bunny Lenthall, a legendary Dorset Horn breeder and the initial  importer of the first Poll Dorset sheep into the Uk in 1954 from Tasmania, and back home in the Blackmore vale, in Dorset, Rob is in charge of the 50 year old, 400ewe Sherborne poll Dorset flock.
The afternoon class was kicked off with a very open and detailed breeders view by Rob on lamb selection for ram potential and ewe lambs for further breeding.
Rob went through a pen of 42 kg - 45 kg lambs and explained in detail the main causes for ram lambs to not make it past the weight for the butcher and also explained some of the points that turn into faults which are increased by maturity and growth.
This generated a great depth of discussion and questions by the group of breeders in attendance and many were fascinated by the knowledge of preempting what faults are likely to get worse by rapid growth and maturity.
The ewe lamb pen were then examined and the variants of breed type and pigmentation were discussed and again this generated a lot of breeder participation and discussion.
Then Rob chose a lamb from the pen and talked through the process of washing for show preparation and started the process by carding out.
As he went about the task ahead, Rob demonstrated the tools required and gave the breeders the opportunity to handle the different brushes and carders involved in getting sheep turned out in pristine show condition.
As Rob proceeded he explained the starting point of the trimming process and how to hold the hand shears properly.
He then prepared his chosen lamb before instructing the rest of the attendance to pick a lamb each and start carding their own chosen lamb from the starting point.
This brought about a lot of activity as everyone got stuck into putting into practice the instructions that Rob had given and many had great fun and challenges getting to grips with the new preparation equipment.
As the day progressed Rob went around each person in turn and gave individual tutorial on the correct way to perform the trimming process.
Club Chairman Michael Maybin brought the day to a close with a word of thanks to Rob Hole and his wife Alice and daughter Sophie for coming across to our new breeder day and for the knowledge that he shared with the young ones and his expertise in show prep and invited everyone present to tuck in and enjoy the tea/coffee and tray bakes and sweets that were provided by the ladies which rounded off a very successful day for the Club and its new breeder membership.