One of the early uses of Raddle was to show if a ewe had been covered - still in use today.
The raddle was/is held in a small container on a chest harness worn by the ram, when he mounts the ewe the raddle rubs off and leaves a mark on the ewes back,the shepherd could then note the date, and when the time came, make arrangements for her containment.
The 1st known (written) records for the use of Raddle (Ruddle in some places) as markings for sheep goes back to 1648
1648 I marked my sheepe, 101 ewes of my owne with fresh redle on the narr sholder, (Thurlstone)
1669 a fat Wether out of his Croft, marked with raddle on the head, one Eare slitt the other cropt, (Sheffield)
1688 one other sheep ridled on the head, (Kilnsey)
1701 a raddle marke along the Rigg, (Skipton).
The varied spellings are found also in minor place-names: Raddlepits, Riddle Clough, Riddle Pit.