Those leading negligently-kept ewes away railed at hand (4)
I believe the answer is:
near
'at hand' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for near that I've seen before include "Close; parsimonious" , "Adjacent" , "Within reach" , "unlikely to spend much?" , "Tight-fisted" .)