Show Stick Problem

One of my daughters steers this year HATES the show stick. We have been tying him up and using the show stcik and he is okay with that but when she is trying to set him up he flips out about the show stcik. He even rared up at her over it today. She has been trying to just get him to walk into a set up but he moves around too much. We have been working with him for over a month now and thought by now he would be better instead he is worse about it. Any tips out there????? Its going to be hard to show a calf you can not set up. Thanks!!

Maybe start by setting the calf's feet up while its still in the chute.

We have done that and he is now fine with that but as soon as you get him out and walk him then try to use the show stick he acts up.

tape a curry comb on the end of it.  also, when you are asking a calf to move his foot with a stick, make sure you are directing the calf with the halter in the direction you want the calf to move the foot when you start out.

what can happen is that one sets up the calf and starts treating it like it's finished, digging into the pastern or whatever and it upsets the calf.  it's almost as if he is taught immediately to not like it.  at first just scratch them with it and don't expect anything.  to often, expectations are too early.

Thanks I will try the curry comb. In 10 yrs of showing we have never had one who just hates it like he does.Usually all calves like being scratched by it but he does not want anything to do with it.  Maybe he had a bad experience with a show stcik before we got him is the only thing I can think of. He is a real sweet calf until the show stick comes out and then he get upset.

knabe said:

tape a curry comb on the end of it.  also, when you are asking a calf to move his foot with a stick, make sure you are directing the calf with the halter in the direction you want the calf to move the foot when you start out.

what can happen is that one sets up the calf and starts treating it like it's finished, digging into the pastern or whatever and it upsets the calf.  it's almost as if he is taught immediately to not like it.  at first just scratch them with it and don't expect anything.  to often, expectations are too early.

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Great advice, but I edit to a plastic scrub brush. Curry combs are harsh.

plastic scrub brushs are lighter too...  curry can get heavy on the end of it.

we spend a lot of time with a livestock sorting pole, just rubbing on them and such while they are tied up eating.  We use the sorting poles because #1 it has no hook or point, and #2 they don't break or bend as easy as the show stick. 

Last year my sons big fall heifer didn't like the stick much  if it got past her shoulder.  He had her trained to walk into her position and then basically rubbed under her neck & brisket.   

its not to sharp is it?

we had a calf last year that was the same way...it took from august to november for him to get over it...

I have used the broom trick in the past with any of the calves who kick and it works great with kickers but never thought of using for this problem. We'll have to give it a try. She know about pulling/pushing with the halter and always does a great job with getting her calves set up. Thats one reason why she is so frustrated with this calf. I told her maybe she just needed to stop for a while then start over with him on the show stick because she has gotten so frustrated with him and its making him frustrated with it. Thanks for all the tips so far!!!!