setting up steer

[limi chick fitter]

i have been practicing with my steer for quite sometime with a showstick (practicing setting up and what not). the problem with him is he stretches out WAY to much with his front legs, and when i try to correct his legs he'll move alot or he will just freak out altogether. any tips on how to make his front legs not stretch out so much? i was setting him up today and had the hook on his back leg and he just kicked it out of hands. i've had some people tell me to put 2 t-posts up and put him in there (so he wont move) and then set him up that way.. to teach him not to move.. anyone ever done that? did it work?

i also put a show halter on him for the first time today (and this is the SECOND time this has happened to me) when the chain tightened up he flipped out. i had a rope halter on him too, for the fact that if he reared up i would have a longer lead.. and i was right, he did. this happened to me last year when i put one on one of my heifers and she went crazy. so how would one go about making him like the show halter? i have a chain halter (control halter as people like to call them) but i REALLY dislike using them for the fact that it cuts them all up on their chins.

 

[dvcattleco]

Try wrapping the chain real well in electrical tape, it doesnt pinch or cut the chin that way, still looks good in the ring and doesnt make the noise. Some judges dont like to hear the chain rattle and neither do the calves the first few times. As for setting up, try to walk him to a stop and have his front feet set. Make sure you push back on the halter the last step to make him take a 1/2 step. It takes lots of practice, but if you keep at it, he will set up his front everytime he does stop. For the back legs, make sure your showstick hook is dull...some of them are so sharp. If it is still new to him and he doesnt understand what you want him to do yet, you have to use alot of force to get the feet to move...OUCH! Once he gets the hang of it, he wont kick it out of your hands. (cept for that one time the judge is really watching you...lol) Hope this helps, It has worked for us! Good luck!

 

[limi chick fitter]

thats what i usually do.. when i walk and i'll stop and TRY to make his legs set up with the movement of the halter (you know, push halter a lil back and it'll make the back legs set up and push the halter forward a lil and feet will set up.. ect.) with my heifers, they do that. but this guy is being a real problem. but when i push back on the halter, he goes back and doesnt stop. i'll pull the halter up and he goes to the side.

 

[jaydill]

Maybe you're being a little too rough, which is why he overreacts to your cues. Try being a little more gentle when you are trying to use the halter to bring his feet to where they need to be. Also, on the show halter-- you tie your steer up a few hours a day, correct? During that time, place the show halter on over the rope halter and let him remain tied up with it on. Jiggle the chain every once in a while just to let him hear the sound. It's just a matter of him getting used to having that chain on him.

I haven't ever seen those chain halters you were referring to (the "control" halters) cut up a chin if you use it gently. Now I do prefer rope halters, but I did use the "control" halter before using the show halter to get my steer used to having the chain under his chin. It worked great.. You might try just practicing with that...again, moving it gently, not suddenly or roughly.

The electrical tape idea is not a bad suggestion but IMO, I prefer to have the sound of the chain. If you practice enough, you can get your steer to the point where all he'll need is to hear that chain jiggle a little and he'll get his head up. The sound is a good thing once it doesn't spook them anymore. Then, you won't be yankin on him in the show ring to get his head up, either.

Good luck!
Jay

 

[WarriorPatriot]

I agree. I've never heard of them cutting up a steer ever.

The rope/chain halters are great for getting extra control if you've got one thats a bit of a knott head and it will get them used to the noise of the chain.
Why hide the problem when you can eliminate it? You can tie them with it on as well so when they pull back (giving that they stand tied well already) it tightens a little and they get the feel of that and the sound.

If he's not doing well with the showstick you may try to do some desensitizing with it like rubbing it on his body and around his feet. My steer used to kick at the stick when I tried to move his back feet and this worked. But if your point is too sharp, put a bit of duct or electrical tape on it.

Becca

 

[limi chick fitter]

the other reason why i dislike the chain halters is the fact that i like to let them drag the rope around for a couple days so when he steps on the rope the chain will snap and he'll get use to it on his own, but when that happens i've seen chins get cut their chins up. and i really do think it makes them head shy after that. and when you have limited time to wash & blow and you have to chase a cow around in a pen to put a halter on, it gets annoying.

i try to teach my cows that if i hold a halter out they should jump in it.. and i've done it before! lol it can happen! i taught my ex-show heifer to do it.. well she did it a couple times and didn't think i was funny hehe.

i also agree i like to hear the sound of the chain. but i think i may try the tape on the chain and see how that works.

