The objective of this brief guidance on showing Manx Loaghtan sheep is to encourage the maintenance of the breed, as a primitive, hardy animal with a range of genetic characteristics, that does not need embellishment to promote it’s qualities.

Manx Loaghtan are fine boned, agile, primitive sheep.

On the UK mainland, they should be shown halter trained.

On both the UK mainland and Isle of Man, they should be shown in a clean but NATURAL, UNTRIMMED fleece. Any sheep found excessively washed or brushed, coloured or tinted, backed down, clipped or trimmed with be considered FAKED.

Horns may be lightly oiled a day or two before a show. The judge should be able to examine the animal without transference of the oil to the judge’s hands or clothing. Horns ideally should be untrimmed, as an animal with trimmed horns would not be a natural survivor, without the intervention of their keeper.

Four or six horned animals with any degree of split eye lid should not be shown.

Senior ewes, with lambs at foot, may be accompanied by their lambs, if the lambs are haltered and in the care of a handler, separate from the ewe’s handler.

The handler should be dressed in a clean, white coat with the sheep class entry number clearly displayed.

The judge’s decision, on the day, should be respected and accepted without challenge.