Re: calf leading

Posted by Hugh MacKay on December 28, 2005 at 03:37:51 from (216.208.58.191):

In Reply to: calf leading posted by BR on December 27, 2005 at 12:31:38:

BR: I agree with most of the others in that this takes time and is best started at a very young age of the animal. However that does not always happen. We once had a holstein heifer, looked a bit scruffy as a calf and yearling. As a two year old she looked like a prize winner.

My brother and I tried tieing halter to back of trailer, thinking that further away from noise of tractor would help. We placed a few bales of hay about half way up trailer. She just braced her feet and wouldn't walk. Trying to pull them along in that state will only cause injury.

We then placed a second rope, (lasso type) across her back just behind front shoulders, ran the pull line between her front legs and hooked that to trailer just a wee bit shorter that halter rope. She didn't drag her feet more than one pace after that slip rope came tight on her back. Within seconds she was walking like a show princess. A couple of sessions behind trailer and she would lead very well. We did encounter a bit of resistance from her later, and found all we had to do was drape a rope across her back. She went to fair and won first in her class and dad came second with her on showmanship. This all happened within 3 weeks.

You've got to do this without hurting the animal in a damaging way. I don't agree with bribing them either. Raising show animals is much like raising children, bribing can soon become a way of life.

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