The preparation of a flock for show starts with the picking of the lambs, and from that point on requires special attention and study.

Feeding is perhaps the main point to be stressed, because the best of animals, highly fitted in all other ways and still in poor condition, will not show to their best advantage and will many times be beaten by an inferior animal that is in good condition. Therefore, I consider the feeding the principle part in fitting a flock for show.

Blocking should be done as soon as possible after the lambs have been selected, and just enough of the wool should be removed to produce the desired result, which in most cases is to broaden and deepen the animal. On older sheep the blocking should be done in the winter and just enough wool to sufficiently fill the sheep out to the desired width and depth should be left on at the time of blocking. If this is done the fleece will be less likely to stain. Frequent carding and working will keep the fleeces cleaner and smoother than if they are only worked once or twice.

A well-fitted flock is the one that has been worked down a little at a time, taking care to study the individual animals in the flock and broadening or deepening each animal to bring out and show it at its best advantage.

Many fitters trim too hard but I believe that the best results are obtained by taking off a little where it is most needed. By trimming the flock frequently you can tell where a little needs to come off until at last you will have the flock in perfect trim. With good flesh and the combination of these two along with a good individual to start with, you will go a long way toward the winning of a blue in the show ring.