Our first roundup

And oh wasn't Hubs piddled off with me after I had visited the Vets to ask for some worming medicine for our flock of sheep, only to have the vet sort of book himself in for a visit. 'Blood test' was mentioned, which equated to 'megga bucks to have to pay out' in the mind of Hubs. 

And then there was the minor difficulty of actually catching the sheep for the blood test, our sheep not being particularly willing to oblige in terms of capture at the moment, although are now generally calmer around us. 

Now I knew we would manage the flock. In my heart I knew. But Hubs was nervous. This was his first time of flock management, and it would be infront of the Vet of all people. 

Anyhow, it has been on his mind all weekend, and yesterday saw him hammering and banging about at the back of the Sheep House. Et voila: His first homemade gate, made entirely by himself. Plus boards on the fence to stop the sheep from hurting themselves on the wire. 

Nervously he reviewed the plan: to herd the sheep into the little run at the back of the Sheep House, then close the gates at each end of the run before they escaped back out into the Paddock. 

Now I am a 'watcher', and I had closely observed the sheep shearer man when he had herded the sheep. Stay calm, don't panic, be firm, move quick. Should be able to manage that. 

Hubs still worried though. Laden down with work from all directions, he is suffering from 'head tiredness'. To have the vet come first thing Monday morning virtually erased all possibility of him recuperating his energies over the weekend. 

5am: an early rise for me this morning. 8.30: Hubs up. Grumbly. Nervous about the imminent arrival of the Vet. Worried about how much it would cost. Worried about catching the sheep.

9.15: Vet arrived. Nice man. French and friendly. Grabbing my walking pole to act as the shepherd's crook which shearer man had, down to the end of the Paddock I went. Hubs stayed at the rear. Vet in the doorway of Sheep House. And in the manner of a true Shepherdess I strode over the grass, with my arms open wide and the walking pole acting like an extension to one of my arms. "Oopps. What's she up to" flickered across the faces of the sheep, who up to then had assumed that they would be crossed over the lane to go spend the day in Station Field as usual. 

Then en masse they charged leftwards. I responded with a quick lurch leftwards to counteract their move. They stopped. Turned. Dashed the other way. Then followed the fence line towards their house. I followed as fast as I could. They were, by now, at full gallop. 

Into the safety of their house they were heading. But no. Couldn't  get in because of the Vet. Had to carry on. Problem: Head Shepherd in the way. 'Oh gotta go round here' was the collective thought as they swung in an arc. Straight into the run at the back of the Sheep House. Easy! Hubs and Vet shut one gate, I was at the other, putting my weight against it to stop the flock from pushing it open. And bless those sheep, but they were all facing my way, and listened as I chatted away to them. Plus the front ones let me stroke their heads, even Mr Sheep who up to now has been untouchable. He could, if he had a mind to, have used his considerable weight to get past me. But he didn't. He stood and let me fondle his head. Bless. 

Hubs and the Vet worked from the rear of the flock, turning round the last one in the queue for the two jabs and blood test. Then through the gate and off out into the Paddock when that one was done. All was done with good humour. No bad temper from any of us, just a bit of a panic from the last ewe. No cussing, no shouting, no roughness. Just teamwork. It was a grand experience. 

And we are pregnant. Not me! One of our girls is. Thought she might be, but not sure. But she is. And here she is, the one right in front, and Mr Sheep is the one next but one beside her. Looking calm aren't they! And this is only ten minutes after their Vet experience.

Things I have learnt: That sheep who are frightened have white rings in their eyes. Thought that is how sheep's eyes normally look, our flock having those rings up until a while ago. But now they look at us with warm brown eyes. Even in the run at the back of the Sheep House their eyes were still brown. No white rings. And it came to Hubs and me that the sheep trust us and that there is a bond starting to come between us, which is priceless.

Hubs has learnt that he can make a gate, that he can confidently handle the sheep, that he can be a Shepherd. I knew he could be. And I have learnt that sheep will be calm if I am calm, that how they behave towards me reflects my attitude towards them. That animals respond to teamwork. 

And at after all that, they happily went back to queueing up at the gate to cross over into Station Field, only to be brought back over an hour or so later when the heavens opened up. 

And the Vet didn't charge much.