Opinions on how to handle situation

I would not refer to him as "breeder" probably a little harsher word would be better. I would not be shy to explain the situation to all that would listen. He clearly is not obligated to return your money,but if he had morals he would. Ship her or turn her out as a cow. Do not ruin your kids desire to be in the barn because of a bad so called breeder. Hop it all works out for you.


Jeff

Yes Jill I suppose that is true, could be something going on at aggie gals place, although the other calves are OK. Just as likely that the calves were drugged when they were viewed - hard to spot an ornery one when they have been tranquilized - there was no kid in the balloon either - things aren't always as they seem

While I agree with many of you that the breeder is not obligated to any sort of reimbursement, I still think morally and ethically that he would want to.  To me, it's like stealing from a 10 year old.  Some of these club calf dealing IMO are getting out of control.  Since when did making money off of one calf from a 10 year old become more important than the big picture of seeing enjoyment on the kid's face after his first county or state fair.
I realize that this is still a business, but I would venture to say that many of you that agree with this type of treatment will not be in business long and rightfully so.  The right thing to do is to keep the kid happy.  If that takes money out of your pocket, that's part of the cost of doing business.  That's my opinion.

I feel that it is well past time that people need to name names, we should be looking out for each other, not worrying about being PC and holding our tongues, as to the legal,issues  the best defense for libel and slander is the well documented truth.
While this so called breeder probably has no legal obligation to make it right with you, morally and ethically he certainly does, particularly if he is such a"great helper of the Youth"
If you do nothing else in this matter, here is a suggestion that I used a few years back on a heifer I bought that turned out to be a breeding problem and the breeder that sold the heifer basically laughed at me when I notified him for some solution.  I just watched consignment sales for this man to have cattle listed and then called the sale manager to let him know that I had a problem with this man in the past regarding living up to breed association rules regarding breeding.  All of the sale managers were thankful for the info, to avoid surprizes later. He hasn't had any cattle in sales now for the last 2 yrs, coinsidence?? maybe, maybe not

Good luck

We had this happen to us years ago. We bought a heifer for my daughter who was 7 at the time and when we looked at this heifer she was calm. The next day after we got her home she was a nut case so it was clear that she had been drugged. The breeder would not take her back and we tried everything to break this heifer. Never could get her broke since she was to nice of a heifer to just take to the market er put her out to the pasture. She turned out to be one of our best cows and she is very calm with her calves. She just had her third calf and she has no problems with us in the pasture even lets us mess with her calves. Luckly her calves have had great dispositions. I guess she just was never ment to be a show heifer. I am glad we never got rid of her. Because of this exprience we always start all our calves on the halter before they leave our place. I will never sell a calf that my kids can't handle. Good luck and hope things work out!!!

DL said:

Yes Jill I suppose that is true, could be something going on at aggie gals place, although the other calves are OK. Just as likely that the calves were drugged when they were viewed - hard to spot an ornery one when they have been tranquilized - there was no kid in the balloon either - things aren't always as they seem

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For the record (can't believe I'm defending him at this point) I don't think this breeder drugged the heifer.  I think they work cattle different than I was raised to do and as a result they react differently than expected.  Plus, she's just one that doesn't want to be a show heifer  and isn't going to break.  We currently have 3 steers and 2 other heifers in the barn (all of which we halter broke too!) getting the same routine, feed, and schedule as this one so can't see what would bother her.  We've even penned her with the heifer she seemed to bond the most with in an attempt to calm her down.  The little heifer we picked up the same day from a different breeder is dog gentle and has already been hauled to a show to boot.
Thanks for all the comments both postive and negative.  I don't care how long you've done something or how much you think you know, there is always something to learn. 

Call the breeder and tell him you want to switch out heifers, thats plain and simple. Other than that dont expect much more. Sounds like you got a bad calf, it happens. Not all heifers are ment to be show heifers. Ya got taken, but there is not really much you can do about it. Im sure that breeder did not want to sell you a crazy calf, but you were the one that said " Ill take that one" and handed him your money. Its like buying a dog, and getting mad at the breeder because he chews up you furniture. Give me that calf and about 3 weeks, ill have that this leading around for my 60 pound little sister. I just think there is a flaw in the breaking techniques. I am yet to find a calf that is unbreakable, given it is done in the correct manner.  (dog) <--- Crazy DOG

OWS I am sure that every calf can be broken but at what expense. There are certain bloodlines out there that produced some pretty crazy offspring. I have seen calves that would tie fine and you could handle them in tight quarters but as soon as they saw daylight it was all over. Had a guy take a calf back because it was plain bad, he was quoted as saying couple days with the donkey and he'll be fine, darn near killed the donkey.  I'm sure with some time and patience and may be a couple trips to the ER he would have been dog gentle.
Some cattle just aren't wired right and you can not break them at least not completely, you might get them to where you can work them at home but some where at some time there will be an explosion, it is not always worth it.

Aggiegal, hopefully you can get a different heifer, if not either eat this one or send it to the sell barn, just don't keep her and breed her.