Suggestions on working with an unhappy steer

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txshorthorn

Active member
Joined
Nov 30, 2011
Messages
31
My daughter has a steer about 7 months old, which we have had the last two weeks. This fellow is super skiddish around people. We can go into his pen to clean, feed, change out water bucket though he'll stay as far away from you as he can. I have been able to get a halter on him with a show stick while dodging 20 or more kick attempts from him. Now once the halter is on my daughter can slowly work her way to petting him on the head between the eyes but no where else or he freaks out. Did I say he kicks, like a kung fu ninja. Just looking for some suggestion, he is a school steer through a lottery draw. He has potential, good frame, square, and big boned compared to the others.  Thanks
 

simba

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 18, 2011
Messages
524
Location
Saskatchewan, Canada
My 4-H steer was exactly like this guy in November. By January he was a puppy. Here's what I did, I hope it helps. Tie him up, LOTS. When you do, stand as close as you can and talk to him in the sweetest, nicest voice you can. It sounds funny, but he'll begin to trust you. Start scratching and petting him, once you move past that stage start combing him. Then start on the blower, clippers and so on. EVERY time he kicks, say his name in a very stern voice and whip him once with a rope. It sounds mean, and some people say it's wrong, but I believe it's the most effective way to teach him not to kick. If you need, put him in a small pen and just get him walking in circles without a rope on. Every time he kicks whip him and evertyime he does a good job reward him. After a while he'll start kicking less and then he'll start just raising his leg to show you that he could kick. Use a stern voice and say his name (it really doesn`t matter what you say, just say it in a very stern voice). The hard part is to reward him for even the smallest thing that he does right. For example if he starts to calm down, reward him by talking to him and petting him. Same thing if he starts standing nice, or if he lets you touch him with the showstick. You have to teach him that you are nice and he can trust you but you are still the boss and he has to respect you. Good luck! If you have questions let me know.
 

vc

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
1,811
Location
So-Cal
Take your time and do not rush him, if you have a place to rinse, rinse him often, he will not hurt the water no matter how many times he kicks it.
I have taken the plastic brushes that are threaded for a hose and put it on a 6 foot piece of 1/2 inch PVC with a hose thread coupling on it and just started brushing on them, out of reach of the feet. Have your daughter just spend time around the pen, she could just sit and read out side the pen, but close to where he eats, just to see that she is not there to hurt him.
Again I can not stress enough, take your time and do everything in short steps, you have him for awhile so little victories are your goal. The little victories can add up to a win over time.
 
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