have a steer who keeps fainting when leading, help?

[cattlenewb8]

Hello I am an FFA student and this is my first year raising a steer for my chapter and I have a very stubborn steer.
We believe he has a bit of Angus and Brahma, he is about a 694lbs.

He is very stubborn to lead and walk (as most are) but my steer has a rather unusual and rather frustrating habit.
As of recently he has a tendency to act like his is fainting and keel over when being lead specifically when asked to turn around. It's not just a typical laying down in the dirt like a turkey kind of thing,
but a flat out "bam!" he falls to the side and lays there frothing at his mouth. Even my AG teachers are confused on this before as they have never seen anything like it, I have been
able to get him up but having someone come behind him and twist his tail but now he just waits me out and only when I get the halter off does he get up and walk around like nothing happened.

I'm very frustrated with him, and desperate for professional advice.
for over 5 years i have worked with horses, but none of them did any of this kind of stuff on me. It has also become a dangerous game of dodge with him, as he has a tendency to dedicate himself to falling down
even if I am in the way and I know I will not survive if he decides to plow me over, nothing stops him from falling over, a fence, bucket, wheelbarrow, nothing! he will take it down with him.

I have talked to my vet and we are having him looked over for neurological problems concerning his balance, as he did have his horn nubs removed a couple of weeks ago close to the Memorial Weekend Holiday.
Many people including the vet receptionist told me I am playing a dangerous game trying to train him, and my parents are terrified that he has become very dangerous.

I would really appreciate ANY advice concerning his behavior, even if I just have to flat out get rid of him.

Thank you.

 

[Texas Dude]

One of our current steers did the same thing. I put pads on our halter. I think it was cutting off air without them. Once I got him used to it I took the pads off. Hasn't done it since.

 

[Mainevent]

Had a bull did same thing. Just keep working but don't take halter off, let him stand up catch halter and walk him. Takes time but works the bull is now a year is now a year old and hasn't done it since we first haltered him.

 

[Gators Rule]

what type of halter are you using (Johnson halter, regular rope halter, etc)???

 

[rackranch]

You mentioned working with horses... if you know an equine chiropractor I would have him take a look as well...

 

[twistedhshowstock]

The thing that kinda rules out neuro problems and says this is all behavioral to me is the fact that you say he is "waiting you out, and gets up when you take the halter off" if it was truly neuro taking the halter off would have not effect unless your halter is way way to tight...and I think for one to get that tight it would have to grow in, I dont think your just gonna walk up and put one on that tight. 
To me it sounds behavioral and he has just figured out how to get what he wants.  I know it seems scary when one commits to falling like that, and it makes you think there is seriously something wrong(and there may be, I would still get him checked). But some animals are scary committed when they want to throw a fit.
The hard part is with behavior problems this bizzare and severe thre is no sure fire way to break them, and sometimes they are not breakable.  I would definately say dont take the halter off of him.  if he goes down you can make sure its not to tight but leave it on him.  If he is breathing ok and not overheating, try to encourage him to get up. Start gently and increase the pressure on him til he responds. Once he gets up start working again. If he goes down again do it all over again.  By you taking the halter off of him he has learned that if he throws this fit he will get his way and get out of the work.
How soon after he was dehorned did this behavior begin? It could have been that the pressure of the halter caused pain which caused him to freak out and go down, and then he learned that doing that will get him out of work.
If you determine that he is sound healthwise and the behavior doesnt improve, I would consider a breaking donkey.  Hook him up and turn em out, the donkey will not tolerate this behavior and the steer will soon learn to respect the halter.

 

[Jill]

We have had a couple do this over the years, they just weren't quite that big when it was happening, donkey will fix his problem.

 

[rackranch]

I seems possible that it could be Pain!!! He could be waiting him out because he doesn't want to feel it again as the halter is pulled on...given the fact that it happens more while pulling the head to make turn a pinched nerve is a possibiltiy and therefore IMO neuro cannot be ruled out...

The thing that kinda rules out neuro problems and says this is all behavioral to me is the fact that you say he is "waiting you out, and gets up when you take the halter off" if it was truly neuro taking the halter off would have not effect unless your halter is way way to tight...and I think for one to get that tight it would have to grow in, I dont think your just gonna walk up and put one on that tight. 
To me it sounds behavioral and he has just figured out how to get what he wants.  I know it seems scary when one commits to falling like that, and it makes you think there is seriously something wrong(and there may be, I would still get him checked). But some animals are scary committed when they want to throw a fit.
The hard part is with behavior problems this bizzare and severe thre is no sure fire way to break them, and sometimes they are not breakable.  I would definately say dont take the halter off of him.  if he goes down you can make sure its not to tight but leave it on him.  If he is breathing ok and not overheating, try to encourage him to get up. Start gently and increase the pressure on him til he responds. Once he gets up start working again. If he goes down again do it all over again.  By you taking the halter off of him he has learned that if he throws this fit he will get his way and get out of the work.
How soon after he was dehorned did this behavior begin? It could have been that the pressure of the halter caused pain which caused him to freak out and go down, and then he learned that doing that will get him out of work.
If you determine that he is sound healthwise and the behavior doesnt improve, I would consider a breaking donkey.  Hook him up and turn em out, the donkey will not tolerate this behavior and the steer will soon learn to respect the halter.

 

[twistedhshowstock]

well I guess I worded it wrong, because later in the post I did say that they should have him checked...lol...but I was just saying that from what they described I would be more likely to hedge my bets on it being learned behavior more than on neuro...I wouldnt be surprised, like I said, if it was the pain that started it, but to me its likely that he has learned that doing this gets him off the hook