 

[L Weir]

At my daughters last 4-H meeting, which was on showing and clipping, they suggested using vet wrap for the show halter to wrap around the chain. I noticed at the 4-H show alot of the other kids did so.

As for setting up, when you go to stop you can walk and get him that he sets up himself by slowing down your pace and pulling his head up so the animal knows to stop. This helps the animal put his feet where they need to be without using the showstick. This works for our animals. I realize it may not work for all animals. Good luck.

 

[limi chick fitter]

ooo vet wrap.. good thinking, i would think that the tape would get a bit sticky when it starts falling off.

 

[jaydill]

the other reason why i dislike the chain halters is the fact that i like to let them drag the rope around for a couple days so when he steps on the rope the chain will snap and he'll get use to it on his own, but when that happens i've seen chins get cut their chins up. and i really do think it makes them head shy after that. and when you have limited time to wash & blow and you have to chase a cow around in a pen to put a halter on, it gets annoying.

i try to teach my cows that if i hold a halter out they should jump in it.. and i've done it before! lol it can happen! i taught my ex-show heifer to do it.. well she did it a couple times and didn't think i was funny hehe.

i also agree i like to hear the sound of the chain. but i think i may try the tape on the chain and see how that works.

i'm not talking about leaving the chain halters on permanently. only when you go to work him. leave the rope halter on him, tie him up, then put the chain halter on him. when working time is over, take it off. your steer won't become head shy if you aren't being too rough with the halter. again, this is what i did and it worked well. never had him even flinch when i put that show halter on him. good luck!

 

[AAOK]

Sounds to me like you may just be getting in too big of a hurry. Stay with the rope halter. Don't worry about trying to get him to set up until you have him so used to you that you can rub, brush, and poke the showstick all over him, and he will just stand in one spot and wait for more. After you reach that point, lead him around and around finding the pace where he walks best. Next, when you lead him, practice stoping. As said earlier, slow down to make him stop in the correct stance. When you have him doing all these things, and can drop the halter and walk away a few steps without him moving a muscle, then he won't care what you do with the stick, or what kind of halter he is wearing.

 

[limi chick fitter]

ya.. it may be that im an impatient person heh.

he doesn't mind the show stick to rub all over him, just when i try to set him up (picking up his feet).

 

[AAOK]

ya.. it may be that im an impatient person heh.

he doesn't mind the show stick to rub all over him, just when i try to set him up (picking up his feet).

I mean can you physically rub all over him, crawl under him, work that rice root brush HARD all over his body, belly, and legs? You get 'em like that before you ever start trying to set up, plus get them to set witout using the stick, and you're set.

 

[limi chick fitter]

yes, you can brush him hard (legs or body), crawl under him (ive practicly been under him but thats a diff. story, & he's kinda low to the ground), you can put that blower on him anywhere.. he's been like this since day 3 when i got him. i know im going to regret this but he hasn't kicked at me so brushing his legs aren't a problem, its just the stick.

 

[L Weir]

Are his feet sore? How hard are you using the stick on the feet?

 

[jaydill]

Are his feet sore? How hard are you using the stick on the feet?

Yes that's what I'm wondering. Maybe you're just prodding too hard. Try just tickling his foot a little with the stick. There are also some show sticks that have plastic ends.. the top is blunt. The hook is still there, but is plastic and doesn't hurt as much. Try practicing with that first until he knows where his feet are supposed to be. Then switch to the fancier show stick and very gently touch his feet.

 

[milkmaid]

Regarding the chain halters - ya'll take things a whole lot slower than I do. :lol: I just put the halter on, tie them up, and say "deal with it". Can't say as I've ever had one that didn't catch on pretty quick. ;-)

 

[memanpa]

I agree halter em and tie em to the fence. They will get it figured out real quick.

and waht ever you do
do not forget this guys knows it all, includung he 2X4 across the nose and other such tricks ,

 

[Anonymous]

I agree halter em and tie em to the fence. They will get it figured out real quick.

and waht ever you do
do not forget this guys knows it all, includung he 2X4 across the nose and other such tricks ,

Why are you following TTCLM and just trying to start something? :roll:

that's exactly what I was wondering

 

[Anonymous]

People always trying to start something? Drama :lol: Some people need to grow up. I guess now I have a stalker. I knew I was good looking but lord have mercy no need to stalk me.

TTCLM...I believe you may have found yourself a secret admirer :shock:

 

[limi chick fitter]

i don't have access to a show stick that has a dull end, but would putting tape on the hook work? to get him use to it.