At the last possible moment. When I was growing up, I had a heifer that just would not gentle down. I could catch her, but she just would not lead. She had no respect for the halter and would drag me around like a rag doll. She wasn't mean, just wanted to get away. I stuck with it and kept trying. The day before we left for her first show, it was like a switch flipped and she figured it out. She went on to become my main showmanship heifer and never gave me another moments trouble. It took probably three to four months to get her there. Stick with it and see what happens. Now, if they're mean, that's another story. Good luck and keep us posted.