Fitting and Showing a Southdown -- ASBA Web Site

American Southdown Breeders' Association

Ewe

Southdown Merchandise

by Brian Forsee and Troy Keith
Owenton, Kentucky

As Southdowns have evolved over the years and changes have taken place, the ultimate goal is to stand at the top of your class in a major show or sale, then go on to exhibit "The Champion."

As I look back at the many great champions that have come and gone over the years and have shown Southdowns for many years myself, I feel that one fourth of the battle of exhibiting that champion is won by "presentation."

The first step to a great presentation is fitting. Southdowns are all shown slick sheared. This means the animal must be shorn within five days prior to the show. We first start by shearing the animal seven to ten days before we plan to wash with a regular thirteen tooth comb and cutter and we also trim feet at this time. We prefer to wash in a tank so the hide can soak using Orvus soap, but we also wash on the trimming stand when a tank is not available. This is probably the most undesirable job, but the most important of all. After this is done, we prefer the animal to be dry before placing the blanket on the sheep.

The next step then will be to shear the animal for show or sale. We now use the new Laser Stable Mate Electric Shears, but the twenty-three tooth Lister comb and a four point cutter still do an excellent job. We prefer the animal to be damp, but not wet. We start down the back working in straight paths over the length of top, continuing down the length of side. Using an upward motion; starting at the knees on the foreleg, neck and chest area, and an upward motion on the rear leg and hind saddle area. We now move to the head, we prefer to leave a very short fleece on the muzzle, forehead, and ears of the sheep which is trimmed with hand shears. This allows us to give our entire show flock a uniform look. We then finish by carding and trimming the socks of the animal. We have found some helpful products to use in the finishing touches, which are:

Quick Clean - a waterless soap to help clean up rumps, bellies, ears, and legs.
Wool White - a product that gives a luster to the fleece and gives a smooth, slick touch to the hide.
Hocus Pocus (by Sullivan's) - excellent in removing oil stains left from clippers, paint marks, and other hard to remove stains.
Universal Dog Brush - helps to rake out shear marks, straighten up socks, and smooth up heads

Showing the Southdown has changed over the years to where we are today. We show slick sheared, so we need more of a touch, we also need a "profile" or "look". Length of side, levelness of top and hip, clean middle, full hind saddle, length of neck, and a clean front - these are all things we can't change with wool and a fitting job. We feel this "look" can be enhanced in the show ring. We first have to train the animal to brace and handle properly prior to going in the ring. This is done by practice with the sheep at home and of course in the show ring. We like to show the animal standing up in front, with our hands on each side of the head, just below the ears with a slight upward pull to give a more extended look to the front, with your lower leg gently pushing against the chest. This tends to cause the sheep to tense up for a firm, fresh feel for the judge. We also like to show kneeling down beside the sheep. This tends to make the sheep appear larger on a side profile and helps to keep the top line level. While walking the Southdown, you should keep the sheep's head up and walk beside the head and do not lean on the sheep or push from behind, this tends to make the animal appear short.

Every sheep is different. Study the animal; show off its strong points and help make its weak points better.