Last weekend I spent 20 minutes per calf with 3 calves and went from never being haltered to taking several steps at a time on the lead. Granted I had them all pretty gentle when I put the halter on the first time, but that only took a couple of 15 to 20 minute sessions in the small pen with a show stick and a brush the day before. Key is never letting them set their feet and haul back on the lead to the point it pinches their head. I start by haltering in the small pen.
Their first inclination is to panic when they feel the pressure on their poll and chin. I only put enough pressure to tilt their head my direction and let them walk around until they stop. Then I slack the lead and let them think about it and comb or brush them. Then I will ask them to give their head left or right - doesn't matter, but should do both ways. Reward with releasing pressure on the lead immediately when they give to it and give a few strokes with the comb. When they can do that, I will ask for them to take a 90 degree step and then release and comb. Maybe do that 5 or 10 times over the course of 5 to 10 minutes. Then I will ask them to take a step forward. If they won't do it, don't force it -- go back to the 90 degree turn before trying it again. When you get a single step forward, release the pressure and comb. Once they figure out the release is stepping into the direction of the pressure, they figure out how to lead very quickly. I do not tie them up until they learn to step forward into the pressure. Once they have that figured out, I can tie them up and they barely put up a fight -- they do not get sore and swollen chins and sore heads because they don't yank back and stand there with all of their weight on the halter. It is quicker, less traumatic for the calf, and it just flat works. After two sessions with a 7 month-old angus bull calf, I was able to put him into the grooming chute without a fight. Two steers were the same way.
I have not had a calf that this method did not work on. Some take a couple more sessions than others, but if they are gentle before the halter goes on and if you do not tie them before they figure out how to step forward to release the pressure, they learn how to lead very quickly. Cattle can react and form learned response very quickly in response to pleasure or pain. My observation is that they become much more compliant more quickly when they do so for pleasure rather than to avoid pain.
There are some cattle that are just knotheads. However, I try to give them every chance before I resort to the pain methods. Some of them are not suitable for sports like cattle shows -- they belong in the cutting horse practice pen or in the feedlot.
Their first inclination is to panic when they feel the pressure on their poll and chin. I only put enough pressure to tilt their head my direction and let them walk around until they stop. Then I slack the lead and let them think about it and comb or brush them. Then I will ask them to give their head left or right - doesn't matter, but should do both ways. Reward with releasing pressure on the lead immediately when they give to it and give a few strokes with the comb. When they can do that, I will ask for them to take a 90 degree step and then release and comb. Maybe do that 5 or 10 times over the course of 5 to 10 minutes. Then I will ask them to take a step forward. If they won't do it, don't force it -- go back to the 90 degree turn before trying it again. When you get a single step forward, release the pressure and comb. Once they figure out the release is stepping into the direction of the pressure, they figure out how to lead very quickly. I do not tie them up until they learn to step forward into the pressure. Once they have that figured out, I can tie them up and they barely put up a fight -- they do not get sore and swollen chins and sore heads because they don't yank back and stand there with all of their weight on the halter. It is quicker, less traumatic for the calf, and it just flat works. After two sessions with a 7 month-old angus bull calf, I was able to put him into the grooming chute without a fight. Two steers were the same way.
I have not had a calf that this method did not work on. Some take a couple more sessions than others, but if they are gentle before the halter goes on and if you do not tie them before they figure out how to step forward to release the pressure, they learn how to lead very quickly. Cattle can react and form learned response very quickly in response to pleasure or pain. My observation is that they become much more compliant more quickly when they do so for pleasure rather than to avoid pain.
There are some cattle that are just knotheads. However, I try to give them every chance before I resort to the pain methods. Some of them are not suitable for sports like cattle shows -- they belong in the cutting horse practice pen or in the feedlot.