The Wiltshire Horn Sheep Society exists to promote, preserve and improve the Wiltshire Horn breed, to define the breed standard and record pedigrees. It came into being on the 13th January 1923, when 40 farmers and breeders met in the Grand Hotel, Northampton to put the breed onto “sound pedigree lines”. The meeting concluded with the establishment of the “Wiltshire or Western Horn Sheep Breeders Association”, together with the flock book, a constitution and a managing council. 22 attendees joined on the spot and paid their first annual subscription: 1 guinea !
Today the Society organises official show and sales every September; currently these are held at Rugby Farmers Mart and at Gaerwen Auction Centre. There is a National Show held annually. Its location shifts between the country shows which hold specific Wiltshire Horn classes. The Society provides approved judges to the country shows. These are all members of the Society with the experience and knowledge to judge classes of Wiltshire Horn sheep.
The Society also arranges at least one Members’ Weekend every year. This two-day event is generally a combination of events: some breed specific, other agricultural or related visits and always some social time.
It’s worth considering why our Society matters. Preserving the unique genes of the Wiltshire Horn sheep ensures that they aren’t diluted, genes continue to exist and excellence can be traced and potentially replicated. In the case of the Wiltshire Horn sheep, their ability to shed the fleece annually has been much sought after of late and has contributed in no small measure to the development of the Easycare and Exlana sheep. However, it’s essential that the original pure Wiltshire Horn DNA must be maintained, so that future opportunities for breeding and development will not be lost. Showing is also a key activity for the Society, where our members show their best quality livestock in competition with one another; the shows are valuable “shop windows” for the breed in a public arena and championship rosettes and cups are much sought after accolades.
If you’re interested in joining the Wiltshire Horn Sheep Society, please follow this link to our membership page.
