Halter Breaking a Heifer

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RodeoQueen

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Jul 27, 2016
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We have a 3 month old heifer.  She has been eating feed with her mom for about 2 months, we have had a halter on her almost every day, she has been washed, blow dried and clipped without any problems.  She walked at first for about two  to three weeks and now won't budge.  I've tried walking her in different spots, in the pasture, outside the pasture etc.  Changed halters, tried walking with hay and feed and nothing.  Any suggestions?
 

SimFarmer

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Oct 18, 2014
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112
Try and find a donkey that has been used to break calves, it will take only a couple sessions and they will lead a lot better. Be careful though because some donkeys will kill a calf.
 

RodeoQueen

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Jul 27, 2016
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Would you try a hotshot?  We have one and used it one time on a heifer and never had another problem with her.  Don't know anyone that has a donkey.
 

GoWyo

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Nov 29, 2008
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Location
Wyoming
Both the proposed methods (hotshot and donkey) are way too harsh for a 3-month old calf.  Maybe post a video of trying to lead your calf.  I have seen some people who just drag them around never letting the pressure off the lead rope and eventually the calf just locks up because their head is getting pulled on whether they follow along or just quit and resist.  Search the topics on here about breaking calves to lead.  There have been a number of links to good videos on breaking cattle to lead in those threads. 

Treat cattle the same way you do a horse with pressure and release.  Sometimes just a turn of the head in the direction you tug is the "give" you are looking for and then you need to release the pressure.  Then work up to a step and release the pressure and brush them a little for their reward.  Then two steps, etc. -- some take a week and others will more or less lead in 15 minutes with this method.  Also, we never tie them up until they learn to give to pressure and step toward it.  This eliminates sore heads and they learn much faster.
 

BroncoFan

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Dec 24, 2013
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552
Not knowing the personality of the heifer a hotshot might just make her explode.  Someone behind her ringing her tail wont work either?  Do you have another calf that will lead that she can follow?  A donkey is the very good option.  I would do a little searching in your area.
 

knabe

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Feb 7, 2007
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13,639
Location
Hollister, CA
i think halter breaking animals should be re-classified as halter breaking humans.


put a halter on your head and have someone drag you around.


you will immediately find out that if you try and put slack in the rope and the human doesn't allow a reward with a release almost in tandem with your seeking relief, you will understand how to handle animals.


put yourself in their shoes.


really, it's all about understanding rather than a bigger club, more force, a tractor, a donkey and all the other gimmicks that  mask understanding and even worse, make one callous to seeking trust, which for the life of me i don't see how one accomplishes this with a tractor, donkey etc, this only instills fear.


you can learn this in literally one minute. it's like a light bulb. then it's only a matter of building on the smallest try.


you won't believe how easy it is.
 

RodeoQueen

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Jul 27, 2016
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She is a very gentle heifer.  Loves the little kids and the dogs. Has no problems being clipped, and she isn't scared of the tractor or the 4 wheeler when they are riding in the pasture.  Walks into the trim shoot, just can't get her to do her daily walks that the kids are required to do.  Have another heifer but she won't walk with her either.  We have changed partners in walking her also.  Like our previous cattle if you can get them away from the barn it takes forever but they will walk towards the barn in no time flat.  I guess I need to keep taking it slow.  Just frustrating for the kid that the other kids are out walking theirs and this one won't walk.
 

FriedgesCharolais

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Feb 7, 2011
Messages
241
Location
Decorah, IA
i agree with the pressure and release method. I put a cheater chain link in a regular rope halter so that the rope under the chin of the calf will release pressure when they take a step forward. I put it on them from day one when they first get tied up so that as they pull they realize that if they stop pulling the pressure under the chin goes away. Most of my calves are broke to tie within a couple days and broke to lead within the first two weeks. Not saying all calves are super easy but i had one last year broke to lead by the third time being tied up last year! (wish they were all that easy!)
 
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