West Yorkshire

[Sundae]

Sheep time.
Kudos to anyone who knows what flavour they are. I admit total ignorance and just enjoyed wandering the pens.
Show sheep are bolder than field sheep, and will look you in the eye.
Which is nice.

This photo doesn't capture the drama (!) sadly.
There were a couple of very frisky sheep in the line up, and I had to stifle my giggles as they wrestled with their handlers. Well, you never know if the burly chap stood behind you is related to them. The handler I mean. I think.


You wanna make something of it?
Attitude sheep.

[Sundae]

Emo sheep.
Please don't leave me here. I'll be good next time.


And our old friend - rasta sheep!

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I don't even know if this is a sheep.
So much for agricultural shows being educational.

(You can lead a horse to water...)

[DanaC]

We met a belligerant ram on our evening walk today. There's a really narrow footpath with wire fence either side, cutting between the farmyard and field on one side and another field with stables and barns on the other. A fucking enormous (and I mean enormous) ram came over to the fence and was being quite curious and friendly to us all (me, mum, Carrot, Nelle) I put my hanf against the fence and he nuzzled it.

Then he decided he'd had enough and started headbutting the fence - presumably trying to headbutt us :P We moved on - then ended up in conversation with the woman who owns the stables and I think is also involved with the farm. Turns out the ram is in a foul mood. His wives and babies are all in the other field attached to the stable (we could hear them) - where the grass is lush. He, however, has been isolated in the other field, in with the chickens where the grass has mostly been eaten by the lambs who'd been there previously. This is because he has got too fat. So - not only has he been removed from his family, he's on a diet. Poor fellah, no wonder he's grumpy.

They daren't go into that field unless one of them goes to the gate at the other side and rattles the feed bucket to lure him over.

[Sundae]

Shire horses.
Mare and Foal class winners.

[DanaC]

Oh they are gorgeous

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by DanaC

Turns out the ram is in a foul mood. His wives and babies are all in the other field attached to the stable (we could hear them) - where the grass is lush. He, however, has been isolated in the other field... This is because he has got too fat. So - not only has he been removed from his family, he's on a diet. Poor fellah, no wonder he's grumpy.

Indeed!

[Sundae]

Winner yearling.


Winner as above, and Highly Commended (that might not be a horse term, but it's what I understood it as).

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I think these were the two year olds, but the wind had started to play havoc with the tannoys by then.

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This was the winner, anyway.


And a little wee horse thrown in for fun.


Talking of horse wee.
OMG. I know about pi$$ing like a racist, but these Shire horses...
It was like the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings.

[Griff]

This is all so gorgeous!

[Sundae]

In the Trade tent there was a lovely little independent alcohol seller.
I was actually drawn to it thinking the bottles were some sort of bath unguents. Okay, also because my teen nickname was Cherry Berry, so I think I own it.
Photos were as close as I got.
Pretty though.


The list of things I didn't buy is far too weary to list here.
I didn't. Anything. Oh... no. "Anything" will do as I don't have a pic.

I would rethink the Wellington boot shot glasses though.
Really?
I hated even putting my hand in mine to search for spiders (and not because I'm scared of spiders).

[xoxoxoBruce]

I believe the "Highly Commended" means it just didn't win because it was the best that happened to show up, but is definitely a fine specimen.

[Sundae]

That sounds about right. I know the term exists, I just wasn't sure it was the one used.

Birds of prey now.
They had a harder time of it this year, because of the wind.
The two shows on the main showground each only featured two flying birds each; one of the vultures and the Sea Eagle. Too likely for them to be blown off course I think.

I paid more attention this year as I am reading the glorious H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald, where she details her training and flying of a goshawk. I highly (re)commend it.

Close ups from the non-flying part of the show.

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