Heifer Problems. Please Help.

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Joined
May 14, 2009
Messages
9
My heifer is terrified of chairs. I know it sounds odd. She was spooked at a show and has gotten even worse. I had forgotten she had this problem and my friend brought her chair to come sit by me when I was at the wash rack. That did not end well. At all. Now she is extremely spooked at almost all times. She was the clamest calf at our barn before this happend, now I am worried that I am not even going to be able to take her to shows.

I am thinking about putting a chair with hay in it or something like that. I almost don't want to put it near her because of the terrible reaction from that last times.

Any advice? Have yall had these problems? Will she just get over it? Do I just need to give her a break from taking her to the wash rack or that area.

Also, I had never ever had a problem with her in the trimming stall. A couple of days ago I put her in it and she tried to jump through the front and was extremely scared. It is only getting worse. Ugh.
 

Cattledog

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Mar 27, 2008
Messages
1,116
Never had the chair problem.  I've had them get spooked by manhole covers.  I guess I would introduce a chair and slowly move it closer.  Take your time....sit in it.  The key is to let the animal know that the chair won't hurt her. 
 

shorthorn boy

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Joined
Jul 6, 2009
Messages
131
I have a heifer this year that doesn't really like chairs either or generators or fitting chute(except hers). She doesn't have the same reaction as your heifer mine just freezes up or completely swerves over into other peoples stalls and it makes me feel really bad. I just figure she will eventually get use to all that stuff as she goes to more shows. In your situation with the chairs I would think putting hay in it would work or even just setting a chair up near her pen if she is penned up during the day or if she is tied up set one or two kinda behind her or to the side of her just as they would probably be at a show and over time she should get use to them once she realizes they will not hurt her. it might be best to show her the chairs if she is tied or penned up just in case she gets really spooked. Hope this helps and good luck.  (thumbsup)
 

RSC

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Jan 30, 2007
Messages
1,998
Location
Shelby, NE
going_showing said:
Thanks ya thats kinda what I was thinking. Thanks!
  Is it the chair or someone talking in the chair!  Put a chair in the middle of her night pen and have a radio playing as well!  Our steer had been out several times but got spooked this weekend at the fair because the show box was in front of the chute and opening it spooked him! 

Tony
 
Joined
May 14, 2009
Messages
9
ya it was the chair. No one was in it both times.

I am going to start putting in there. We have a radio and sounds dont seem to bother her but she also is scared of shadows. I know i sound odd but it is true. I feel like i am having to halter break all over again. She broke so easy and then this happened.
 
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