This is a long story but in order to understand the whole background needs to be told. In October we purchased a scramble heifer for my son. We viewed the animals on a Saturday and purchased her in a live auction the next day via the internet. On at least two heifers in this auction, the auctioneer said “This heifer is not meant for a junior exhibitor, she would not make a good show heifer for a child.” We stayed away from those heifers. The next weekend when we went to pick up the heifer she was in a small pipe pen. My son put a halter on her. He is 13 and has had plenty of experience with other heifers. She was quite spooky with him. At several points during this time the ranch manager admonished several young children (approximately 3-6 yr) to stay away from the heifer. He told us “she does not like children”. She went bananas when my son tried to lead her: bucking, twisting, jumping etc… he held on for a long time and then finally when he was on his knees (holes in the knees of his jeans after this) he let go. Someone had to go out in the pasture in a ranger and get the heifer they then tied her to the back of the ranger and drug back up to the barn area with a bloody nose and her tongue protruding from her mouth. Let me just say this – sometimes you just have that gut feeling that an animal is not meant to be a show heifer/steer. I had that feeling about this heifer, but we had already purchased her in the auction. The ranch manager told us to take her home and work with her, that the heifer had been raised on the ranch, never before left the ranch etc. They were nice and told us to call them again if we were still having problems. We took her home and gave her time to get used to us and the place. We tied her up several times and tried to brush her etc. She literally would try to climb the fence she was tied to in order to get away from my children. Once you are in the pen with her she starts circling and doesn’t stop until you are way away from her. If you get her on the halter she doesn’t just try to run or pull away, she dances on top of you and rears up on her hind legs. She is totally unpredictable and dangerous. We spoke with the ranch where she was purchased and told them all of the above. They wanted us to see if the scramble committee would allow us to switch the heifer. They would not, the deadline to have your heifer had long since passed. Since the ranch states that they guarantee satisfaction on each and every purchase, we figured it couldn’t hurt to ask to bring the heifer back and have my son be reimbursed for his money. That way he could give the $1000 back to the scramble committee and he could use the other $2000 that was his money to purchase another suitable show heifer. They agreed, but then I received a phone call stating that they want to wait until next weekend for us to bring the heifer back so that they can make sure she wasn’t abused or malnourished etc. I can assure you she was not. She has been fed and cared for like my child’s other show animals. I would have no problem saying go right now and look at her, here is our address, she’s in the first pen with the red barn. Unfortunately, they are 4 hours away. What I am wondering is should I get her to our vet and see if he’ll state she is in good condition before we proceed to travel all that way? I want to cover all our bases. I am also aware that they don’t willingly have to take her back, but I think that they are a stand up place with good cattle and a good reputation. I am just so disappointed and that is nothing compared to how disgusted my son is with the whole situation. He is really disappointed and a little humiliated because at the scramble meeting he had to stand in the middle of the show ring and watch the other kids with their heifers and was told by one person that he needed to just practice more with that heifer. The mama in me wanted to tell that person what I thought of their methods of including a child whose animal is uncontrollable. But, I didn’t. I really want to hear other people’s opinions of this situation. Sorry it was so long, but it felt really good to write down the whole thing. Very therapeutic