How to stop steer from throwing his head around when set up

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4Rcattle

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Sep 10, 2015
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63
When my daughter gets her steer set-up, within 30 seconds he’s throwing his head around towards her. He’s not doing it trying to “get” her he’s just throwing it around. She can’t hold his head still and straight for more than 30 seconds. He doesn’t do this with me. What can she do to correct this and get him to stop? I don’t want it to become a habit.
 

knabe

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Feb 7, 2007
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Hollister, CA
you could try just moving him out the instant he moves his head. then stop. repeat


he might be just displaying testing moving her off. you may be just more imposing.
 

lightnin4

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Apr 5, 2010
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560
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West Tennessee
One of the kids I haul around to shows had a heifer start doing that this summer.  I called it "playing a game". She would sling her head, but not move her feet, and the kid would lead her out and circle her back in to line up.  Finally decided the heifer was just trying to get her to move her out. So, I told the girl to make sure the heifer had really moved her feet before she led her out and, if she had, make her stop moving before she walked her.  Once, the kid stopped getting frustrated and reacting to every movement ("playing the heifers game") the heifer quit doing it.
 

4Rcattle

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Sep 10, 2015
Messages
63
Thank you both! He stands completely still for her after she sets him up, he just wants to throw his head around. The last few days have been better. She isn’t strong enough- she’s only 9- to keep him from doing it but she tries. Thanks for the advice!
 

knabe

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Feb 7, 2007
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Location
Hollister, CA
I think as lightnin4 says making it game is the key for situations like these.

It keeps you and the animal thinking rather than just a battle of wills.

It should be fun to figure these things out.
 
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