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Hi - I'm a "newbie" and have been browsing this board - appreciate the wisdom and expertise displayed here! My question is as much a "kid" question as a calf question - we have a prospect steer (born the end of March) who will be showing in the cow-calf class as well as prospect class at our county fair in a week.
He's got an interesting personality - doesn't fight the halter while tied up in the barn but once we get him out in the lot he'll sometimes dig in those hooves and refuse to move. Occasionally he'll even "tip over" - and is real difficult to get back up (tail twists, smacks on the rear, etc., don't really get to him a whole lot).
When I'm leading him, I can get him moving while he's following his mama, he sets up reasonably well for his age; the problem comes in when my kids (age 11 and 8) enter the picture. Initially the thought was for cow-calf to have the 11 year old lead the cow and our 8 year old (almost 9) lead the calf - right now that's not a good idea.
He's gotten away from each of them a couple of times in the past two days so of course (not surprisingly) he's convinced he's in charge and can take off from them whenever he wants. Totally different story when I'm leading him - he hasn't ran off from me - if I was showing him next week I wouldn't be too concerned about him - but since I'm a little old for 4-H that's not really helpful!
My question - what suggestions do you all have to help get the calf and my kids working together well? My only "improvement thought" for tomorrow is to have two halters on him - one with a chain under his chin - and a kid will have one rope while I have the other as the "backup."
Another note - and this has me confused - I've been around calves that were mean, jumpy or stubborn before - but that was pretty much their personality. When we're just standing this one, all the kids can pet him, etc., and he gets along fine. Maybe he has a split personality...!
I'm working on the patience thing - we don't have access to a donkey and I'd rather not use a tractor if at all possible (but that's becoming more attractive as time goes on!)
I want this to be fun for the kids and not too stressful for the calf. Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks -
He's got an interesting personality - doesn't fight the halter while tied up in the barn but once we get him out in the lot he'll sometimes dig in those hooves and refuse to move. Occasionally he'll even "tip over" - and is real difficult to get back up (tail twists, smacks on the rear, etc., don't really get to him a whole lot).
When I'm leading him, I can get him moving while he's following his mama, he sets up reasonably well for his age; the problem comes in when my kids (age 11 and 8) enter the picture. Initially the thought was for cow-calf to have the 11 year old lead the cow and our 8 year old (almost 9) lead the calf - right now that's not a good idea.
He's gotten away from each of them a couple of times in the past two days so of course (not surprisingly) he's convinced he's in charge and can take off from them whenever he wants. Totally different story when I'm leading him - he hasn't ran off from me - if I was showing him next week I wouldn't be too concerned about him - but since I'm a little old for 4-H that's not really helpful!
My question - what suggestions do you all have to help get the calf and my kids working together well? My only "improvement thought" for tomorrow is to have two halters on him - one with a chain under his chin - and a kid will have one rope while I have the other as the "backup."
Another note - and this has me confused - I've been around calves that were mean, jumpy or stubborn before - but that was pretty much their personality. When we're just standing this one, all the kids can pet him, etc., and he gets along fine. Maybe he has a split personality...!
I'm working on the patience thing - we don't have access to a donkey and I'd rather not use a tractor if at all possible (but that's becoming more attractive as time goes on!)
I want this to be fun for the kids and not too stressful for the calf. Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks -