1) Dont let a few people get you down. Part of the reason this board was created was for people to exchange ideas and ask for help. I applaud you for admitting defeat and asking for help. Many of the people who criticize, and I am not pointing fingers at anyone here just saying in general, but many that criticize would never admit that their methods didnt work. So when show time rolled around this heifer wouldnt be any better and would most likely be drugged for grooming and showing. I like your method of trying to find alternatives much better. I personally find it disheartening that rather than offer advice people find it necessary to criticize for asking for advice. If you ask me it shows their true character, and they dont seem like people whose opinion I would care that much about anyway. They may say the same about me, and thats fine, I dont measure my value or happiness in others opinions anyway.
2) You should definately search the topic in the threads, there are LOTS of good posts here on Steerplanet already about this type of topic. And you should read them ALL, there are many different methods, philosophies, and thought processes discussed on here and I think they all hold some value. Remember what works for one might not work for all and you may have to combine some of the methods, or put together bits and pieces of different methods to get this to work for you. So read them ALL and ask questions about them if you dont understand.
3) I understand you are doing the best you can do, I think this teaches a valuable life lesson to some of the younger generation on here. Remember this is all to prepare you Jr Showman for the real world and you will face many times in life when you have to make the best of a less than desirable situation. However at the same time you have to be prepared that a less than desirable situation often yields less than desirable results no matter how hard we try. Simple fact is, you not being able to be with your heifer everyday is going to be a major obstacle, its very possible that you will get this heifer showable, but if she has a true attitude or trust issue you may not be able to completely correct it or overcome it in just 2 days a week no matter how much time you put in those 2 days. Calves learn by repitition and that repetition genereally needs to be on a daily basis.
Good luck getting her calmed down. One method that generally works for me on cattle taht dont want to stop kicking is to tie them, head up, and take a long stick with a brush on the end and brush them all over while staying out of kick range. THis may take several times for several days but eventually she should learn that you arent trying to hold harm her and stop kicking. Once she staops kicking slowly move closer to her as you do it untion you can do it without the stick. And some heifers just never really quit kicking, at that point its not a trust issue its an attitude problem. We have a heifer right now that has absolutely no trust issue, sometimes she just gets in these moods though and she will nail you when you least expect it. THis heifer is still very showable and we have never had a problem with her at the shows, you just have to pay extra attention to her and never let your guard down or else you may get taken out at the knee.
Godd luck with your projects and as always its exiting to see a young person take the intiative to try and learn on their own...it shows true pasion and desire that will pay off in the end.
